West Texas Mission Opportunities:Invitation to Prayer

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).

A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children

"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles …” Psalm 34:17

“Prayer is the discipline of listening to that voice of love. Jesus spent many nights in prayer listening to the voice that had spoken to him at the Jordan River. We too must pray. Without prayer, we become deaf to the voice of love and become confused by the many competing voices asking for our attention. How difficult this is! When we sit down for half an hour—without talking to someone, listening to music, watching television or reading a book—and try to become very still, we often find ourselves so overwhelmed by our noisy inner voices that we can hardly wait to get busy and distracted again. Our inner life often looks like a banana tree full of jumping monkeys! But when we decide not to run away and stay focused, these monkeys may gradually go away because of lack of attention, and the soft gentle voice calling us the beloved may gradually make itself heard.”

"Sweep away all distractions, dear Jesus. Clear my mind of noise and let your comforting voice enter that solitude.”

Christ Our Hope, daily Lenten devotions compiled from the writings of Henri J.M. Nouwen

I don’t know about you, but the bit about the banana tree full of jumping monkeys definitely describes the turmoil in my inner life sometimes. Nouwen’s words encourage me to focus and not run away when it is time to listen for the voice of love. I am hopeful that the monkeys will find another tree in which to play.

This coming Wednesday, March 11, 2009, we will meet to pray for children at risk at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church, Midland. I hope you are able to join us for prayer and then stay for lunch ($5) and fellowship.

Thank you for your compassion for the children of our community and our world. Thank you for lifting them before God in prayer. If you would like to share prayer celebrations or concerns about children or those who care for them, please send them to me at claufer@facesofchildren.net or give me a call. Thank you for your prayers for the children of the world!

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always,

Chris