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 05/19/10

Ethiopia (CURE International - http://www.helpcurenow.org/)
• Pray for the disabled children receiving treatment at the CURE International Hospital in Ethiopia and for the medical staff and caregivers there. Also pray for a 14-year-old boy named Efa.

Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras
• Please pray for the children and people of Central America who have been affected by tropical storm Agatha. Parts of Guatemala have received their highest rainfall in more than six decades. Pray for the 112,000 people evacuated from their homes across Guatemala. Pray for those in the southern part of the country who are also dealing with the eruption of the Pacaya volcano.
• Pray for the children and people of El Salvador and Honduras who have also been affected by the heavy rains, flooding, and mudslides caused by the tropical storm.
A report from the BBC

China
• Pray that God will comfort the families of seven children and two adults killed in an attack on a kindergarten in China earlier this month. Pray for those injured and traumatized in the attack. Please pray for an end to this kind of violence against children and those who are vulnerable.
A report from the BBC

North Korea, South Korea
• Pray for the children and people of North Korea and South Korea as tensions are extremely high after the North severed all ties with the South. North Korean troops are on full alert ready to respond to any retaliation efforts by South Korea following the March 26 sinking of a South Korean warship, allegedly by the North. Pray that peace will prevail on the divided Korean peninsula and rational dialogue will resume between the two countries.
A report from alertnet.org
A report from the Washington Post
Another report from the Washington Post

Somalia
• Please continue to lift the children of Somalia in prayer and ask that God protect them and provide for them. The UN estimates that nearly half the population of Somalia needs humanitarian assistance and deaths from malnutrition and disease are rising. Pray for the 400,000 people who are trapped in the Algooye corridor (a stretch of IDP camps outside Mogadishu) because of the violence and fighting in the capital city. Most of these internally displaced people are women and children.
A report from Reuters
Another report from Reuters

United States
• Please keep 10-year-old Jessica held close in prayer as she undergoes testing to determine the cause of her seizures. Pray that she will be given a correct diagnosis and an effective treatment plan that will stop the seizures.
• Pray that God will place healing hands upon 7-year-old Elizabeth who has been diagnosed with a malignant liver tumor. Please pray that she will make a full recovery from surgery and that her cancer treatment will be successful. Pray that God will bring comfort to this little girl and her family.
• Give thanks to God that 5-year-old Chelbi is still doing well and is able to attend school. She was diagnosed with and treated for a rapidly advancing cancer last year. Last September her doctors couldn't find any more signs of cancer, thanks be to God!
• Pray that God will provide comfort and healing for Amanda* and her two boys (aged 12 and 6). In a very uncharacteristic act of violence, Amanda's husband beat her badly enough to send her to the hospital. Pray that Amanda's sons will be surrounded by a loving and supportive community as they process this attack that they also witnessed. Pray for Amanda's husband who is now in jail. Pray that his doctors will be able to find out why he exhibited this atypical behavior and attacked his wife.
• Please pray for the family of 16-year-old Brian* who shot himself in the head, in front of his mother, after emulating a video game in which the player shoots himself in the head whenever the player loses a turn. Pray that God will bring comfort and peace to Brian's mother, family, and friends.
• Pray that parents, friends, and community members are aware of the video game and movie content their children are viewing. Pray that God will give them the courage to challenge the prevailing national attitude that tolerates excessive violence in media.
• Pray that God will give wisdom and guidance to the young people in this country and others around the world who have access to this kind of disturbing media.
• Pray for those in the video game and movie industry who make decisions about content ... that they take greater interest in and responsibility for the content of the materials they sell.
* Name 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.