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 02/18/09

Australia
• Please be in prayer for children and families affected by the bushfires that have claimed the lives of more than 170 people and destroyed some rural communities in southern Australia.
• Pray for those who have lost relatives and friends, homes, schools, and businesses in the wildfires that have plagued the state of Victoria.
A report from the BBC

Iraq
• Give thanks to God for the relatively violence-free election day late last month that allowed Iraqi citizens to vote for local representatives. Pray that peace and political stability will become the norm in this war torn nation, and not the exception.
• Please continue to pray for the children of Iraq who have witnessed so much violence. Pray for children who are desensitized to death and destruction. Please pray for all children in war torn areas.
• Pray for children who have witnessed the deaths of parents, siblings, family members, friends or neighbors. Pray for those who struggle with psychological disorders as a result of this kind of trauma. Pray they will have access to counseling and therapists to help them cope.
• Pray for orphaned children and for those who have been abandoned by parents unable to provide for them any longer. Pray they will have a safe place in which to grow, compassionate caregivers and hope for a brighter future.
• Pray that the children of Iraq may have access to food, medical care, and education.
A report from the New York Times

Kenya (CURE International)
• Pray for the disabled children receiving treatment at the CURE International Hospital in Kenya and for the medical staff and caregivers there. Please also pray for 16-year-old Dominic and for these girls: 10-year-old Susan, 10-year-old Teresiah, 13-year-old Jackline and 15-year-old Caroline.

North Korea
• Please continue to pray for the children of North Korea who are abused, used and neglected in appalling ways. The government of North Korea has one of the worst human rights records in the world, according to the European Union, the U.S. and other groups.
• Pray for children who are arrested and put into detention centers because their parents or relatives have been imprisoned first. The North Korean regime often practices guilt by association to maintain control. Please keep these children in prayer as they are forced to work, deprived of an education, and deprived of their freedom.
• Pray for children who have no access to education in this destitute state. A Seoul-based human rights organization says the school system is failing in the North and that has led to increased illiteracy and higher dropout rates.
• Please pray for children who are forced to work on farms, at factories, or scavenge for materials to be used by the military or local authorities.
• Pray for children in poorer areas who are deprived of much needed international food aid. Teachers, who are supposed to distribute the food, often sell it to the children or to local merchants. Part of the food aid is also diverted to children of the privileged class.
A report from alertnet.org

Pakistan
• Please keep the staff and volunteers of Christ Children Evangelism (CCE) in prayer as they minister to the children of Pakistan.
• Give thanks to God for their successful children's Christmas rally last December.
• Please pray that God will provide for the children with whom CCE works and also provide the resources this ministry needs to be effective ambassadors of Jesus Christ in a predominately Muslim country.

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.