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January Pray4Yueyang Calendar

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

The January Prayer Calendar for the people of Yueyang, China is available for viewing and download. Please take a minute to download this month’s calendar and to print it out and post somewhere where you will be reminded daily to pray for the people of Yueyang!

December was a great month for the sharing of the Gospel in Yueyang.  Because of Christmas, many believers had the opportunity to explain the holiday that the secular world tries to say is about a fat, bearded man with a red suit and a sleigh…  We know first-hand of dozens of new believers that believed as a direct result of Christmas outreach events as well as just personal sharing with friends and family!

The Chinese acknowledge Christmas, but they don’t really celebrate it ‘big’ like Americans do.  The big holiday for them in Chinese New Year, which this year is in February.  Please be in prayer for Christians who are preparing this month for large scale outreach efforts that will take place over CNY.

Due to an unforeseen upgrade ‘requirement’ with the software we use to update the Pray4Yueyang website (not the blog – that will remain the same) that we just cannot afford, the way that the site looks and is used will most certainly change in the near future.  We are not exactly sure how things will change, but we appreciate your patience as we figure things out!

 

If keeping track of the Pray4Yueyang blog is not very convenient for you, and you’d prefer to receive prayer updates delivered to your Email inbox, you can subscribe by giving us your Email address (use the box on the right hand column of this blog’s main page.) If you have any questions, just ask.

Prayer makes a difference. Thanks for being involved!

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Winter Solstice Festival (冬至 Dōng zhì)

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Today, people in Yueyang, China and others all across East Asia are celebrating “Dong Zhi” which falls on on the date of winter solstice every year.

The Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至 Pinyin: Dōng zhì), is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the dongzhi solar term when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest.

The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in.

The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the character 復 (fù – “Returning”). Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers is the making and eating of Tangyuan (湯圓, as pronounced in Mandarin Pinyin: Tāng Yuán) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion.

I know that for most of you living in the West, today is not special in any way, it’s just another Tuesday. However, for the people of Yueyang, China, today has significance.

Much of today’s celebrations will be benign and harmless with no spiritual or demonic elements whatsoever. However, the philosophy behind today’s holiday reflect a flawed world view that blinds and confuses many Chinese who seek truth.

Would you remember the people of Yueyang today as they celebrate “Dōng zhì” today (December 22) Ask that as families get together to celebrate and to eat “Tang Yuan” that conversations will turn to eternal things. Pray for Christian family members to be courageous and bold to share the Good News with their families. Pray for those families with no witness, ask that someone will be obedient to share the gospel with them so that they might “return” to their creator who loves them and desperately desires to have a relationship with them!

Posted in China, culture, prayer request | No Comments »

November Pray4Yueyang Calendar

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

November-2009The November Prayer Calendar for the people of Yueyang, China is available for viewing and download. Please take a minute to download this month’s calendar and to print it out and post somewhere where you will be reminded daily to pray for the people of Yueyang!

As you pray for the people of Yueyang in November, we would like to encourage you to really be in prayer for the existing believers in Yueyang city.  Being a believer in a place where you can be mocked, looked down upon, or even persecuted is not an easy thing.  Many of those believers take it serious to be a “follower of Christ” and they actually do try to be obedient to the things they learn in Scripture – bringing ridicule and persecution not only from non-believers, but also from believers who prefer to be ‘luke-warm’ and to fly under the radar.

Also, don’t neglect to pray for the hundreds of thousands of lost souls living in Yueyang.  Pray that there will be a mighty movement of the Holy Spirit resulting in thousands of new believers during the month of November!

If keeping track of the Pray4Yueyang blog is not very convenient for you, and you’d prefer to receive prayer updates delivered to your Email inbox, you can subscribe by giving us your Email address (use the box on the right hand column of this blog’s main page.) If you have any questions, just ask.

Prayer makes a difference. Thanks for being involved!

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September Pray4Yueyang Calendar

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

September-2009-smallThe September Prayer Calendar for the people of Yueyang, China is available for viewing and download. Please take a minute to download this month’s calendar and to print it out and post somewhere where you will be reminded daily to pray for the people of Yueyang!

September marks the end of summer and students across the city begin the fall ‘09 semester. Will you take a moment right now to pray for college and university students in Yueyang. University students in Yueyang face challenges and pressures as they leave their hometowns and come to Yueyang to study that they have never faced before. Often they find themselves feeling vulnerable and alone as they face decisions they have never had to make on their own before. This is a critical tiime in their lives as they cross the threshold of adulthood.

One of the nice things about this time of year is that the hot and humid weather loses a little bit of it’s edge and cooler weather begins to creep in. The result is that the people of Yueyang spend more time outside, talking and playing with their neighbors in Yueyang’s parks and other public spaces.

Many of Yueyang Christians are trying to become more obedient in the area of evangelism and are excited about the fact that so many people are out in public spaces just ‘hanging out’, providing many opportunities to share good news with neighbors and colleagues. Please pray for these faithful believers who are stepping out on faith in order to be obedient to the Scriptural command for ALL believers to share their faith with others.

If keeping track of the Pray4Yueyang blog is not very convenient for you, and you’d prefer to receive prayer updates delivered to your Email inbox, you can subscribe by giving us your Email address (use the box on the right hand column of this blog’s main page.) If you have any questions, just ask.

Prayer makes a difference. Will you be involved?

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Number of Abortions in China is “Cause for Concern”

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

There are 13 million abortions each year, compared to 20 million births, according to newly published research.
Researchers believe the real figure could be even higher because there are many abortions at unregistered clinics.

abortions_birthsChina imposed strict family planning rules in the 1970s in an attempt to limit the growth of its population.

Many pregnant women who have had their full quota of children have abortions to prevent unwanted births.
But young single women are most likely to have abortions in a country where there are 20 million births each year, the research found.

Experts said the high number of abortions was “cause for concern”, adding that many women who have abortions are single and aged between 20 and 29.

China began restricting the number of children each couple can have in 1978. Officials say this has prevented 400 million extra births.

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August Pray4Yueyang Calendar

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

August-2009The August Prayer Calendar for the people of Yueyang, China is available for viewing and download. Please take a minute to download this month’s calendar and to print it out and post somewhere where you will be reminded daily to pray for the people of Yueyang!

As August arrives in Yueyang, summer is in full swing. Most students are having some sort of ’summer break’, resuming classes for the new fall term in September. Yueyang is hot, no, Yueyang is REALLY hot in the summer! The pace across the city slows down just a notch or two as people adapt to the heat and general lack of air conditioning in homes and places of business.

One nice side effect of the August heat is that the city’s residents become even more social than usual, invading the city’s parks and public spaces every night with people of all ages who go out after dark to enjoy the ‘relative’ coolness of the evening. It is not uncommon for there to be several hundred to even several thousand people milling around the city square or the Yueyang Tower park. Some Yueyang Christians who are trying to become more obedient in the area of evangelism have been taking advantage of the fact that so many people are out in public spaces just ‘hanging out’. Please pray for these faithful believers who are stepping out on faith in order to be obedient to the Scriptural command for ALL believers to share their faith with others.

If keeping track of the Pray4Yueyang blog is not very convenient for you, and you’d prefer to receive prayer updates delivered to your Email inbox, you can subscribe by giving us your Email address (use the box on the right hand column of this blog’s main page.) If you have any questions, just ask.

Prayer makes a difference. Will you be involved?

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July Pray4Yueyang Calendar

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

July-2009The July Prayer Calendar for the people of Yueyang, China is available for viewing and download. Please take a minute to download this month’s calendar and to print it out and post somewhere where you will be reminded daily to pray for the people of Yueyang!

The month of July in China begins with the celebration of the Anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (中国共产党诞辰).

The Communist Party of China (CPC), also known as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and the ruling political party of the People’s Republic of China and the world’s largest political party. The Communist Party of China was founded in 1921, and came to rule all of mainland China after defeating its rival the Kuomintang (KMT) in the Chinese Civil War. The party’s 70 million members constitute 5.5% of the total population of mainland China.

By many estimates, there are more Christians in China (approx 100 Million) than there are Communists Party Members. However, the CCP holds a tight grip on every aspect of life for China’s 1.3 Billion citizens. Please pray for all 70 million members of China’s Communist Party. Ask that those who already have a faith in Christ will live out their faith with bold obedience and that those who do not believe will at least have a chance to hear the gospel explained fairly and clearly in a manner in which they can understand.

If keeping track of the Pray4Yueyang blog is not very convenient for you, and you’d prefer to receive prayer updates delivered to your Email inbox, you can subscribe by giving us your Email address (use the box on the right hand column of this blog’s main page.) If you have any questions, just ask.

Prayer makes a difference. Will you be involved?

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June Prayer Calendar

Monday, June 1st, 2009

june-2009-smallThe June Prayer Calendar for the people of Yueyang, China is available for viewing and download. Please take a minute to download this month’s calendar and to print it out and post somewhere where you will be reminded daily to pray for the people of Yueyang!

The month of June in China begins with the celebration of  the “International Children’s Day“  (六一国际儿童节).

When the People’s Republic of China was first established in 1949, the government established a holiday for all primary schools on June 1.  Schools usually hold activities such as field trips to local parks or other free activities on Children’s Day to allow students to have fun.  On June 1, 2009 the day was made even more memorable, as many people remembered the children who died in the massive Sichuan earthquake just a year before.

For many people in America, having a “Mother’s Day” or a “Father’s Day” makes sense, but a day to celebrate “Children” seems strange (isn’t EVERY day children’s day?!)  In many ways, this is a great illustration of the cultural values that have evolved in a country with a one-child policy and every family having their own “little emperor” upon which all the hopes of a family reside.

Pray that families all across Yueyang will come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ during the month of June.  Ask that people would begin to shift their hope for the future away from unrealistic ambitions for their children and onto their Creator and Savior who can meet every need.

If keeping track of the Pray4Yueyang blog is not very convenient for you, and you’d prefer to receive prayer updates delivered to your Email inbox, you can subscribe by giving us your Email address (use the box on the right hand column of this blog’s main page.) If you have any questions, just ask.

Prayer makes a difference. Will you be involved?

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100 Million Chinese Suffer from Mental Illness

Friday, May 15th, 2009

A recent report gives a somewhat rare look into an issue that doesn’t get talked about much, but an issue that should enter into our thinking when praying for all the diverse groups of people that make up Yueyang, China.

A senior mental health official says that at least 100 million Chinese people, or 7.7% of the population, suffer from mental illness, the Telegraph reports.

“This is a modest number,” Huang Yueqin, the director of the National Center for Mental Health, told the paper, noting that actual figures may be much higher. By her own estimate, Huang says a third of her university classmates have had some form of mental illness.

The WHO notes that mental illness has overtaken heart disease and cancer as the largest burden on China’s health care system. There are few mental health professionals working in China today, and Huang estimates that only 5% of China’s mentally ill seek treatment.

To be fair, “100 million” sounds like a HUGE number, but in relation to the total population of China, this is actually a lower percentage than what is reported in the USA.

If the percentage holds, there would be well over 100,000 mentally ill people in Yueyang city alone!  A sobering realization.  Please be in prayer for the people of Yueyang.

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May Prayer Calendar

Friday, May 1st, 2009

may-2009The May Prayer Calendar for the people of Yueyang, China is available for viewing and download. Please take a minute to download this month’s calendar and to print it out and post somewhere where you will be reminded daily to pray for the people of Yueyang!

The beginning of May marks the “International Labor Day” celebration (国际劳动节) across China.

May Day is synonymous with International Workers’ Day, or Labour Day, which celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labour movement. As a day of celebration the holiday has ancient origins, and it can relate to many customs that have survived into modern times. Many of these customs are due to May Day being a cross-quarter day, meaning that in the Northern Hemisphere it falls approximately halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice.

Unlike previous years in which Chinese were given a full week off of work to celebrate, this year workers and students only get a ‘long weekend’ with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off of work and school.  Supposedly this is to ease the tremendous burden that would normally be caused by millions of people trying to return home to visit family, wives, husbands, children, parents.

It is very common for families to live apart as career ambitions take priority over family responsibility.  With the May holiday cut so short this year, even more stress is placed on families that will not get a chance to be together when they otherwise would have.  Please pray for hurting and struggling families in Yueyang.  Ask that first and foremost, entire households would come to faith in Jesus Christ and then as that happens, that the priorities will shift away from materialism and will result in healthier and stronger families in our city.

If keeping track of the Pray4Yueyang blog is not very convenient for you, and you’d prefer to receive prayer updates delivered to your Email inbox, you can subscribe by giving us your Email address (use the box on the right hand column of this blog’s main page.) If you have any questions, just ask.

Prayer makes a difference. Will you be involved?

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