Deep Hunger

Posted on 18 March 2009.

A survey of college students (quoted in ‘Pray for China’) on “What would make you consider committing suicide?” revealed the following saddening statistics:

• Failure of an interpersonal relationship 59%
• Stress from school work 55%
• Breaking up with a close friend 51%
• Unable to find work after graduation 35%

With the ever-growing pressure to do well at college and the increasing challenge of finding a job after graduation, there has also been an increase in the number of students attempting suicide. How these young people need to know the Lord! Yet, as one of this year’s ASM students recently discovered: “Sadly most have never heard the truth of the Gospel.”

“Students must still attend classes on Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought and the Theory of Jiang Zemin, but it just does not seem to stick. Materialism, individualism and consumerism have a much stronger appeal,” says a report from China Source. “There is a deeper spiritual hunger as the old belief systems of Confucianism and Marxism have been abandoned only to be replaced by the new, empty systems of radical materialism and consumerism. This deep hunger is leading to an increased openness to the claims of the Gospel.”

Indeed, when the Good News was shared, another ASM student reported, “We were amazed at the hunger and depth of the questions that followed.” A co-worker confirmed: “These opportunities are wonderful.”

Pray for students who feel a sense of despair and are considering suicide. Pray that the Lord would reach into their lives to bring hope and meaning.

Pray for every Chinese student to have the opportunity to hear the truth of the Gospel. May they realise that Jesus is the answer to the deep hunger within them.

Pray for Christians to be part of the answer to these prayers (Could that be you?!) and to go to China both short- and long-term to share the Good News.