Tuesday
We praise God for the significant improvement in the quality of preachers and their sermons in the urban churches in China in the past two decades. However, there are still some visible problems which the churches face. Since there is a shortage of full-time pastors, many churches are cared for by believers who also work full time and help out in the churches on the weekends. Let us continue to pray for more preachers, full-time or part-time, who will be better equipped and trained to be pastors. We know God is faithful and He has a plan for the severe shortage of shepherds there.
Wednesday
The high percentage of new believers and the many young people in the new urban churches implies a great need for caring pastors. Many pastors are under great pressure because they must answer many calls, provide counseling, do visitation, prepare sermons, and share the gospel in other ways every day. Let us pray for personal renewal of all the workers in the Chinese churches. May the Lord refresh each one of them. We also lift up pastors who are struggling in their own marriages and/or with problems in their families.
Thursday
Urban churches in China all share the same problems which contribute to the fatigue and burnout of the pastors: the field is large, the demands of ministry are great, and the meeting points are often spread far apart. Few pastors actually have time to exercise and they are under great stress because their church ministries are deemed "illegal". God is good and we simply want to pray for both physical and psychological health for all pastors
Friday
Pastors in China face a great problem due to the household registration system imposed by the government, and the illegal status of house churches. Pastors are not entitled to medical insurance, or welfare benefits. In addition to that, their low salaries make it very difficult for them to be pastors. We pray for special blessings for church workers, for spiritual richness, for physical health, and that they will be great models for all the believers over whom they are shepherds. Knowing our Lord hears and answers prayer, we pray, too, for favor from people for them.
Saturday
So-called Christian dating websites can benefit young Christians and expand their circle of potential Christian friendships but they need to seek God's leading to avoid pitfalls and mistakes. Chinese churches usually don't even mention such subjects as dating, marriage, and sex. We pray that church pulpits can clearly deliver God's blueprint for marriage and that they will host more seminars to help believers know God's design for courtship and marriage.
Sunday
A huge problem for many church in China is that many of the sisters date non-believers and some even quickly marry men they met only a few months ago. Some soon become victims of abuse, divorce, and psychological and spiritual wounds. Churches need to have more dating and marriage seminars to help young believers know how to have a godly courtship and marriage. We pray for young Christian couples that they will be blessed with a marriage that is joyful and glorify God.
Monday
Gambling is illegal and strictly prohibited in China but gambling in the form of mahjong is ubiquitous and news of officials and wealthy businessmen gambling with astronomical sums of money abound. It is said that gambling is in the DNA of Chinese people. There are many stories of how gambling has wrecked a family. We want to pray for believers whose family members are addicted to gambling. May the Lord grant them deliverance from that bondage and bring healing to the wounds gamblers have caused in their families.
星期二
感謝神！中國的城市教會經過近二十年的發展，無論在傳道人無論在素質、講台質量上都提高許多。然而，傳道人在數量上仍然十分不足，受過完善裝備的傳道人更是短缺。因教會缺乏全職牧者，許多時候講台信息往往是由帶職事奉的弟兄姊妹負責。我們繼續求主差派更多全職或兼職的專業良牧來帶領群羊，也為目前這些願意守望神家需要的信徒禱告，求主幫助他們不單忠心照管神的家，成為群羊的榜樣，並且有更全面的訓練，按正義分解神的道。
星期三
由於城市新興教會的信徒多是第一代信主，且青年人的比例較高，所以牧養的需求非常大。現時傳道人的事奉量極重，每天接幾十個電話、個人輔導、探訪跟進、信息的預備、傳揚福音等等，常常使他們喘不過氣來。我們要為中國傳道人的身心靈禱告，願主親自加力，幫助他們能在主裡得著安息。我們也特別紀念那些在家庭上、婚姻上遇到難處的傳道人，求主不斷更新他們，給他們屬靈的洞見，曉得如何面對和處理。
星期四
城市新興教會普遍有以下這些情況：禾場太大、事工太多、聚會點分散等，導致許多傳道人疲於奔命。同時，傳道人也缺乏運動鍛練以致身體機能退化。還有，政治環境及安全因素也令他們心理承受較大壓力。我們求神保守賜福這些忠心為祂擺上一切的事奉者，深信神的恩典在軟弱的人身上顯得完成，祂也是人得力的源頭。
星期五
家庭教會傳道人的醫療保險、社會福利處於嚴重缺位狀態，加上在供應與資源上本來就比較不足，許多神的僕人承受著極不公的對待。求主記念、祝福這些忠心的傳道人，使他們的靈命豐盛、身心健康，能夠以身作則，作群羊的好榜樣，在牧養神的教會時，得眾民喜悅，使一切榮耀頌讚都歸與神。
星期六
時興透過所謂的基督徒婚友網絡來尋找配偶，這方法確實能擴展交友的圈子，但基督徒透過網站婚戀交友時，宜認真尋求神的引導，以免誤入陷阱或犯下不必要的錯誤。一般而言，交友，婚姻，性的教導，少在教會講壇信息中聽到。求主使用教會，以及各種專題講座，幫助信徒明白神設立幸福婚姻和家庭的原則，明白愛的真諦並行出來，引導戀愛中的信徒能行在神美好的旨意中。
星期日
與不信主的人談戀愛也是信徒所面對的一大危機。有的姊妹跟隨社會上「閃婚」（閃電結婚）的風氣，與結識僅僅數個月的不信主的男人結婚，後來遭丈夫毒打，要求離婚，最終身心受創。教會急需舉辦更多有關男女婚戀、兩性身心健康、家人關係等講座，幫助信徒同心經營合神心意的戀愛和婚姻家庭。也求主引領信徒夫婦，建立美滿幸福的婚姻關係 ，以信望愛與伴侶攜手走天路，榮耀神的名。
星期一
雖然賭博在中國是違法的行為，但是親朋好友圍坐一桌，交流感情、打發時間時，偶爾也會打麻將牌。有些貪官巨富們更遠赴海外，出手闊綽的千金豪賭，也是常有的時事八卦資料。中國人天性上的濫賭DNA似乎難以磨滅。太多因賭博而家破人亡，妻離子散的慘痛事例，正時刻警惕著我們，要切切為那些家中有賭徒的信徒來禱告，求神憐憫，使他們有智慧幫助賭徒家人，走出賭博的捆綁，醫治因賭癖造成的創傷，重新建造一個蒙福的人生。
没有评论:
发表评论