Prayer Request 10/18 - 10/24

Tuesday
The regulatory agency for radio and TV stations in China has demanded great self-discipline from those station in handling any commercials that claim to boost virility. They say that commercial advertisements should not be aired under the guise of a news report or as an interview on the news and that news anchors should never endorse products for commercials. It is nearly impossible to avoid any advertisements related to sex in China. They are found on telephone poles in villages and even on the walls of elementary schools. We pray for purity and holiness for all believers, especially for those who are young and that we will all flee from all forms of sexual immorality.

Wednesday
Many in China argue that China's one-child policy is increasingly damaging since the balance between young, middle-aged and old people is becoming skewed causing the birthrate to fall below the level needed to replace the population. The churches in China in consequence have fewer children. We must pray about this alarming phenomenon. May the Lord revive His church and burden church leaders to reach out to and focus on young families with children. More churches need to put a greater emphasis on their Sunday school ministry and use more of their resources there.

Thursday
Some parents are allowed a second child if their first is a girl or they suffer "hardship", a criterion determined by local officials. Minority groups such as Tibetans or Ughurs are permitted a second, and sometimes a third child, no matter the sex of the first one. Who will share the gospel with the Tibetan or Urghur children? They are really the most difficult group to reach of all of the "unreached people groups". We pray for a softening of hearts and open doors for those who minister to these two groups.

Friday
The combination of a strong cultural preference for boys and ultrasound imaging has led to a nationwide problem of couples identifying and aborting female fetuses so that their sole permitted child is a male. Young Christian couples face tremendous pressure from their parents to produce a made child, too. We pray especially for those who have girls. May the Lord give them confidence and joy that God gave them the very best and it is His will that parents raise up Godly children whether they are boys or girls.

Saturday
Guangdong province has consistently had some of the worst sex ratios of all of China. Normally 105 boys are born for every 100 girls. In 2010 Guangdong had 119males babies for every 100 females. Churches in this most populous province need much prayer. People in Guangdong are known for being affluent and extremely busy. May the Lord revive believers there and give them a burden to share the gospel and not be ashamed of His name.

Sunday
The boom in Guangdong has sucked in large numbers of young migrants from elsewhere. However, children and elderly migrants are deterred from moving there by the household-registration or hukou system. Prostitution and co-habitation are definitely worse there than in other parts of China which also presents a great temptation for believers. Let us pray for those who work alone in Guangdong that they flee sexual temptation, guard their hearts and stay in fellowship with believers.

Monday
Most demographers think the one-child policy has imposed huge costs on China. The 2010 census showed that population growth was even slower than they had expected, rising just 0.57% a year over the past decade. Churches in China are known for having many old and female believers. Many elderly people become homebound and unable to attend church. We pray for the joy and abiding presence of the Lord for all of these old saints, and that they will continue to have a strong testimony before their families.


星期二
中國官方下令各級電視廣播機構自律，嚴禁播放宣傳任何提高男女性功能的產品廣告，或是出現主持人「叫賣」違規廣告等。在中國與性有關的廣告幾乎無處不在，就是鄉間小學的牆壁和電桿上都有，幾乎不可能避免看到。求主保守眾信徒的心思意念(尤其年輕信徒)，靠主謹慎自守，追求聖潔，約束自己的心，遠避一切的邪慾淫行。

星期三
近年，中國社會開始討論一胎化政策是否需要修改，因為目前的生育率太低造成人口減少，不但影響中國人口結構，各年齡層的比率更嚴重失衡。教會信徒的孩子數目比率之低也特別嚴重，願主復興祂的教會，加給教會領袖負擔，有智慧牧養有子女的年輕家庭。更求主幫助教會重視第二代事工，願意在主日學事工上投入更多資源。

星期四
中國部份地區開始通容第一胎是女孩或有某些「特殊難處」的家庭生第二個，可由地方官員酌情處理。此外，少數民族（如藏族，維吾爾族）不論第一胎是男是女，亦可以生兩個，甚至三個孩子。我們要問有誰願意去與這些少數民族的兒童分享基督耶穌的福音？他們是極困難分享福音的族群，是真正的「未得之民」。讓我們為這些民族能有柔軟的心禱告，求主為有志投入聖工的人，廣開傳福音的大門。

星期五
在中國傳統的重男輕女價值觀下，再加上產前超音波掃描技術的進步，導致夫婦在懷孕初期便終止女性胎兒的生命。雖然中國法律禁止此行為，但人工流產情形卻依然嚴重。年輕信徒夫婦也面臨其父母要生男孩傳宗接代的巨大壓力。我們特別為那些有女兒的家庭禱告，願主加添他們信心與喜樂，堅定相信神為人預備是最好的。願每位信徒家長明白神的心意，不論是男孩或女孩，神是要父母教養孩子敬虔愛主。

星期六
廣東省一直有嚴重的性別失衡問題。中國整體的男女出生比率是105男嬰對100個女嬰，但在2010年，廣東省的出生比率卻是119個男嬰對100個女嬰。廣東人較富裕，生活繁忙是中國聞名的。我們為處於人口眾多的省份的教會禱告，願主興起信徒，看見莊稼已經熟了，能夠體貼主耶穌焦急的心腸，不但為神的事工擺上更多禱告，且在傳福音上更有負擔，不以主耶穌基督的名為恥。

星期日
廣東經濟發展蓬勃，吸引了大量來自各省的年輕農民工，但這批工人家中的孩子及長者，卻因戶口制度問題，無法跟著遷居到廣東。廣東的色情業和同居率之高也是出名的，對血氣方剛的青年人有極大的誘惑。我們為單身在廣東工作的信徒禱告，求主保守他們逃避性的引誘，能常參與聚會，與主內肢體相互扶持，彼此守望。

星期一
許多人口學專家均認為，中國為其一胎化政策付上了沉重代價。2010年的人口普查顯示，中國人口增長速度遠遠少於政府預期的，在過去十年中，中國每年的人口增長僅0.57％。中國教會老人多和姐妹多是眾所周知的。現時許多老信徒沒有家人帶他們外出，更無法上教會。讓我們在禱告中記念他們，願神自己的同在，賜下的平安和喜樂，幫助這些年長的聖徒們，繼續在家人中為祂作美好的見證。