Faces of Children: Prayer Requests

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Prayer Concerns for the week of 01/07/09

Palestine, Israel
• Please be in prayer for the children of Israel and Palestine as the violence escalates between Israel and the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.
• Pray for those who have been wounded, lost family members, friends, or homes in the Israeli air strikes and Hamas cross-border rocket attacks.
• Pray for Israeli and Palestinian children who are programmed to hate one another because of an entrenched tradition of violence and vengeance.
• Pray for an immediate ceasefire and for a long term, peaceful resolution to this relentless conflict.
A report from alertnet.org
Another report from alertnet.org
A report from the BBC
A report from the Washington Post

Guatemala
• Give thanks to God for answered prayers regarding a little girl who was raped several years ago. Thanks be to God that she is in recovery and that the person who hurt her is in prison. Please continue to pray for her healing.
• Please be in prayer for the leaders of AMI San Lucas, a children's ministry in Guatemala, as they prepare for a sponsorship program that will begin next month. Pray that many churches and communities will join in to help children at risk.

South Asia (Youth With A Mission)
• Please pray for the children of South Asia who live in remote places or in tribes and villages where they have little opportunity to receive a good education. Often there are no schools in these areas or the school may only include the first few primary grades.
• Pray for children without access to education who are trapped in the same cycle of poverty as their parents.
• Pray for families who cannot afford to send their children away to school-who are unable to pay for the children's boarding fees in villages with schools.
• Please keep the leadership of King's Kids South Asia, a ministry of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), in prayer as they plan for a school sponsorship program for children who don't have access to education. Pray that God will provide the resources needed to begin this program.

United States
• Please be in prayer for 4-year-old Chelbi who is receiving treatment for rapidly advancing cancer that has spread to her spine. Pray that God's healing hand will be upon this little girl and that God will bring comfort to Chelbi and her family. Pray that God will guide the physicians, nurses and hospital personnel who interact with Chelbi and provide them with an extra measure of compassion for this sick little girl.
• Please continue to pray for 1-year-old Grace*, her foster family, and her birth family as the court date to determine Grace's permanent placement draws near. Grace was placed with this foster family when she was four days old-she knows no other parents. And Grace's foster parents want very much to adopt her.
     ○ Pray for Grace and her birth father's family as they mourn this man's death. Grace's birth father died of a suspected overdose several days after he was released from prison. Please continue to pray for healing and peace for Grace's birth family which has a history of substance abuse, domestic violence, child neglect/abuse, and imprisonment.
     ○ Pray that everyone involved with this case will be guided by what is in Grace's best interest. Pray for the social workers, the legal personnel, the new judge on the case, and the child advocates.
• Please continue to pray for 2-year-old Irene* and 4-year-old Victoria* who are in foster care and have special medical needs. Pray that a loving adoptive home will be found for these little girls. Please pray that they will make significant progress with their mental and physical development in the new year.
* Names changed for confidentiality and/or protection.

Faces of Children
• Please continue to pray that more churches and individuals will join with the ministry of Faces of Children in spreading awareness about children in crisis and inviting more people to pray for children at risk.