Prayer Request 12/18 - 12/24

Tuesday
Many churches in China are considered very affluent but their pastors still live in poverty which gives the impression that churches there would rather spend big money on their church buildings but not on supporting their pastors financially. A lack of genuine respect for pastors is reflected in how they are poorly compensated and this is a big problem for the growth of churches in China. We pray for the revival of all churches and believers that they will first honor God's servants.
Wednesday
Some well-to-do Christian people in China demand that their pastors live by faith so they are poor which is really causing their pastors to be poor because they lack love for them. We pray that churches and believers will do their part to improve the living condition of their pastor because they should mutually serve one another.
Thursday
One reason Chinese pastors are poor is that Western missionaries who came years ago fostered it. In those days China was backward so the missionaries gave to the believers and did not teach them to give and support their pastors themselves. Now many of the churches are in a legal gray zone so the pastors cannot really have a legal status of being employed. We pray that people in the churches will honor those who serve the church with a compensation that is reasonable and decent.
Friday
Another reason for pastors in China being poor is that the older pastors have always lived that way so the Christians wrongly assume that all pastors should be poor and they even believe that God loves the poor more than the rich or that being poor makes one love God more highly. We pray that there will be believers in every church who would directly support their pastor, so their love for God’s servant is not merely in words but in action. Churches and believers should do their part in providing for their shepherd and respecting God's servant.
Saturday
In China, about fifteen percent of divorce petitions are due to domestic violence which is next to the top reason for divorce. Men are the overwhelming culprits, engaging in physical ting and verbal abuse. Most churches there are still "stuck" in deciding whether a divorce is Biblically sanctioned. We pray that churches will provide counseling​, assist in temporary separation, or accompany the couple to tests, reports, and seeking legal aid.
Sunday
In general, rural believers in China do not tithe regularly and their pastors must work to support themselves. Many church workers have given up serving and sought work and better lives for their families in the cities. We pray for those pastors who have chosen to stay in their villages. May the Lord give them strength and passion to serve Him faithfully and fruitfully. We pray, too for their spouses and especially the educational need of their children.
Monday
It is a fact that there are more women than men among urban churches in China and among teenagers girls outnumber boys. This phenomenon is most likely due to their obedience and dependency on their parents. Very few churches have any program for youth and many refuse to go to church. We pray for wisdom and persistence for believer parents of teenagers, as they maintain a good relationship with their teens and continue to have a spiritual influence on them.


星期二
不少中國教會已經富起來了，但傳道人及牧者卻仍過著捉襟見肘的生活。「有錢建教堂，沒錢供應傳道人。」，這是國內一些教會的實況。教會不願供應傳道人生活的需要，其實是缺乏對傳道人應得的尊敬，這是中國教會發展的一大問題。求主復興教會和信徒們，也激勵信徒先要敬重神的工人。
星期三
中國生活富裕的信徒漠視傳道人的經濟需要，給予的「屬靈」解釋是：傳道人要靠信心來生活。傳道人生活貧困的現象，往往是信徒對聖經真理認知的偏差所致。求主幫助教會與信徒盡上他們的本份，改善傳道人的困境；又求神幫助傳道人與信徒之間能建立彼此服事、彼此體恤的關係。
星期四
在中國經濟落後的時期，西方傳教士在傳揚福音的同時也在物質上給予會眾幫助，不知不覺形成：到教會就是要「得到」的觀念；以致今天許多信徒對金錢奉獻仍然缺少操練。許多中國教會沒有註冊，他們的牧者也沒有法律和職業的保障。求主幫助眾教會敬重他們的牧者，按著神在他們的心裡的感動，成為神供應傳道人養生需要的管道。
星期五
老一代牧者一生愛主，一直甘心樂意過艱苦的生活。許多信徒誤認為傳道人經濟貧乏是「應該就是如此」，甚至認為主耶穌更愛窮人，貧窮才能愛主。求主興起教會中有奉獻心志的信徒給予牧者「一對一」的支援幫助，將關愛由言語化為實際的行動，盡教會與信徒敬重、照顧牧者當盡的本份。
星期六
中國夫妻申請離婚的原因，大約有15%是因為家暴，是離婚原因的第二位。其中，絕大多數是男性施暴 (毆打和辱罵)。許多教會領袖在遇到信徒家庭發生家暴時，還停留在討論是否應該離婚的階段。求神幫助教會能以實際行動落實支援受害者，例如：安排輔導者陪伴、安慰，協助暫時分居，陪同去驗傷、報警、尋求法律援助等。
星期日
一般而言，農村信徒的金錢奉獻並不多，以致牧者亦需要帶職事奉才能維生，甚至不少農村傳道人放棄服侍，到城市裡打工，尋找更好的生活。我們為那些選擇留在村裡的牧者禱告，求主自己加添力量和服事的火熱，使他們靠主繼續忠心擺上，也見到事奉的果效。我們也為他們的配偶和家庭禱告，尤其是他們最擔憂的子女教育的需要，求主供應他們一切的所需。
星期一
中國都市教會中的男女比例失衡是事實。9 - 18歲的少年中，也是女多男少，因著男孩和女孩在順從和依賴感上有性別差異。 有青少年事工的教會是佔少數，年輕人也覺得教會無聊。我們為有青少年的信徒家長祈求，願神加添他們智慧，持守他們有健康的親子關係，能繼續給子女們靈命上的正向影響。

Prayer Request 12/11 - 12/17

Tuesday
Ethnic discrimination is still a big factor why even some of the best-educated Uighur and Tibetan migrants struggle to find work. Tibetans and Uighurs have distinct surnames which are different from the Han Chinese, and Uighurs appearances are quite different from the majority of Chinese. We know the ethnic discrimination is long-standing and deep-rooted, but such bias has badly hurt the efforts of churches to show love and to evangelize. We ask His forgiveness and may the Lord give us all humility and His love for others.
Wednesday
There are government programs trying to help some Uighurs, Tibetans and other minorities to obtain a better education. Affirmative-action policies can boost their chances of attending universities. Many Han Chinese consider it is unfair and a waste of time to help the ethnic minorities. This further perpetuates the resentment and discrimination against them. We pray for repentance and removal of our ethnic pride, as the Lord gives us a tender and compassionate heart for all lost souls.
Thursday
One scheme, known as the Xinjiang Class, sends thousands of Uighurs as well as Han Chinese from Xinjiang every year to other parts of China to complete their schooling. But it also encourages them to return. But, only half of the graduates actually return to Xinjiang. Not even the Han Chinese want to go live and work in Xingjian if they have a choice. We pray for believers who have vision and passion to go to Xingjiang, to strengthen the churches there and build friendship with local Muslims.
Friday
The government has made token efforts to create job opportunities for Uighurs on the coast, sending busloads of them to work in factories. But most employers are wary of hiring Muslims because of their distinct languages and diet. Such governmental schemes could be a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel with Uighurs and we pray that churches will see it as their mission to connect with Muslim workers, establish friendships, and show God's love to them.
Saturday
Tibet is indeed hard soil for spreading the gospel since there are only a few thousand Tibetan Christians there (less than 0.2%). with only thirty to forty house churches where both Han Chinese and Tibetans worship together. There are gospel tracts and Bibles in the Tibetan language, including the Jesus film which is a good tool to use in sharing the gospel. Let us pray for believers in Tibet that the Lord will strengthen their faith and give them the courage to share Jesus with others.
Sunday
Tibetans are basically friendly and some well-educated Tibetans are even open to Christianity which provides a great opportunity for evangelism. In general, Tibetans outside of Tibet proper (places like Sichuan or Yunnan provinces) are far more receptive to the gospel than those in Tibet itself. Let us pray for Tibetan churches and pastors, as they reach out to their own people in their own language. We pray the Spirit of God moves mightily, opening the door of their hearts to accept Jesus and set them free from the deep spiritual darkness.
Monday
One reason some people suggest for the poverty of pastors in China is that some enter the ministry after a business or academic failure or illness so they feel inadequate for the job and are content to be poor. Churches in China teach very little of the truth of tithing, and some even wrongly believe that preaching on giving offerings is a sign of a lack of faith. We pray for the strong preaching of giving among all churches, so believers will know giving to God is a way to receive more blessing from Him.


星期二
疆民或藏民即便是教育程度較高的也很難在城市找到工作，主要原因是種族歧視。疆民或藏民在姓名上容易辨認，維族人的體貌特徵亦明顯有於漢人。 漢人輕視少數民族如維族和藏人等，並非一時三刻之事；令人遺憾在中國教會裡亦存相同的情況，以致沒能關注少數民族的福音需要。求主赦免我們，叫我們多體貼主的心，有祂的謙卑和對人的憐愛。
星期三
中國政府正致力讓維族、藏族及其他少數民族獲得更好的教育，以扶助他們獲得高等教育的機會。這些優惠的政策，在漢人眼中卻看為不公平和浪費，造成更多的歧視和厭惡。求主在人心裡動工，讓我們更柔和謙遜，除去自義式的種族優越感，知道每個人在神眼裡都是寶貴的，沒有誰比誰更優越，誰比誰更配得到神的祝福。
星期四
每年所謂的「新疆班」保證上萬的疆民（不僅有維族人，也包括新疆的漢族人）在其他省份完成大學，並鼓勵他們學成後返回新疆；但是僅有約半數「新疆班」的畢業生願意返回。漢人一般都不會搬到新疆居住或就業。我們為信徒禱告，求主賜下異象和熱忱，感動人願意遷到新疆，建立及鞏固那裡的教會，也盼能藉著友誼來向當地的居民分享信仰。
星期五
中國政府雖然看似已儘力為少數民族在沿海地區創造就業機會，讓他們能夠進入工廠工作；然而多數僱用單位卻因信仰不同的飲食和語言溝通困難而對加以提防。當少數民族離開原居地出外就業，這是向他們傳福音的大好機會。求主興起信徒，願意特别來關心城市裡的回民工人，分享神的愛。
星期六
西藏是一塊福音硬土，現在藏族只有數千名基督徒，信全族人口不足 0.2%。目前西藏境內約有三十所非公開的教會，信徒包括漢族和藏族。藏族已有藏文聖經、福音單張和小冊子，包括《耶穌傳》，這都是向藏民傳福音的好工具。求主大大加添西藏信徒信心與能力，賜給他們智慧及膽量向親友們分享基督耶穌。
星期日
藏民態度友善，一些受過大學教育的藏民更對基督信仰持開放態度，這是一個何等大的福音契機！尤其是在西藏以外（例如四川和雲南地區）的藏民比較容易接受福音。我們禱告：藏民教會及傳道人能充份發揮使用母語傳福音的便利；又願神的靈先在人心裡作工，打開人的心門，好讓他們願意接受耶穌，脫離屬靈的黑暗權勢。
星期一
中國傳道人普遍經濟較為拮据，其中一個原因是好些人是因生意失敗、學業無成、身體有病等才去做傳道，他們自覺貧困，也安於貧困。中國教會少有金錢奉獻的教導，甚至錯誤認為提及現實的經濟需要就是沒信心的表現。求主幫助傳道人按聖靈感動傳講真理，不偏執亦沒有忌諱，來幫助信徒明白奉獻給神，是蒙受神更多賜福之道。

Prayer Request 12/4 - 12/10

Tuesday
China is urbanizing at a rapid pace. In 2000 nearly two-thirds of its residents lived in the countryside. Today fewer than half do. Yet, Uighurs and Tibetans feel left out of China’s economic boom; ethnic discrimination is not helping. These two ethnic groups are perhaps the most difficult in terms of evangelism. We pray that churches will not give up in sharing the Gospel with them, starting with repentance of our own ethnic pride that Han Chinese are hardworking and they are not striving and trustworthy.
Wednesday
Uighurs and Tibetans are staying on their farms, often because discrimination against them makes it difficult to find work in cities. As ethnic discontent grows, so too does the discrimination, creating a vicious cycle. We pray for binding of the power of Satan, so the true light of Jesus Christ will come upon these two ethnic groups, and many more Uighurs and Tibetans will come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.
Thursday
Some Tibetans prefer to stay in the fields but many feel excluded rom the benefits enjoyed by ethnic Han Chinese who make up more than ninety percent of China's population.We pray for those who serve among Tibetans and Uighurs and face fierce spiritual battles, persecution, loneliness, and fatigue. May the Lord strengthen their faith and add steadfastness, patience, and God's abiding love for im and His people.
Friday
There has been far less violence in Tibet than Xingjiang, but separatism in the region is no less a headache for China’s leaders. There are more than six million Tibetans in Tibet and four neighboring provinces. The proportion of farmers is nearly eighty percent. We pray that some of the well-educated Tibetans will become Christians first and share Jesus with their own people. There are some Tibetan churches outside of Tibet, we pray that they will be revived and be passionate about sharing Jesus with their own people.
Saturday
Neither Uighurs nor Tibetans enjoy ready access to the job market that has drawn tens of millions of Han to cities in recent years. They are unwelcome, and they know it. It can be said that Tibetans and Uighurs live in spiritual darkness and are most resistant to the Gospel. We pray more urgently for them so the salvation of Jesus will soon come to them.
Sunday
Part of the problem of Uighurs and Tibetans in being unable to fit in with Han Chinese is the languages. Uighurs and Tibetans brought up in the countryside and often have a very poor grasp of Mandarin, the official language of the land. There are so few Han Christians who really understand the culture and language of Uighurs and Tibetans. We pray for those who are seriously learning the language skills and are preparing more spiritual content in the languages of ethnic minorities.
Monday
The effort by the Chinese government to promote Mandarin in schools has encountered resistance in some ethnic regions where it is seen as an attempt to suppress native culture. In southern Xinjiang, where most Uighurs, many schools do not teach Mandarin at all. We pray for the easing of ethnic tension and antagonism toward Han Chinese in this vast region of China. Chinese churches cannot effectively do mission work outside of China, if they continue to ignore sharing the Gospel in their own backyard, in Xingjiang.


星期二
近年來中國城市化發展迅速，2000年時，約三份二的總人口仍生活在農村地區，至今已降至二份一。然而，在中國經濟發展起飛的同時，維族人和藏族人卻倍感冷落，遭受歧視。維族和藏族是福音的硬土，我們為眾教會不放棄與他們分享福音禱告。求主先叫我們悔改，除去我們自身的優越感，不要論斷他人懶惰和不可靠，並生出歧視之心。
星期三
少數民族多數抵制城市化的時代潮流，且在城市中難找到工作，大多數人寧願留守家鄉務農。隨着民族不滿情緒日益加深，種族歧視也愈演愈烈，更加劇了這種惡性循環。懇求神捆綁從撒但而來的黑暗勢力，讓基督的真光臨到這兩個大族群，使更多回民和藏民早日歸主。
星期四
雖然好些藏民甘於務農，但絶大多數藏民認為自己遭到了排斥，以致無緣享受與漢族人（約佔中國90%的人口）同樣的好處。為在藏民和新疆作工的肢體禱告，他們面對激烈的屬靈爭戰，逼迫、孤單、身體疲勞等攻擊，切切記念他們因信心所做的工夫，因愛心所受的勞苦，因盼望我們主耶穌基督所存的忍耐。(帖前1:3)
星期五
雖然相比於新疆，西藏較少有攻擊事件發生，但該地區的分裂主義一直令官方十分頭疼。西藏及其四個鄰省約有超過六萬藏民，其中農民佔人口約百分之八十。 求主繼續施恩給那些擁有高學歷的藏民，讓他們先接受福音，再以他們的影響力去帶領其他藏族人歸主；也求主加力西藏以外的藏民教會，能在本族中見證主名。
星期六
維族人和藏族人在城市找工作遠比漢族人困難，他們深知自己不受歡迎，無法獲得與漢人相同的對待。藏族及穆斯林都是世界上生活在靈裡最黑暗之處的族群，亦是最難以改變的民族，求主提醒我們要更多為他們禱告，使他們早日認識主，離開黑暗走向光明。
星期日
對於少數民族而言，語言不通是他們與外界融合的一大問題。中國的官方語言是普通話，而疆民和藏民生活在農村地區，普通話表達能力相當有限。真正懂得維族和藏族的文化及語言的基督徒寥寥無幾，現時有些漢族信徒正努力學習，請記念他們的福音事工，也求主預備更多少數民族語言的屬靈資源。
星期一
雖然政府一直致力在校園推廣普通話，但一些地區卻抵制這樣的做法，認為推廣普通話是對當地文化的打壓。在疆民主要聚居的南疆地區，許多學校不教授普通話。我們為在新疆的民族緊張關係禱告，求主挪去累積的敵對仇恨。若中國教會不能學習在新疆國土上分享福音，在海外亦難以有效地宣教。