Prayer Request 4/2 - 4/8

Tuesday
China’s medical system is in a crisis. Waiting in long lines to see doctors is a requisite and patients must go to bigger cities to see a specialist. We pray for believers who have relatives, especially older parents with chronic illnesses. The Lord gives them physical, emotional and spiritual strength, and enables them to fulfill the responsibility of honoring their parents and enables them to share and witness His love.
Wednesday
The economic boom in the past thirty years has transformed China from a poor farming country into the world’s second-largest economy. It is true that the cradle-to-grave system of socialized medicine has contributed to the improved life expectancy and maternal mortality rates there. We praise God for the prosperity China has enjoyed and we pray for continuing growth of His body there, whether it is in good or bad time, knowing His hands are always with those who love Him.
Thursday
Wealthy Chinese have access to the best care in top hospitals with foreign doctors, but the rest of people are relegated to hospitals that are overcrowded. In the countryside, people must rely on village clinics or travel hundreds of kilometers to find an adequate hospital. Seeing a doctor in China requires money, time and also guanxi (connection). We pray for believers who are ill, that the Lord provides the treatment and care they need, adding faith and bringing about healing to them.
Friday
China does not have a functioning primary care system which is the first line of defense for illness and injury. There is only one general practitioner for every 6,666 Chinese. (The World Health Organization suggests an international standard of one for every 1,500 to 2,000 people) China has a shortage of pastors, especially those who can serve full-time and care effectively for the spiritual health of their believers. We pray that God will raise up more who are retired and spiritually mature, to provide guidance, advice and marital counseling, especially for the younger believers.
Saturday
In China, people will rush to a big hospital and demand to be seen by a specialist, instead of going to a clinic or a doctor, even for a minor illness like a fever or a headache. Last winter, flu-stricken patients packed and camped out overnight in the corridors of several Beijing hospitals. Chinese believers also believe that famous oversea preachers are not only more spiritual but also better speakers than their own. We pray that all believers will stop comparing their shepherds with others, but rather will start to appreciate and honor their own pastors.
Sunday
In China, hospitals are always understaffed and inundated with patients. Medical specialists are overworked and often see two hundred patients daily. Often, frustrated patients resort to violence and assault the medical personnel, which is infamously called: “yi nao,” or “medical disturbance.” Younger Chinese pastors often feel insecure or inferior because they lack the spiritual depth and the sacrifice of their predecessors. They see themselves as less gifted than the famous preachers abroad. May the Lord comfort all who serve Him faithfully, grant them a deep sense of accomplishment, and the knowledge that God is pleased with them.
Monday
The shortage of doctors is an urgent problem for the Chinese government as it grapples with the mounting health problems of its vast population. Heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and chronic lung disease account for eighty percent of deaths in China. We lift up all believers with chronic illnesses, that the Lord gives them faith and joy as they face difficulties daily, grants them the strength and health they need, and even more, that they will become prayer warriors for churches under persecution.


星期二
到醫院診治排大隊是司空見慣之事，且要到大城市才有專科醫生，這是中國醫療制度陷入危機的徵兆。我們要為家中有長病患者的信徒禱告，特別是有年老的父母需要照顧。求主加添他們身、心、靈力量，在忙碌生活中能盡上孝道，更能分享主，見證神的愛。
星期三
過去三十年經濟迅速增長，把一個貧窮的農業國變成世界第二大經濟體。從搖籃到墳墓的社會主義醫療制度提高了預期壽命，降低了孕產婦死亡率。現今許多中國人已不用為基本生活擔憂，求主賜他們願意尋求生命終極意義的心，以致能找到愛他們的主。我們也為主的身體能在新宗教政策下繼續成長禱告，不論是順境與逆境，都知道神與祂所愛的人同在。
星期四
在中國，只有富人才可以到有外國醫生註診的頂級醫院接受最好的醫療服務，大多數人只能去人滿為患的醫院求診。在農村，人們必須依靠鄉村診所，或跋涉數百公里尋到最近的醫療設施診治。中國人看病，不單要花錢、花時間，更要拉關係。我們來為病中的信徒禱告，求主為他們預備及時和適切的治療，尤其要加添他們的信心，深信神的信實無變，無論健康或患病，主自己都有美意。
星期五
中國沒有一個有效的初級保健系統，作為對疾病和受傷的第一道防線。在中國每6666人才有一名全科醫生，而國際標準是每1500至2000人就有一名。中國教會普遍缺少足夠的全職牧者，無法全面關心信徒們的屬靈情況。我們求主興起更多退休或靈命成熟的信徒，能給予年輕信徒生活指導，尤其是關心他們的婚姻，提供指導和分享經驗。
星期六
有些中國人患病時不是先到社區診所看病，而是迫不及待地到大醫院去看專家(即使是發燒頭痛這種小病)。去年冬天，流感患者曾在北京幾家大醫院的走廊裡蓋著毯子過夜。中國信徒也認為外國的牧者更屬靈，講道更有力，總是比自己的牧者好得多。求主幫助信徒，不將自己的牧者與別人來作比較，而是願意更多關心他們，為他們擺上禱告。
星期日
醫院人手不足，病房人滿為患。專科醫生的工作量過大，每天要診治超過二百個病人。病人感到懊惱，甚至訴諸暴力。在中國，攻擊醫生的行為非常普遍，常常出現所謂的「醫鬧」，醫患關係惡劣。有些中國傳道人相當自卑，覺得自己比不上老一輩牧者的犧牲、屬靈，也比不上外國名牧的才華。求主校正祂僕人眼光，只要忠心做討主喜悅的事，神必將事奉祂的能力賜下。我們記念這些牧人，在一切屬靈的智慧悟性上，滿心知道神的旨意。
星期一
中國政府正努力解決龐大人口日益嚴重的健康問題，增聘醫生刻不容緩。心臟病、中風、糖尿病和慢性肺病的死亡佔中國死亡率達80%。我們為長期疾患信徒禱告，求主賜他們喜樂的心，加添所需要的力量，使他們能用神所賜的安慰去安慰那遭同樣患處的人；也能成為禱告的勇士，為在苦難中的眾教會祈求。