Prayer Request 1/31 - 2/6

Tuesday
Churches in Beijing are considered as new and the shining stars of all the churches in China. Beijing is known for her well-educated believers who work in politics, finance, education, the arts, law, the humanities, and in academics. They are able to influence the upper levels of society and the churches there often receive public exposure. In the past several years the goal of house churches in Beijing has been to gain a legal status and the their bold actions have surprised the government. We lift these churches up in our prayers, asking for God's wisdom, a boldness to share the gospel of Christ, and that they will have God's favor as they enjoy revival.

Wednesday
Churches in China need to teach more deeply the meaning of missions so every believer will be truly convinced that it is essential for them to become involved in spreading the gospel just as they have embraced the teaching about the centrality of the cross of Jesus. However, for these churches to emphasize missions, they must avoid the mentality of the Great Leap Forward political movement of the 1960's with only shouting slogans such as "To the Middle East" or "Let's Go to Africa". May the Lord help each of us to begin with the very basics and avoid the mistake of the "Haste makes Waste" mentality. Chinese believers have a tendency to make every idea into a slogan so we pray the churches will be humble enough to prepare well in the areas of language, knowledge of culture, vision sharing, and fund raising before they embark on a mission, and above all will learn to trust God to lead and guide them in their planning.

Thursday
Hong Kong is now the mission center of the world. As the decline of the Western church continues and the global economy weakens, Hong Kong has attracted many mission agencies and Christian organizations expanding the role they play in the area of sending out missionaries. We are thankful to the Lord for the churches in Hong Kong that they are willing to give toward sending out these ambassadors. When the time comes that the door to China is open wide for the gospel, we believe many mission agencies will find their homes inside China and the churches there will be a major force in sending out missionaries.

Friday
In the past the churches in China have been known for having many women, peasants, old, and illiterate people but very few young people. However, in the past decade as the urban churches have become more important, the make-up of the believers has become more diversified. We praise the Lord that young intellectuals have now become a key part of the churches in China. We praise Him, too, that even though there are still many unresolved issues, there is growth in youth ministries and Sunday schools for children that have made the churches younger and more vibrant.

Saturday
The children of China's one-child generation enjoy far better lives than their predecessors and also receive the undivided attention of their parents. Many of those parents spoil their children turning them into self-centered beings with poor inter-personal skills. Some have so much materially that they have a messed-up value system and others lack the drive or ability to endure difficulties. At present the vast majority of the young people in the churches in China are from the one-child generation. Let us pray for Christian parents to teach their children God's way and have wisdom to know how to rear and discipline them so they will not stray from the Lord.

Sunday
Many Chinese pastors spend so much time on ministry in their churches that they neglect their own families. Their children do not understand why their parents spend so much time serving God and taking care of the problems of others but neglect them. Often the relationship between church workers and their children is strained at best. We should pray for pastors to find a good balance between church and family so they can care for and counsel their own children as well as give them the love and attention they deserve to be able to grow up in a healthy family and realize that their parents are blessed because they serve the Lord.

Monday
Since the number of foreigners in Beijing, the capital of China, has recently increased greatly officials are asking that by the year 2015 eighty percent of the taxi drivers have a minimum English vocabulary of 300 words and that 90% of the subway attendants be able to pass the practical English exam. Those who work at major attractions must know 100 phrases of English for basic conversation. As the educational level of Chinese believers increases many pastors feel inadequate or pressured to improve themselves academically. We pray for more opportunities for these pastors to learn so they can be better equipped to do their work. We also remember those who may not have much education (often just junior high school) but need wisdom from above to minister to those who are more highly educated than they are.


星期二
北京教會是中國教會大家庭當中的後起之秀，也是中國教會的一顆不可多得的閃耀新星。北京教會以知識分子為主體，信徒分佈在政治、經濟、教育、藝術、法律、人文、學術等各個領域，他們的願景是讓教會走向公共領域，能影響上層社會。北京家庭教會合法化是近幾年最響亮的口號，以守望教會為代表的維權與正名的運動驚動了政府，試圖以此獲得合法的身份。我們在禱告中記念他們，願主賜下智慧及傳福音的膽量，教會因著復興得蒙神的喜悅與保守祝福。

星期三
中國教會需要普及宣教的教導，加強宣教知識的傳播，讓每位基督徒像認識「十字架」那樣切身實地去投入宣教，從而改變教會的總體面貌。同時務必要杜絕「大躍進」式的粗糙思維方式，如很多華人教會高喊的口號「走向中東」，「走進非洲」等。欲速則不達，求主幫助我們願意在最基本的裝備工夫上付上代價，宣教不能流於一個口號或一面旗幟，而是在語言、文化適應、心志、經費等有全面的預備，專心仰望和信靠恩主對教會宣教計劃的引領。

星期四
香港現已成為當今世界宣教的中心。在西方教會不斷走向疲軟、經濟不斷走向衰退的國際背景下，香港吸引了不少福音機構和宣教差會的留駐，這將進一步壯大香港教會的宣教力量。我們特別為香港教會感恩，記念他們願意在宣教上出人出力，成為福音走向全球的管道。也祈求恩主，當有一天，中國向福音開放時，眾多華人宣教差會也能歸根神州大陸，使中國真正成為宣教大國，是面向世界輸出福音的主力軍！

星期五
昔日教會的印象是「婦女多、老人多、農民多、文盲多」，就是缺乏青少年。然而，近十年來，中國教會的發展由農村進入城市，信徒結構更趨多元化。我們感謝神，隨著城市化步伐加快，進入教會的不再只是上述四類人，還有青年和知識分子，他們現已成為教會的中堅。我們也為教會的兒童主日學及青年團契日漸增多，教會變得朝氣蓬勃感恩，但同時也存在著有待解決的問題。願主賜下智慧與謀略給教會領袖因應事工需要，帶領教會更成長、造就更多成熟的信徒。

星期六
目前中國教會下一代大部分是獨生子女，生活水平比上一代提升，他們大都能享受到父母全力的照顧和愛護。一些父母過分寵愛孩子，養成孩子以自我為中心的性格，人際關係處理能力低下；有些孩子過分注重物質享受，形成錯誤的價值觀；還有的孩子意志薄弱，毅力不強，無法堅忍以達成理想。讓我們為所有基督徒父母禱告，求主幫助他們以聖經原則教養子女成人，有真智慧教養孩子從小遵守主道，能一生跟隨主的腳踪，到老也不偏離。

星期日
有些教牧同工因為服侍繁多，心力和時間大都放在事奉上，很少有時間照顧兒女。 兒女無法理解父母的疏忽，令家庭關係緊張。 有的孩子抱怨說：「爸媽整天在教會服侍主，我很少見到他們，我的爸媽好像是別人的爸媽一般。」我們要為教牧人員子女的關懷和輔導工作禱告，求主幫助教牧們能平衡在教會事奉和在家庭的角色，讓子女得到應有的關愛和照顧，也幫助孩子從小擁有健全的家庭，也明白神因著父母忠心的事奉而大大賜福父母親。

星期一
為了提高北京市外語人口的數量和質量，到2015年，北京規定八成出租司機要會300句英語;地鐵客運服務員工90%通過地鐵實用英語考核；公園景點一線員工掌握日常英語對話100句以上。中國信徒的教育水平日日升高，許多牧者在牧養及教導上常覺不足，也滿有壓力。我們為牧者們有更多的機會裝備自己，加增自己的學識來禱告。尤其是那些只有初中教育水平的傳道人，願主在他們忠心的事奉中，加添來自祂自己的智慧，使他們能好好地牧養比他們學問高的會友。