Beijing Olympic Prayer Guide

At exactly 8.08 on August 8, 2008, the eyes of the world will be focused on China during the Olympic Games in Beijing. This prayer journal provides a way for Christians outside of China to focus their spiritual eyes on the Lord Jesus and on China’s needs. We chose a 40-day period to imitate the time Jesus prayed and fasted in the wilderness.

This prayer journal has a definite, though perhaps not simple, goal. The goal is to help you glorify God through prayer (and perhaps fasting) focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ and the Olympic games.

August 8, 2008 - The Olympics – An Overview

Venue Cities: Beijing, Hong Kong, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai,, Shenyang, Tianjin

1. Pray for China’s president Hu Jintao and for the mayors of the seven Chinese cities hosting Olympic events to know the Lord and to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.

2. Pray for Liu Peng, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, to follow Christ and to practice justice, mercy and faithfulness.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to see the Lord Jesus as he is truly revealed in the Bible and to fill their land with his glory.

August 9, 2008 – Archery

Venue: Olympic Green Archery Field

1. China has won 4 Olympic silver medals in archery. Pray for Xue Haifeng and Zhang Juanjuan and for their coach Yang Changxun as they seek to win China’s first gold.

2. Pray for God to be glorified as China’s Olympians come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus and to see and savor His glory.

August 10, 2008 – Artistic Gymnastics

Venue: National Indoor Stadium

1. China has won 13 Olympic gold medals in artistic gymnastics. Pray for Yang Wei and He Ning and for their coaches Huang Yubin and Liu Qunlin.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to find healing for their souls by restoring the glory of God to the center of their lives.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to know and treasure the glory of God above all things.

August 11, 2008 – Badminton

Venue: Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium

1. Chinese athletes have won eight gold medals in badminton. Pray for Lin Dan and Zhang Ning and for their coaches Li Yongbo and Tang Xuehua.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to receive Jesus’ most loving gift, to see the glory which the Father has given Him.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to experience the final aim of the gospel, to see and savor and show the glory of Jesus Christ.

August 12, 2008 – Baseball

Venue: Wukesong Baseball Field

1. Pray for team captain Zhang Yufeng and for coach Jim Lefevre as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medal in baseball.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to receive salvation from Jesus, the Word who was in the beginning, who was with God, and who was God.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to worship the Christ who is glorious, so that rich or poor, sick or sound, they might be satisfied in him.

August 13, 2008 – Basketball

Venue: Wukesong Indoor Stadium

1. Pray for basketball players Yao Ming and Miao Lijie and for their coaches Jonas Kazlauskas and Tom Maher as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medals in both men’s and women’s basketball.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to realize that Jesus Christ is not just one of the great human sages but is the divine, eternal Creator of the Universe.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to give glory to the divine Son of God.

August 14, 2008 – Beach Volleyball

Venue: Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground

1. Pray for Li Jian, Zhou Shun (men), Xue Chen and Zhang Xi (women) and for their coach Miao Zhihong as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medal in beach volleyball.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to know I AM, who created them and loves them.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to proclaim the joy of waiting, not for a mere man, but for our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.

August 15, 2008 – Boxing

Venue: Workers Indoor Arena

1. China has won one Olympic medal in boxing. Pray for Zou Shiming and for his coach Li Qingsheng as they seek to win China’s first Olympic gold.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to bow in worship before Christ, the Lion and the Lamb.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to take heart from Christ’s admirable conjunction of excellencies.

August 16, 2008 – Cycling

Venue: Laoshan Velodrome (track cycling)

1. Pray for Song Baoqing and Li Meifang and for their coaches Wang Baoqing and Wang Xiaoru as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medal in cycling.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to marvel before the lion-like Lamb and lamb-like Lion.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to have eyes able to see the fullness of the excellence of the Lord Jesus.

August 17, 2008 – Diving

Venue: National Aquatics Center

1. Chinese divers have won 20 Olympic gold medals. Pray for He Chong and Guo Jingjing and for their coaches Zhang Ting and Zhong Shaozhen.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to find rest in the gentleness and humility of Christ the Lamb.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to take heart from the absolute authority over all reality of Christ the Lion.

August 18, 2008 – Equestrian

Venue: Hong Kong

1. Pray for equestrians Alex Hua Tian and Jacqueline W.Y. Siu.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to become glad in the Lord Jesus.

3. Pray for China’s Christians to rejoice in the reality that Christ not only offers himself as the divine object of our joy, but also pours his capacity for joy into those who are his.

August 19, 2008 – Fencing

Venue: Fencing Hall

1. China has won one gold medal in fencing. Pray for fencers Wang Lei and Tan Xue and for their coaches Christian Bauer and Mao Weixun.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to find indestructible joy in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to manifest the great Savior whose eternal joy is to be neither gloomy nor glib.

August 20, 2008 – Soccer / Football

Venue: Worker’s Stadium

1. Pray for captains Zheng Zhi and Pu Wei and for their coaches Fu Laduo and Duo Man as they seek to win China’s first Olympic gold medals in both men’s and women’s soccer.

2. China’s only Olympic soccer medal is the silver won by the women’s team at the 1996 Olympics. Praise God that goalkeeper Gao Hong now follows Him.

3. Pray for China’s Olympians to worship Christ, whose gladness comes from receiving the worship of those he died to make glad in God.

August 21, 2008 – Handball

Venue: National Indoor Stadium

1. Pray for Cui Liang and Li Weiwei and for their coaches Yan Weiming and Jiang Zaiyuan as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medals in both men’s and women’s handball.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to find salvation in the Christ whose power knows no limits.

3. Praise God for the Christians in China who have faced much adversity and, like Job, have chosen to worship and not to curse the Lord.

August 22, 2008 – Field Hockey

Venue: Olympic Green Hockey Field

1. Pray for team captains Li Wei and Ma Yibo and for their coaches Jin Xianglie and Jin Changbo as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medals in both men’s and women’s field hockey.

2. Pray that China’s Olympians may see the Lord in the wind and waves, and then choose to worship Him.

3. Pray for many in the Chinese Church who have come to Christ through signs and wonders to receive sound Bible teaching as they grow in their faith.

August 23, 2008 – Judo

Venue: University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium

1. China has won 5 Olympic goal medals in judo. Pray for Guo Lei and Gao Feng and for their coaches Liu Junlin and Liu Yongfu.

2. Pray for the souls of China’s Olympians to be still before the Lord and to worship Him.

3. Praise God for the hymns being written today by Chinese Christians.

August 24, 2008 – Modern Pentathlon

Venue: Olympic Sports Center Stadium

1. Pray for Qian Zhenhua and Dong Le’an and for their coaches Zhang Wenbin and Wang Zhongnian as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medal in the modern pentathlon.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to have their breath taken away as they hear the wisdom of Christ.

3. Pray for Chinese pastors to drink in the wisdom of God’s Word and train up a multitude of mature followers of the Lord Jesus.

August 25, 2008 – Rhythmic Gymnastics

Venue: Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium

1. Pray for Xiao Yiming and for her coach Zhuo Xianlin as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medal in rhythmic gymnastics.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to humble themselves and accept the Christ whose wisdom is complete and perfect.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to receive with thanksgiving the good and perfect wisdom that comes down from the Father of Lights.

August 26, 2008 – Rowing, Canoe / Kayak

Venue: Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park

1. China has won four Olympic rowing medals and a canoeing gold medal. Pray for Yang Wenjun and Zhong Hongyan and for their coaches Josef Capousek and Wang Zhihong.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to realize that only Jesus Christ has the answer to the deepest questions of their hearts and minds.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to have confidence that the Lord Jesus is utterly trustworthy in the midst of their rapidly changing world.

August 27, 2008 – Sailing

Venue: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center

1. Pray for Yao Xinhao and Xu Lijia and for their coaches Qi Jianguo and Liu Xiaoma as they seek to win China’s first Olympic gold medal in sailing.

2. Pray for Olympians in Qingdao to care less about their great name and more about their relationship with the Master.

3. Pray for young Chinese Christians not to lose heart if they are slandered and persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.

August 28, 2008 – Shooting – Target

Venue: Beijing Shooting Range Hall

1. China has won 14 gold medals in Olympic shooting events. Pray for target shooters Zhu Qinan and Du Li and for Sun Shengwei, who has coached the national team since 1981.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to know the Savior who chose God’s amazing disgrace so that they might know God’s amazing grace.

3. Pray for Christians in China to praise the Lord even when they are falsely accused as they spread the gospel.

August 29, 2008 – Shooting – Trap

Venue: Beijing Shooting Range Clay Target Field

1. Pray for trap shooters Hu Binyuan and Wei Ning and for shooting coaches Wang Yuefang and Jiang Zexiang.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to put their faith in the perfect Lamb whose disgraceful death paid the price of their sins.

3. Pray for this long winter of the Chinese Church to yield to a springtime of peace.

August 30, 2008 – Softball

Venue: Fengtai Softball Field

1. China won the silver medal in softball at the 1996 Olympics. Pray for team captain Li Chunxia and for her coach Wang Lihong as they try to win China’s first Olympic softball gold.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to marvel at the suffering Christ endured in order to bring them peace with God.

3. Pray for Christians in China who have suffered for the Lord.

September 1, 2008 – Swimming

Venue: National Aquatics Center

1. Chinese swimmers have won six Olympic medals. Pray for Chen Zuo and Xu Yanwei and for their coaches Chang Yichun and Chan Yunpeng.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to bow down in true worship before the Christ who willingly chose to suffer for their sins.

3. Pray for patient endurance for Chinese Christians who continue to preach the gospel despite great difficulties.

September 2, 2008 – Synchronized Swimming

Venue: National Aquatics Center

1. Pray for Jiang Tingting and Jiang Wenwen and for their coach Wang Jia as they attempt to win China’s first Olympic medal in synchronized swimming.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to give glory to the Savior who gave His life for them.

3. Praise God for the amazing growth the Chinese church has experienced after many years of suffering.

September 3, 2008 – Table Tennis

Venue: The Peking University Gymnasium

1. Chinese athletes have won 16 Olympic gold medals in table tennis. Pray for Ma Lin and Guo Yue and for their coaches Liu Guoliang and Han Huan.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to renounce the promises of Satan and take pleasure in the greater glory of Christ.

3. Pray that Chinese Christians would praise God for His grace in allowing them to see the superior beauty and worth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

September 4, 2008 – Taekwondo

Venue: University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium

1. Chinese athletes have won 3 Olympic medals in taekwondo. Pray for Wang Hao and Chen Zhong and for their coaches Wang Runqiang and Lu Xiudong.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to find eternal life in the Christ who triumphed over sin and Satan on the cross.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to rejoice in the good news that the weapon of soul-destroying sin and guilt has been taken out of Satan’s hand.

September 5, 2008 – Tennis

Venue: Olympic Green Tennis Center

1. Chinese athletes have won one Olympic medal in tennis. Pray for Yu Xinyuan and Sun Tiantian and for their coaches Sa Dun and Yu Liqiao.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to love the Heavenly Father who is both stronger than Satan and infinitely more desirable.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to understand that Christ has triumphed over Satan, not by putting him out of existence, but by letting him live and watch while millions of saints find forgiveness for their sins.

September 6, 2008 – Track and Field

Venue: National Stadium

1. Chinese athletes have won 13 Olympic medals in track and field. Pray for Liu Xiang and Zhou Chunxiu and for their coaches Feng Shuyong and Liang Shongli.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to call on the great mercy of the Lord.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to thank the Lord for showing the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

September 7, 2008 – Trampoline

Venue: National Indoor Stadium

1. Chinese athletes have won 1 Olympic trampoline medal. Pray for athletes Que Zhicheng and Huang Shanshan and for their coach Zhuo Xianlin.

2. Pray for China’s trampoline Olympians to know that the Lord Jesus will mercifully touch every one of their needs and pains.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to draw upon the lavish mercies of Christ and overlook the many transgressions

committed against them.

September 8, 2008 – Triathlon

Venue: Ming Tomb Reservoir

1. Pray for Jiang Zhihang and Wang Hongni and for their coach Meng Chaoyi as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medal in the triathlon.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to meet many followers of the Savior who is the incarnation and manifestation of the wealth of the mercy of God.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to minister with the insight that mercy is the ultimate meaning of God’s law.

September 9, 2008 – Volleyball

Venue: Capitol Indoor Stadium

1. China’s women’s volleyball team has won Olympic gold twice. Pray for Sui Shengsheng (men’s captain) and Zhou Suhong (women’s captain) and for their coaches Zhou Jian’an and Chen Zhonghe.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to see the tough love of Jesus in the offensive words recorded in the Bible.

3. Pray for Chinese pastors to rely upon the Holy Spirit in discerning when it is appropriate to speak the blunt words of our Lord.

September 10, 2008 – Water Polo

Venue: Ying Tung Natatorium

1. Pray for team captain Tan Feihu and his coach Li Mingguang as they seek to win China’s first Olympic medal in water polo.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to understand that the greatest tragedy anyone can suffer is the failure to escape hell through repentance and faith.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to imitate their Savior and spare no delicate feelings in warning others against hell.

September 11, 2008 – Weightlifting

Venue: Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium

1. Chinese weightlifters have won 16 Olympic gold medals. Pray for Zhang Guozheng and Chen Yanqing and for their coaches Chen Wenbin and Li Shunzhu.

2. Pray for China’s Olympians to listen to the Master’s voice, the voice of strength and truth and righteousness and love.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to proclaim the Savior who sees the severity of our human condition, knows the enemy, will not compromise, and speaks like a conquering King.

September 12, 2008 – Wrestling

Venue: China Agricultural University Gymnasium

1. Chinese athletes have won four Olympic medals in wrestling, including one gold. Pray for wrestlers Jiao Huafeng and Wang Xu and for their coaches Li Guoren and Xu Kuiyuan.

2. Pray that China’s Olympians, like the disciples, would come to realize that the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ death.

3. Pray for young Chinese Christians to overcome their atheistic background and grasp the powerful truth of the resurrection.

September 13, 2008 – Paralympic Table Tennis

Venue: The Peking University Gymnasium

1. Pray for disabled athletes who participate in the Paralympic Games in Beijing, September 6-17.

2. Pray for Zhang Xiaoling, who has won 10 gold’s in the last five Paralympics in women’s singles and doubles table tennis (Physical Disability- Standing Competition).

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to live with the wonderful truth that all the promises of God, purchased by the blood of Christ, become ours in everlasting perpetuity because of the resurrection of Jesus.

September 14, 2008 – Paralympic Swimming

Venue: National Aquatics Center

1. Pray for He Junquan, who won four gold medals in swimming (Physical Disability) at the 2004 Paralympics.

2. Pray for China’s Paralympians to heed God’s call to waken from the stupor of unbelief and to respond as he shines into their minds “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to have confidence in the reality and grandeur of the resurrection as they share their faith with non-believers.

September 15, 2008 – Paralympic Track & Field

Venue: National Stadium

1. Pray for Duan Qifeng, who won gold medals at the Athens Paralympic Games in men’s triple jump and 4×100 meter (Visual Impairment).

2. Pray for China’s Paralympians to live in anticipation of the day when spiritual and physical seeing will coalesce into one overwhelming apprehension of the glory of Christ.

3. Pray that Chinese Christians would not let their affections wander and become indifferent to the second coming of the Lord Jesus.

September 16, 2008 – Paralympic Weightlifting

Venue: Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium

1. Pray for Bian Jianxin, who broke eight world and Paralympic records while winning the gold medal in the weightlifting 48 kg class at the 2004 Paralympics.

2. Pray for China’s Paralympians to repent and avoid the awful wrath of God that will come when “the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire.”

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to be faithful in proclaiming the coming day of judgment.

September 17, 2008 – Paralympic Fencing

Venue: Fencing Hall

1. Pray for Zhang Chong and Zhang Lei, who won the gold medal in the men’s wheelchair fencing foil competition at the 2004 Paralympics.

2. Pray for China’s Paralympians to be awarded crowns of righteousness by the Lord Jesus for having loved His appearing.

3. Pray for Chinese Christians to wait eagerly for the appearance of the Everlasting Giver who jealousy magnifies his grace.

Since the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976, the church in China has grown at an incredible rate. Initially this growth took place mostly in the rural areas of a few provinces. Since the 1980’s, much of the growth has taken place in the cities, especially on college campuses. During this time God also re-kindled a vision in the Chinese church for fulfilling the Great Commission, a vision that began in the 1940’s and is sometimes called the “Back to Jerusalem” movement. In the midst of all this growth, it is sometimes easy to overlook that an estimated 1.3 billion people in China remain unreached.