Prayer Request 11/1 - 11/7

Tuesday
The development of churches in China has been diverse. In addition to the Three-self and house churches, there are also fellowships for Chinese businessmen and expats, for migrant workers, and for those who have returned from abroad. One needs to understand that the government does not legalize churches other than the Three-self churches. It merely condones their existence. We praise the Lord for all of these different types of churches in China and pray that all the leaders and those who teach in each of them will do so because of their love for God and that they will have the wisdom to lead the sheep He has entrusted to them. We pray that all leaders are kept from temptation to fame, power, and even financial gain but that they will commit to be good stewards after the Master's plan.

Wednesday
Technically all churches that are not registered with the government are house churches even though they may not be in a village. House churches in the cities often meet in office buildings or in an apartment in a residential building and the members come from all walks of life. There are many restrictions and inconveniences in conducting worship services in office buildings, apartments, or even hotels. It is difficult to promote ministry, especially to children. We pray for wisdom and a good personal relationship for all the leaders as they interact with neighbors, landlords, and even the police. We pray they will be a great blessing and a light to their community.

Thursday
There are revelations of a long-running scandal in Hunan province where officials are accused of brutalising parents who violate the one-child policy by confiscating "illegal" babies and putting them up for sale in the adoption market. In China, not having a child is not only a great social stigma but poses the risk of not having financial support when they retire. We remember the childless couples whether they are infertile or have lost their child. May the comfort of the Lord be with them always knowing that He is faithful and they do have many things for which to give thanks.

Friday
The family-planning bureaucracy is a vast and entrenched group defending the status quo at all levels of the government. Senior officials fear than any change would unleash a population boom despite predictions to the contrary by most experts. Hence, few expect significant reforms soon. May the Lord give church leaders vision and wisdom to know how to grow their church under the one-child policy. The vast majority of the church have little to offer children or young families with children. We pray Christian parents will know it is their responsibility to teach their children about God and not expect the church to do it.

Saturday
Beijing has 19.6 million residents and more than a third of them are migrant rural laborers with their families. Since 2000 Beijing's population has increased by six million people. Because of the residency restriction, children of migrant workers must now return to their villages for high school or chose to drop out of school. We praise God for those churches in Beijing that are trying their best to share the great love of Christ with the rural laborers in the outskirts of the city. We remember also all those who are Christians but are away from home living in squalid conditions and trying to keep their families together, especially when they have children who need schooling.

Sunday
During the past decade two hundred million rural laborers have gone to China's big cities. They are considered to be the "floating population" or the "engine of economic growth". They build skyscrapers and subways, pick up the trash and provide cheap laborers for Beijing, Shenzhen, and other cities. Indeed it is easy for urban Christians to ignore and even look down on the "lowly" rural workers walking by them. May the Lord stir our hearts so we will not lose the compassion and mercy of Jesus and become arrogant or self-righteous.

Monday
China's hukou (residency) system prevents rural laborers from obtaining health care and education for their children. Some cities do provide education to children of migrant workers but Shanghai last year claimed to be the first to provide free education to children of migrant workers in either public or private schools. Let us remember those rural Christians who are in the cities. They work hard to save enough money to return home but many find themselves disappointed and disillusioned. May the Lord encourage them with His own word and answer their prayers.


星期二
除了三自教會與家庭教會外，還有華商團契、民工、海歸人士教會等等。從積極面看，教會多元性發展能更廣泛接觸不同對象。然而不同型態教會的存在，並不等於政府允許三自教會以外的教會可以合法聚會。感謝主使用不同類型的教會引領人來到祂面前，求主幫助每個教會的領導及教導同工，都有愛心和智慧照顧好神託付的羊群，不被名利引誘，做神良善又忠心的好管家。

星期三
按中國政府法例，凡未向政府登記的教會，在廣義上均屬非官方的家庭教會。這些教會聚集的地方，可能是城市的辦公大樓，或社區中的不同場所，參加成員也來自各行各業。在辦公大樓、旅館聚會有諸多不便，教會事工(尤其兒童事工)也不易推動。求主給教會領袖有聰明、智慧，能靈活使用場地，不但與公安、屋主、鄰居有好的關係，更能成為社區的燈台。

星期四
新聞揭發，有湖南官員政策，將超生的嬰兒非法沒收，接著竟然轉手高價出售給人收養。在「不孝有三，無後為大」的傳統下，沒有孩子不但大有傳宗壓力，也等於將來沒有「養老金」。我們記念沒有子女的信徒們，無論是選擇不生或是不能，或不幸失去了孩子的，願主的喜樂時時與他們同在，因為主是信實供應的，我們都要為擁有的一切感恩。

星期五
計劃生育是中國政府的一項龐大的官僚機構，也是政府不會輕易改變的政策，在短期中有明顯的改革似乎是不太可能。高級官員所擔心的是，任何改變會導發立刻的人口劇增，雖然大多數的專家持相反的看法。求主給教會領袖們有遠見、智慧，知道如何在計劃生育政策之下，保持教會增長。大多數的中國教會能提供給小孩或年輕家庭的造就也不多。主讓信徒父母明白他們的責任是教養孩子從小認識神，不能推卸給教會。

星期六
在北京的1960萬居民中，超過三分之一是內陸農民工。僅僅從2000年至今，北京的人口就增加了600萬。因戶口的限制，民工子女須回到父母的原籍上高中，從而與父母分居或選擇輟學。我們為北京教會，盡其所能向「外環」的農民工分享神感恩。同時也記念基督徒農民工們，他們離鄉背井辛苦打工，還有孩子教育問題無法解決，甚至要家人分離，求主憐憫。

星期日
農村居民大規模進入城市，兩億流動人口是中國經濟增長的發動機。中國城市經濟依賴民工勞動力，他們建摩天大樓，建地鐵，清理垃圾，為北京、上海、深圳和其他城市提供廉價勞動力。其實，城市的基督徒很容易忽略，甚至看不起天天擦肩而過 「鄉巴佬」農民工。求主攪動我們的心，不叫我們失去主耶穌的憐憫與慈悲，不要成為自大，甚至自以為義的「表面弟兄」。

星期一
戶口制度使民工很難在城里得到公平的子女教育權益和醫療服務。去年上海成為中國第一個為民工子弟提供免費教育的城市，不論就讀於公立學校或有政府津貼的民辦學校。我們城市中打工的農村信徒禱告。他們辛苦勞動，希望攢夠錢回老家，但不少人卻落在失望與美夢幻滅中。願主自己的話鼓勵他們，信實的垂聽他們的呼求。