Prayer Request 12/27 - 1/2

Tuesday
Many members of the Chinese Communist Party are becoming interested in the various religions and it is threatening the unity and national leadership of the party whose members are required to be atheists and not believe or engage in other religious practices, or be expelled from the Party. We take this time to pray for the spiritual walk of all the party members who have been baptized or are secret believers in Jesus. May the Lord give them extra strength, wisdom, and protection, and above all a close walk with Jesus that is based on a strong commitment to glorify Him daily.

Wednesday
The ruling Communist Party may be slowly showing a greater tolerance toward the different faiths that are beginning to flourish on Mainland China. It is known that party officials have used their influence to build Buddhist or Taoist temples or used public funds to promote religion-based tourism but when it comes to their members, the party has no room for such religions. Every year some churches (both open and house churches) encounter tension and opposition from the local authorities as well as the local Buddhist temples. We pray for patience and wisdom for the congregations involved. May the Lord give them boldness to share their faith and the love of God with their neighbors.

Thursday
According to official records there are a combined100 million believers in Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Christianity in China. Officially there are 25 million Christians (18 million Protestants and 6 million plus Catholics). All of these numbers, however, appear to be unrealistically low. The Communist Party boasted a total of 80 million members in 2010. Churches in cities have seen a growth in attendance but many have also observed that most people show up only on Sunday and are not really committed to or connected with the fellowship. We thank the Lord for all the numeric growth but we ask Him for a genuine revival of believers who are truly committed to God and do not attend church simply as something fashionable to do or a mere habit.

Friday
Former Prime Minister of Singapore spoke frankly, "Things only get done in China through relationship, and corruption remains the biggest the biggest challenge." To change how Chinese people think and their attitude will not be easy. In general, there is a lack of transparency in how churches handle finances and offerings. We ask the Lord to give church leaders with integrity, who are faithful steward, having wisdom in how to use the church funds. It is good that God's people live a simple and clean life, so even when they are tempted by those want to bribe them, they can resist the temptations.

Saturday
In many parts of China, family and marriage issues are not deemed important or even mentioned in churches. It is a common phenomenon that only the wives attend the church, and they usually come to church despite the opposition from their unbeliever husbands. We know it is much more effective when husband and wife serve together in church. We pray for all those who serve to be pure in their sex lives, faithful in their marriage. Couples with solid marriage are the key to stable ministry and to the society as a whole as well.

Sunday
In the past, the rural churches were the mainstream of the China churches. In recent years, urban churches have experience an explosive growth. But these new churches in the cities badly need shepherds, quality and well-trained pastors to shepherd the highly educated church members. Take gambling as an example, millions of Chinese are addicted to it, and even church workers have succumbed to such addictions. We sincerely pray for protection from God on all the church workers and their families. They face the same temptations as we all do, may the Lord keep their hearts from the evil one, the snare of lust and greed.

Monday
In the past two decades, China churches, rural churches in particular are at a crossroad. Contrary to the numbers people outside of China quote, there is quite a gap between what is reported and the actual numbers and true health of China churches. We pray for more prayer warriors from within churches in China, people who would stand at the gaps, be the alert watchmen for churches, through their prayers bring keen insight to the needs of churches. We ask the Lord for more people who would intercede for China churches, blessing Chinese believers and keep churches from the attacks from the evil one.



星期二
共產黨警告，黨員信教將造成黨的分裂。一個黨員如果積極參與宗教團體生活和傳教，甚至利用黨員身份保護、或推動非法的宗教活動，組織就應及時採取措施，使其退黨。我們在禱告中記念不少黨員雖然沒有公開受洗，公開信仰，但已經相信主耶穌為他們個人的救主，願他們每日花時間親近神，天天跟隨主，以榮耀祂為心願。

星期三
近幾年中國政府雖對宗教有相當程度的寬容，各個宗教也蓬勃發展，但黨員信教卻仍是禁止的。地方黨員使用影響力，或移用公款來興建佛、道教寺廟，大搞宗教旅遊。每年都有教會與當地的公安有些摩擦或衝突，其中也包括了三自教會。近來教會公開的活動更是受到當地佛教勢力的反對和打壓。讓我們為這些教會的領袖們有耐心和智慧來代禱，求主賜他們分享神大愛的勇氣，也知道如何在當地社區裏成為一盞明燈。

星期四
截至2010年底，中國共產黨黨員總數達到8,027萬人。據官方的估算，中國各種宗教有信徒1億多人，信奉主要有佛教、道教、伊斯蘭教、天主教和基督教。其中有兩千五百萬基督徒，約六百萬天主教徒。近年來城市教會人數增加，但不少信徒只在星期天出現,並沒參加任何的團契。我們為中國教會數字成長感謝神，但也懇求主帶領我們的心渴望與主同行,有真正靈命的復興，而不是將信仰當做一種時尚或是個人的興趣。

星期五
前新加坡總理李光耀說：中國靠關係辦事的做法根深蒂固，因此貪污仍是中國面對的最大挑戰，要改變人們這方面的想法和態度並不容易。一般中國教會在金錢處理上，仍欠透明度。求神賜給教會有正直的領袖，在主面前做忠心有見識的好管家，尤其在處理錢財上有智慧。也求主幫助信徒過清潔、儉樸的生活，成為這黑暗世界裡的明光，甚至那些想賄賂他們的人，亦為生此念頭而羞愧。

星期六
中國很多地方的教會都不甚注重婚姻家庭問題，在教會中亦少有提及。一個普遍的現象就是很多姊妹的丈夫都不來教會，有的甚至還逼迫姊妹。夫妻同心合意服事神，效果是深廣的。我們求主為中國教會賜下聖潔的僕人，更保守信徒在婚姻中忠誠，遠避淫行。這不僅是教會穩定的基礎，還會成為整個中國社會穩定的重要因素。

星期日
過去，農村教會是中國教會的主流力量，直至最近幾年城市福音「爆炸」，中國教會有了新氣象。然而，這些城市教會極需牧養，沒有受過神學訓練的人，是很難牧養這些以知識分子為主的城市教會。以賭博為例，賭博正蠶蝕千萬的中國老百姓和基督徒，甚至傳道同工的心靈，嚴重破壞教會的牧養和見證。我們為牧者及其家庭禱告，求神保護他們置身於艱難和誘惑之中，落入魔鬼用情慾、錢財所織造的網羅。

星期一
中國教會（尤其是農村教會）經過了20多年的發展後，現在正處於轉形期。與海外通常報導不同的是，國內教會人數上的增加與實質上的復興存在著很大差異。我們求神為中國教會設立更多忠心的守望者，用禱告來堵住各處破口。這些守望者時刻警醒，敏銳洞察教會的需要，及各種隱而未現的問題，並在神面前呼求禱告。神也會因著他們的代禱，大大地賜福中國教會，保護教會免受惡者許多的毀壞。