[__ Prayer __] china

[totallylovedbygod65]

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The southern city of Guangzhou, once called Canton, is the heart of Cantonese culture. Cantonese culture fills the entire Pearl River Delta region, both in Guangzhou and in close neighboring cities like Foshan. With its long history as a port, this region was once the sole gateway between China and the rest of the world. This month, we are praying for the city of Guangzhou and the surrounding region. Will you join us as we pray for house churches in Guangzhou? This Week's Prayer Guide November 3 - This November, we are praying for the southern city of Guangzhou and its neighbor, Foshan. Pray for the gospel to go deeper and wider among the churches and people of Guangzhou and Foshan. November 4 - Guangzhou was once called Canton by the British, and is the center of Cantonese culture and language. This is coupled with its unique Cantonese cuisine, Cantonese opera, and Cantonese architecture. Pray for the gospel to continue to renew Cantonese churches and for more churches to be planted. November 5 - Guangzhou has a long history as one of China’s most important ports. During the Qing dynasty, the Canton System filtered all of China’s trade through Guangzhou, until the First Opium War when the British demanded the Qing government open up more trading ports. Today, Guangzhou remains one of China’s most international cities. Pray that God would use Guangzhou as a strategic center for the gospel to go out into the whole world. November 6 - Guangzhou is closely connected to neighboring cities like Foshan. Culturally, they share a Cantonese foundation, although in Foshan the pace of life is slower and there are more locals. Pray for churches in these neighboring areas, that they may be deeply-rooted in the gospel and deeply-rooted in their cities. November 7 - A pastor in Guangzhou shares that the historical clan-centered culture of the city is still impactful today: “Historically, people gathered by surname, and due to the clan system, their xenophobia was much stronger than in other regions. As the gospel moved into rural areas centered around ancestral halls, it faced greater resistance. Although the Cultural Revolution weakened this clan culture somewhat, it remains strong in the Guangzhou-Foshan area.” Pray for the gospel to break through clan barriers, that all people may come to know Christ. November 8 - In 1957, the Canton Fair was established in Guangzhou, one of China's largest and most important international trade showcases. The annual International Flora Expo has earned it the nickname “Flower City.” In a city where goods and beautiful flowers are regularly on display, pray that the goodness and beauty of Christ would also be on display. November 9 - A pastor in Guangzhou shares, “people here are more pragmatic and low-key compared to other regions. They emphasize practicality in everything: business, work, and even idol worship. They evaluate whether something is useful, and if not, they quickly move on to something else.” Pray for churches in Guangzhou to be wise in ministering to this pragmatic culture. 11月3日——今年11月a，我们为广州南部城市及其邻城佛山祈祷。祈求福音在广州和佛山的教会和百姓中传播得更深更广。 11月4日——广州曾被英国人称为“Canton”，是粤语文化和语言的中心。此外，广州还拥有独特的粤菜、粤剧和粤式建筑。请为福音继续更新粤语教会和建立更多教会祷告。 11月5日——广州作为中国最重要的港口之一，有着悠久的历史。在清朝实施闭关锁国政策后，中国所有对外贸易都必须通过广州的十三行，直到第一次鸦片战争后英国要求清政府开通更多的港口。今天，广州仍然是中国最国际化的城市之一。求主使用广州成为福音传遍全世界的战略中心。 11月6日——广州与佛山紧密相连。从文化上来说，它们有着共同的广府文化底蕴。佛山的生活节奏更慢些，本地居民更多。为佛山教会祷告，愿福音深深扎根在这个城市里。 11月7日——广州的一位牧师分享道，广州以宗族为中心的历史文化至今仍具有影响力：“从历史上看，人们按姓氏聚集，由于宗族制度，他们的排外情绪比其他地区强烈。当福音进入以祠堂为中心的乡镇时，它面临着更大的阻力。虽然经历了文化大革命和多年来当局对粤语文化的弱化政策，这种宗族文化被削弱，但它在广州-佛山地区仍然有很大影响力。” 为福音冲破宗族藩篱祈祷，愿所有人都能认识基督。 11月8日——1957年，广交会是中国最大的国际贸易展示会之一。一年一度的国际花卉博览会为广州赢得了“花城”的绰号。在这个商品和鲜花经常展出的城市，为基督的美好和美丽也能得到展示祈祷。 11月9日——一位牧师分享道：“与其他地区相比，这里的人们更务实、更低调。他们凡事注重实用性：做生意、工作，甚至崇拜偶像。他们评估某件事是否有用，如果没用，就会迅速转向其他事情，包括上香敬拜的偶像。” 为广佛的教会祷告，让他们能够有智慧的面对这种文化。