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 03/03/10

Afghanistan
• Please keep the children and people of southern Afghanistan in prayer as NATO leads one of the biggest offensives of this eight year old war in the militant stronghold of Marjah.
• Pray for the thousands of civilians who have fled the area and for children and families who are caught up in the fighting. Pray for those who are trapped in the area by insurgent-planted booby traps, mines, and homemade bombs. Pray for children and people who have been injured during the violence and are unable to get medical aid.
• Pray for the NATO soldiers and their families. And, as difficult as it is, pray for the insurgents. Pray for their children and their families.
• Pray for peace and justice to prevail in this turbulent area.
A report from alertnet.org
Another report from alertnet.org

Haiti
• Please continue to keep the children of Haiti before God in prayer as they struggle to adapt to life amid the rubble and debris from the January earthquake. Pray that God will provide for their needs and bring them comfort and peace. Pray for the people and leaders of this country as they begin reconstruction following one of "the most destructive natural disasters in modern times, when viewed in relation to the size of Haiti's population and its economy." (IADB study)
A report from alertnet.org
• Pray for those who are grieving the deaths of their family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and leaders. Pray for those who don't know where their loved ones are buried. An estimated 230,000 people were killed in the January 12 earthquake-what the NY Times called an "equal opportunity leveler that erased the individuality of its victims." Many were buried in mass graves without documentation.
A report from the New York Times

Kenya
• 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 two boys: 12-year-old Pius and 13-year-old Nilton.

United States
• Please pray for the children of poor families in this country who lag almost a year behind their peers by the time they start school. Pray for programs that target vulnerable families and provide support and parenting classes that can help close the gap for these children.
A report from the BBC

United States/Mexico
• Give thanks to God for the arrest and prosecution of a couple who recruited Mexican women to give birth in the United States and then sold their babies there. Pray for women who are in such desperate situations that they will consider selling their babies. Pray for the babies who have already been trafficked through this scheme.
A report from MSNBC

United States
• Please pray for 3-year-old Julia as she continues recovering from a complicated surgery on her eyes. Pray for complete healing and for the success of the surgery.
• Pray for the children of military personnel being deployed soon or already serving overseas. Pray that each child is in a safe and nurturing environment while the child's mother and/or father are serving in the armed forces, especially far away. More than 10,000 single parents on active duty were deployed overseas last year.
A report from the New York Times

Faces of Children
• Give thanks to God for the opportunity to share the ministry of Faces of Children at the women's retreat at First Presbyterian Church in San Luis Obispo, California and during the Sunday worship services last week. Thanks be to God for the new Faces of Children prayer partners who committed to pray for children at risk.
• Please keep Bonnie, a Faces of Children intercessor, and her family held close in prayer as her cancer has spread. Pray that God will continue to comfort her and bring her peace during these final months.
• 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.