Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Prayer Request 8/13 - 8/19

Tuesday
China has about three to five million children between one to fourteen years with autism. A shortage of specialists and a lack of a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment facilities are the key problems. We pray for Christian parents of children with developmental or learning disabilities who are often ignored or discriminated. We pray that God will strengthen their faith and spirit, and enable them to experience His mercy and grace every day.
Wednesday
Although China began treatment of people with autism in the mid-1980s, it is only in the last ten years that more attention has been given to this group of people. Parents tend to seek medical help only after the child is one or two years old and that is past the optimal period for treatment. Chinese parents brag about their children and give thanks to God. But, it is much harder when a child is “abnormal”. We pray for His comfort, peace, and the ability to comfort others, especially when they have doubts about God’s love and purpose for giving them a handicapped child.
Thursday
In China, delayed diagnosis due to a lack of understanding of the disorder is a common problem among families with autistic children. As a result, many children have missed out on the critical early intervention period. We pray for the parents of all special-needs children that God removes guilt and the accusations of the evil one. May the Lord give them extra mercy and strength to help their children build social skills, to endure under the pressure and demands of parenting, and to experience growth in their marriage.
Friday
Only a small fraction of autistic children in China undergo rehabilitation in a formal institution since there are very few facilities and a dire shortage of teachers. Children born with disabilities are often discarded and handicapped children suffer discrimination everywhere. We pray that God provides people who are experienced and trustworthy to help these children and their parents and that the Lord comforts them, and that they will trust God that He will help them every day
Saturday
An average Chinese family has only one or two children because of the high cost of education. Families with an “abnormal” child face even greater pressure because there is practically no special-needs education program available. We give thanks to God for families who have and chose to raise up special-needs children themselves. We pray that their time, effort and love will bring great satisfaction and reward from the Lord, giving glory to Jesus Christ.
Sunday
About one-third of Chinese women have experienced lowered wages and another third were demoted after giving birth. Employers are reluctant to hire women to avoid paying the mandatory two paid maternity leaves. Women who are of an age to bear children suffer discrimination at work in China. We pray specifically that God gives young Christian mothers strength and spiritual growth as they shoulder the heavy responsibilities of caring for their families and work, plus taking care of parents on both sides of the family.
Monday
As the government increase its censorship, the entertainment industry in China has no choice but to comply with tightening restrictions. Last year, regulators shut down over 6,000 websites and over two million online accounts and social media groups. Artists are self-censoring to protect themselves. The Bible clearly tells us that we are all sinners and only the salvation of Jesus Christ can bring about a true change in our lives. We pray that God will add to churches in China the numbers of saved daily as they stand firm in their faith.

星期二
當前中國自閉症患者中,0至14歲的兒童患者數量在300-500萬之間。專業人才的匱乏和缺少一套成熟、完整的診療設備和護健體系,是中國在自閉症治療領域面臨的關鍵問題。我們要為有發育或學習障礙的孩子之信徒禱告,這樣的孩子經常被忽視或受歧視,教養上更是艱難。願神加添他們力量,作他們隨時的幫助,也堅定他們信心,天天經歷神的憐憫和恩典。 
星期三
中國在1980年代中後期開始涉足自閉症康復領域,而自閉症患者真正引起重視是在最近十年裡。過去,當孩子在一兩歲後出現一些「不正常」狀況,家人才會考慮求醫,但很可能已錯過最佳治療期。 中國家長喜歡拿孩子的成就出來炫耀,當然基督徒父母也會感謝神。然而,那些有殘障或發育不正常孩子的家長亦會懷疑神沒有祝福他們。求神親自安慰這些家長,平復他們心靈,更能以同理心和經驗去幫助有相同遭遇的家庭。
星期四
" 後知後覺 " 是中國不少自閉症兒童家庭的普遍狀況,很多孩子因為家人對自閉症徵況不清楚而錯過了最佳治療期。我們要為患病兒童的父母禱告,求主幇助他們除去內疚和惡者的控告,在面對沈重的照顧和教育壓力下,仍然滿有從神來的愛和力量去幫助兒女建立社交能力,更是赐下格外多的忍耐、體諒來保守和堅固他們夫妻彼此的關係。
星期五
雖然自閉症兒童數量龐大,然而真正能接受正規機構進行康復治療的自閉症兒童依然是極其少數。除了因為自閉症康復機構有限外,更為嚴峻的是師資缺乏的問題。天生殘疾的孩子在中國往往被棄養,而有殘障的孩子會遭遇歧視。求神預備有經驗的人幫助這些孩子及其父母。求主教導家長有智慧處理來自長輩的責備,並幫助他們堅信主恩足用,祂必看顧屬祂的人。
星期六
當普遍中國家庭都只養育一個或兩個孩子時, 一般家長都不願多生孩子,因教育費用不菲。尤其對有所謂「不正常」孩子的家長而言,確實有極大的壓力,加上中國的特殊教育還在初始階段,甚至算是還未起步。我們要為那些甘心樂意照顧「不正常」孩子的父母感恩,神叫他們經歷主的安慰與獎賞,看見時間、金錢和心力去照顧孩子不是浪費和無義意的投資,而是更深經歷神的恩典,大大彰顯神的榮耀。
星期日
中國女性有1/3 在生產後薪資下降,36%被降職。僱主大多不願承擔給女性員工兩次帶薪產假的經濟負擔。因此,相比於沒有孩子的同儕,育齡婦女更難被僱用或得到晉陞機會。我們要為育有孩子的姊妹禱告,求神加添她們力量,保守她們的靈命成長。 不單能把自己家庭照顧好,還能兼顧工作,也與雙方的長輩們相處融洽。
星期一
中國網路監管機構去年關了六千多家網站,封鎖了二百多萬在線帳號和社群媒體群組。娛樂業別無選擇,只能聽命,藝人們也要為了自保而自我審查。聖經很清楚地教導,我們都是罪人,只有耶穌基督的救恩才能真正改變人性,使人重生。求主將得救的人數繼續加給中國的教會,信徒們也能堅持他們的信仰,成為社會的光和鹽。

No comments: