Keith Hobkirk has requested I share the following prayer needs for China: “April 12 - This week, pray for the needs of the people of Xiantan. Pray for the church to be a Christlike witness to their friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members.
April 13 - A pastor in Xiangtan speaks about how improved transportation has actually made things difficult for the city’s economy: "Around 2023, the transit connections among Xiangtan, Changsha, and Zhuzhou reopened, creating a half-hour living circle between Xiangtan and the other two cities. This has also led to a great deal of population loss, because Changsha and Zhuzhou have more job opportunities, and many young people are moving in both directions. That has also contributed to Xiangtan’s economic decline, because companies cannot recruit enough workers." Pray for people who will invest in Xiangtan, that it may be a city that flourishes for the good of all its citizens. Pray also for more care for those who are struggling in the poor economy.
April 14 - A Xiangtan pastor says, "Campus ministry has shrunk and been restricted. The church cannot enter campuses or communities, and even social charity activities are hard to organize in the church’s name, because we are considered an illegal church and cannot operate in that way." Pray for more creative ways for churches to love and witness to students in the name of Christ.
April 15 - A pastor in Xiangtan says, "Schools maintain constant pressure, and students feel they must study hard and are deeply repressed. Many young people have depression and emotional heaviness. When we interact with them, we find that if we only try to reason with them, they feel annoyed. To build relationships takes a great deal of time and energy, and for ministry today that is a huge challenge." Pray for students in Xiangtan who are struggling with depression or who are overwhelmed by school. Pray that the church can be a source of comfort and peace for them, that they will be able to build deep relationships with students and show them the hope of Christ.
April 16 - "After the pandemic," says one Xiangtan pastor, "people have become more and more guarded. Before, we could hand out Gospel tracts on the street or give small gifts. Now none of that can really be done. On the one hand, the government restricts it and does not allow it. On the other hand, people are guarded, and there are too many scammers. If you kindly offer someone a small gift, they will throw it away because they are afraid." Pray that the Holy Spirit would overcome the spirit of fear and suspicion in Xiangtan, that the lost would find the hope of Christ.
April 17 - "Right now there is an online culture," says one pastor in Xiangtan. "Especially among those born after 2000, the culture places a high value on personal entertainment, while social and outdoor activity have greatly decreased. When we try to reach them, we discover cultural challenges, and they are not willing to participate. It is hard to enter their world. They have their own circles and electronic entertainment, which gives a high level of stimulation to the brain, so when they hear the Gospel, it feels too traditional and too old-fashioned. They also have a desire for novelty and a tendency to tire quickly of things." Pray that the gospel will break through the overemphasis on entertainment, that young people in Xiangtan would be aware of their own deep longings and that in Christ they would find the rest that their restless hearts seek.
April 18 - A sister in Xiangtan says, "In this age of rampant material desire, together with the culture of the city, people are especially drawn to eating, drinking, entertainment, and pleasure. They feel they do not have time for Jesus. They want to have fun, play mahjong, and pursue whatever brings profit. Some time ago there was a woman here who actually came to church for a period of time, but her heart never really seemed to come in. She said that going to church brings no payoff, no visible benefit, whereas playing mahjong does, and people drift in those things day after day. It is very hard, really very hard, to shepherd and support them." Pray for gospel depth in Xiangtan, that people would not see the gospel as transactional or expect a worldly "payoff," but would rather be captured by the beauty and goodness of the gospel vision.“
April 13 - A pastor in Xiangtan speaks about how improved transportation has actually made things difficult for the city’s economy: "Around 2023, the transit connections among Xiangtan, Changsha, and Zhuzhou reopened, creating a half-hour living circle between Xiangtan and the other two cities. This has also led to a great deal of population loss, because Changsha and Zhuzhou have more job opportunities, and many young people are moving in both directions. That has also contributed to Xiangtan’s economic decline, because companies cannot recruit enough workers." Pray for people who will invest in Xiangtan, that it may be a city that flourishes for the good of all its citizens. Pray also for more care for those who are struggling in the poor economy.
April 14 - A Xiangtan pastor says, "Campus ministry has shrunk and been restricted. The church cannot enter campuses or communities, and even social charity activities are hard to organize in the church’s name, because we are considered an illegal church and cannot operate in that way." Pray for more creative ways for churches to love and witness to students in the name of Christ.
April 15 - A pastor in Xiangtan says, "Schools maintain constant pressure, and students feel they must study hard and are deeply repressed. Many young people have depression and emotional heaviness. When we interact with them, we find that if we only try to reason with them, they feel annoyed. To build relationships takes a great deal of time and energy, and for ministry today that is a huge challenge." Pray for students in Xiangtan who are struggling with depression or who are overwhelmed by school. Pray that the church can be a source of comfort and peace for them, that they will be able to build deep relationships with students and show them the hope of Christ.
April 16 - "After the pandemic," says one Xiangtan pastor, "people have become more and more guarded. Before, we could hand out Gospel tracts on the street or give small gifts. Now none of that can really be done. On the one hand, the government restricts it and does not allow it. On the other hand, people are guarded, and there are too many scammers. If you kindly offer someone a small gift, they will throw it away because they are afraid." Pray that the Holy Spirit would overcome the spirit of fear and suspicion in Xiangtan, that the lost would find the hope of Christ.
April 17 - "Right now there is an online culture," says one pastor in Xiangtan. "Especially among those born after 2000, the culture places a high value on personal entertainment, while social and outdoor activity have greatly decreased. When we try to reach them, we discover cultural challenges, and they are not willing to participate. It is hard to enter their world. They have their own circles and electronic entertainment, which gives a high level of stimulation to the brain, so when they hear the Gospel, it feels too traditional and too old-fashioned. They also have a desire for novelty and a tendency to tire quickly of things." Pray that the gospel will break through the overemphasis on entertainment, that young people in Xiangtan would be aware of their own deep longings and that in Christ they would find the rest that their restless hearts seek.
April 18 - A sister in Xiangtan says, "In this age of rampant material desire, together with the culture of the city, people are especially drawn to eating, drinking, entertainment, and pleasure. They feel they do not have time for Jesus. They want to have fun, play mahjong, and pursue whatever brings profit. Some time ago there was a woman here who actually came to church for a period of time, but her heart never really seemed to come in. She said that going to church brings no payoff, no visible benefit, whereas playing mahjong does, and people drift in those things day after day. It is very hard, really very hard, to shepherd and support them." Pray for gospel depth in Xiangtan, that people would not see the gospel as transactional or expect a worldly "payoff," but would rather be captured by the beauty and goodness of the gospel vision.“
Keith Hobkirk has requested I share the following prayer needs for China: “April 12 - This week, pray for the needs of the people of Xiantan. Pray for the church to be a Christlike witness to their friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members.
April 13 - A pastor in Xiangtan speaks about how improved transportation has actually made things difficult for the city’s economy: "Around 2023, the transit connections among Xiangtan, Changsha, and Zhuzhou reopened, creating a half-hour living circle between Xiangtan and the other two cities. This has also led to a great deal of population loss, because Changsha and Zhuzhou have more job opportunities, and many young people are moving in both directions. That has also contributed to Xiangtan’s economic decline, because companies cannot recruit enough workers." Pray for people who will invest in Xiangtan, that it may be a city that flourishes for the good of all its citizens. Pray also for more care for those who are struggling in the poor economy.
April 14 - A Xiangtan pastor says, "Campus ministry has shrunk and been restricted. The church cannot enter campuses or communities, and even social charity activities are hard to organize in the church’s name, because we are considered an illegal church and cannot operate in that way." Pray for more creative ways for churches to love and witness to students in the name of Christ.
April 15 - A pastor in Xiangtan says, "Schools maintain constant pressure, and students feel they must study hard and are deeply repressed. Many young people have depression and emotional heaviness. When we interact with them, we find that if we only try to reason with them, they feel annoyed. To build relationships takes a great deal of time and energy, and for ministry today that is a huge challenge." Pray for students in Xiangtan who are struggling with depression or who are overwhelmed by school. Pray that the church can be a source of comfort and peace for them, that they will be able to build deep relationships with students and show them the hope of Christ.
April 16 - "After the pandemic," says one Xiangtan pastor, "people have become more and more guarded. Before, we could hand out Gospel tracts on the street or give small gifts. Now none of that can really be done. On the one hand, the government restricts it and does not allow it. On the other hand, people are guarded, and there are too many scammers. If you kindly offer someone a small gift, they will throw it away because they are afraid." Pray that the Holy Spirit would overcome the spirit of fear and suspicion in Xiangtan, that the lost would find the hope of Christ.
April 17 - "Right now there is an online culture," says one pastor in Xiangtan. "Especially among those born after 2000, the culture places a high value on personal entertainment, while social and outdoor activity have greatly decreased. When we try to reach them, we discover cultural challenges, and they are not willing to participate. It is hard to enter their world. They have their own circles and electronic entertainment, which gives a high level of stimulation to the brain, so when they hear the Gospel, it feels too traditional and too old-fashioned. They also have a desire for novelty and a tendency to tire quickly of things." Pray that the gospel will break through the overemphasis on entertainment, that young people in Xiangtan would be aware of their own deep longings and that in Christ they would find the rest that their restless hearts seek.
April 18 - A sister in Xiangtan says, "In this age of rampant material desire, together with the culture of the city, people are especially drawn to eating, drinking, entertainment, and pleasure. They feel they do not have time for Jesus. They want to have fun, play mahjong, and pursue whatever brings profit. Some time ago there was a woman here who actually came to church for a period of time, but her heart never really seemed to come in. She said that going to church brings no payoff, no visible benefit, whereas playing mahjong does, and people drift in those things day after day. It is very hard, really very hard, to shepherd and support them." Pray for gospel depth in Xiangtan, that people would not see the gospel as transactional or expect a worldly "payoff," but would rather be captured by the beauty and goodness of the gospel vision.“
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