Merciful Heavenly Father: A Glimpse Into the Weekly Prayer Life of Early Rain Covenant Church

Editor’s note: This excerpt from the regular, weekly prayer journal of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu gives a glimpse into what Chinese churches are praying for, and how they are exhorting themselves to follow Christ in the midst of difficulty.


Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

Eph. 5:15-21

1. Pray for the pandemic in Chengdu and nationwide

Merciful Heavenly Father, we pray to you for the pandemic situation in Chengdu! First of all, we thank you that the spread of the pandemic is under control. Over the past two weeks, tens of millions of people in Chengdu have undergone nucleic acid tests. Thousands of people are still under centralized quarantine, and many more are under various restrictions. However, the pandemic did not continue to spread. You protected the lives of the people from the virus through the government, the hospitals, and the health system. You protected your people in this city. You also protected those who did not know you, and even those who resisted and persecuted your church. Lord, we give thanks to you for your grace and love! 

Lord, for the sake of your people, please further prevent the spread of the plague in Chengdu, so that we may quickly resume in-person worship and fellowship, and that we may be free to preach the gospel of your grace to the people in this city. 


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“Lord, let the people of the land turn to the true hope in their despair; let the ears of many be opened to hear the call of your mercy, and let the hearts of many be turned away from idols, visible and invisible, and to the one true God.


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Lord, we also pray for other places in the country where the cases are multiplying, especially for Dalian in Liaoning, Heihe in Heilongjiang, Zhengzhou in Henan, Xinji in Hebei, Shangrao in Jiangxi, Dehong in Yunnan, etc. We pray that you would have mercy on the people in this generation, whose lives are already made difficult due to the very strict COVID-19 prevention and control policies. Lord, may you stop the spread of the virus in China. Lord, let the people of the land turn to the true hope in their despair; let the ears of many be opened to hear the call of your mercy, and let the hearts of many be turned away from idols, visible and invisible, and to the one true God.

2. Pray for Chinese house churches

Righteous Father in heaven, we come to you in repentance for the Chinese house churches’ reserved approaches and competition among ourselves in the midst of persecution for the purpose of self-preservation! Lord, you are holy, and you ask us to live out holiness in the world. Not only are we to live according to your holy law, but we are also “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.” 

Lord, we need to repent before you. In many things we have not testified to your righteousness and have fallen short of your mercy. We did not pray for the people of Hong Kong, nor did we pray for the people of Xinjiang. We did not even pray for our brothers and sisters in bondage, which included our lack of prayers for our sister, Zhang Zhan, as she was dying. We dare not rebuke evil, nor do we have any good deeds to testify to the gospel. In this crooked and perverse age, all we hope for is to preserve ourselves. 

Lord, may your holy and good Spirit rebuke us, and your gracious Spirit uphold us, so that we may be strong and courageous, and remain faithful in the midst of persecution. Let us not count the gains and losses of this life, but with the kingdom and the gospel of the last days in mind, bear witness and glorify your name!

3. Pray for Christian education

Almighty Father, we cry out to you for the dilemma we are facing with Christian education! Lord, we thank you that you have opened the eyes of tens of thousands of Christians to the nature of atheistic education. You have opened the eyes of numerous parents to see the picture of spiritual warfare, and you have stirred our hearts to bring our own children out of the devil’s lies. 

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“Lord, we need to repent before you. In many things we have not testified to your righteousness and have fallen short of your mercy. We did not pray for the people of Hong Kong, nor did we pray for the people of Xinjiang. We did not even pray for our brothers and sisters in bondage…We dare not rebuke evil, nor do we have any good deeds to testify to the gospel. In this crooked and perverse age, all we hope for is to preserve ourselves.

Yet how should we walk this path? Lord, have mercy on us! In many places, churches either lack vision or lack resources, and Christian parents are not effectively supported. In addition, in many homeschooling places where church schools and Christian educational institutions exist, they are constantly being persecuted and besieged by the government. Lord, we pray for courage and wisdom to rely on your grace in every situation and always bring our children to you, no matter how difficult it is. We long for this so that we may equip them with knowledge that has been renewed by biblical truth and a biblical worldview, so that they may be of use to you in the future. May they become a new generation of well-trained soldiers, sent by the Lord to spread the gospel and revive the church in China.

4. Pray for Pastor Wang Yi, Elder Qin Defu, and Elder Zhang Chunlei

Gracious Father, we ask you to show grace to your servants who are suffering for the sake of Christ! Lord, it has been almost eight months since the arrest of your servant Elder Zhang Chunlei, and his lawyer has not been able to meet with him for three or four months. According to the indictment from the prosecutor’s office, the Guiyang Public Security Bureau believes that “Zhang Chunlei does not have the qualification of religious clergy issued by the Chinese government, but he gathers people in the name of religion without authorization and defrauds believers of about 100,000 yuan [about $15,700 USD] which constitutes the crime of fraud.” 

O Lord, we pray for justice for your servant! You commanded us that “those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” If a preacher receiving a salary from the church constitutes fraud, then there are many preachers in China today who will be condemned along with him. We pray that the wiles of the Evil One will not succeed! If not, we pray that we will be able to bear the burden and glory that the Lord has given us by your grace. 

We ask that the Lord will be with Pastor Wang Yi and Elder Defu every day. May the Lord give them the incomparable breadth and riches of the Holy Spirit in narrow places, the great light of your Word in dark places, and always grant them the hope that the Lord has won and that he will come again in the land of despair!

Lord, please help us and grant us double joy!

In the triumphant name of Jesus Christ, Amen!


Author bio, such as: [Author Name] is a pseudonym for a pastor serving urban Chinese house churches.

 

FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION

Join Chinese brothers and sisters in praying for the spread of COVID across the globe; in repenting for the church’s myopic behavior and feeble prayer life; in lifting up Christian families seeking to raise their children in the Lord; and in prayer for those who are in chains for the sake of the gospel.

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

With rising pressure and persecution in China, there are two challenges imperative for church leaders. The first challenge is for current leaders to love Christ above all else, and not to stray into legalism or love of the world. The second challenge is to raise up the next generation of leaders, who will humbly model Jesus even if current leaders are arrested.

WILL YOU JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA? PRAY FOR:

  1. Current leaders to grow in their daily walks with Christ
  2. Current leaders to shepherd and raise up new leaders
  3. New leaders who love Christ and will model him to the world
  4. New leaders to love and care for the church

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ABOUT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

About Shenyang

Shenyang is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Liaoning Province. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, including the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shenyang is also a hub for China’s heavy industry, with companies such as the China First Automobile Group and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation having their headquarters in the city.

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About Qingdao

Qingdao is a city located in eastern China and is famous for its beaches, beer, and seafood. The city is home to several landmarks, including the Zhanqiao Pier and the Badaguan Scenic Area. Qingdao is also a major port and has a thriving economy, with industries such as electronics, petrochemicals, and machinery.

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About Xiamen

Xiamen is a city located in southeastern China and is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful coastal scenery, including Gulangyu Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also a hub for China’s high-tech industry, with companies such as Huawei and ZTE having research and development centers in Xiamen.

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About Chongqing

Chongqing is a city located in southwestern China and is a major economic center in the region. The city is known for its spicy cuisine, especially its hot pot dishes, and is also famous for the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Chongqing is also home to several historic sites, including the Dazu Rock Carvings, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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About Nanjing

Nanjing is a city located in eastern China and is the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is one of China’s ancient capitals and has a rich cultural history, including the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Nanjing City Wall, and the Confucius Temple. Nanjing is also a modern city with a thriving economy and is home to several universities, including Nanjing University and Southeast University.

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About Changchun

Changchun is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Jilin Province. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and is home to several historical landmarks such as the Puppet Emperor’s Palace and the Jingyuetan National Forest Park. Changchun is also a hub for China’s automotive industry, with several major automobile manufacturers having their headquarters in the city.

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About Guangzhou

Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is a city located in southern China and is the capital of Guangdong Province. It is one of the country’s largest and most prosperous cities, serving as a major transportation and trading hub for the region. Guangzhou is renowned for its modern architecture, including the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House, as well as its Cantonese cuisine, which is famous for its variety and bold flavors. The city also has a rich history, with landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Additionally, Guangzhou hosts the annual Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in China.

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About Kunming

Kunming is a city located in southwest China and is the capital of Yunnan Province. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its mild climate, Kunming is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and cultural diversity. The city is home to several scenic spots, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Stone Forest, Dian Lake, and the Western Hills. Kunming is also famous for its unique cuisine, which features a mix of Han, Yi, and Bai ethnic flavors. The city has a rich cultural history, with ancient temples and shrines like the Yuantong Temple and the Golden Temple, and it’s also a hub for Yunnan’s ethnic minority cultures, such as the Yi and Bai peoples.

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About Shenzhen

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About Chengdu

Chengdu is a city located in the southwestern region of China, and the capital of Sichuan province. It has a population of over 18 million people, and it is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, laid-back lifestyle, and its cute and cuddly residents – the giant pandas. Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where visitors can observe these adorable creatures in their natural habitat. The city also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with numerous temples, museums, and historical sites scattered throughout its boundaries. Chengdu is a city of contrasts, with ancient traditions coexisting alongside modern developments, making it an intriguing and fascinating destination for visitors to China. 

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About Beijing

Beijing is the capital city of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 21 million people. The city has a rich history that spans over 3,000 years, and it has served as the capital of various dynasties throughout China’s history. Beijing is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in China, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. The city is also a hub for political, cultural, and educational activities, with numerous universities and research institutions located within its boundaries. Beijing is renowned for its traditional architecture, rich cuisine, and vibrant cultural scene, making it a must-visit destination for travelers to China.

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About Shanghai

Shanghai is a vibrant and dynamic city located on the eastern coast of China. It is the largest city in China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 24 million people. Shanghai is a global financial hub and a major center for international trade, with a rich history and culture that spans over 1,000 years. The city is famous for its iconic skyline, which features towering skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Tower. Shanghai is also home to a diverse culinary scene, world-class museums and art galleries, and numerous shopping districts. It is a city that is constantly evolving and reinventing itself, making it a fascinating destination for visitors from around the world.

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