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 1/26/11

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
• Continue to pray for the children and people of the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been attacked and chased from their homes by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Please pray that the LRA and its leaders are captured and brought to justice soonA report from Reuters/alertnet.org
• Pray for the children and adults who have been abducted by this rebel militia in the DRC last year. A fifth of the children kidnapped by this brutally violent group are forced to fight. Four-fifths are used as forced labor and all of the girls are raped. Pray for their healing, their freedom, and their restoration back into their communities.

Kenya
• Please be in prayer for the staff and volunteers with Naomi’s Village in Kenya as they begin the selection process, deciding which 100 children will be brought into the new orphanage. Pray for discernment and God’s guidance as they make these difficult decisions. Pray that God will make it very clear which children are to be brought into this children’s home. Pray for the children God will bring to Naomi’s Village.
• Give thanks to God for the opportunity to love and rescue children who have no home and no family.

Zimbabwe, South Africa
• Please pray for the thousands and thousands of Zimbabwean children and families who face deportation from South Africa in the New Year. An estimated 1.5 million Zimbabweans migrated to South Africa to escape political violence and economic collapse in their home country. Pray for those who will return to Zimbabwe where there is 80 percent unemployment.
• Give thanks to God for the work of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) along the Zimbabwe/South Africa border. The IOM offers migrants returning to Zimbabwe medical care, counseling for rape victims, temporary shelter, family tracing for unaccompanied children, free transport home for those without the funds to travel, and small business start-up support.
A report from Reuters/alertnet.org

United States
• Please keep 6-year-old Daisy Love Merrick held close in prayer as she goes through her second bout with cancer. Pray for complete healing for this little girl who has experienced so much pain and suffering already. Pray that God surrounds her with a community of love and support. Pray for her family as they make decisions about her care and as they watch their precious child go through cancer treatments once again.
• Continue to keep 2-year-old Lane in prayer as doctors try to determine what is causing his seizures. Pray that they will be able to accurately diagnose and treat Lane. Pray that Lane will to adjust to living in a new home—he has been distraught since his family moved to a new house on the family farm. Pray for peace and comfort for Lane and his parents during this transitional time.
• Please pray for 5-year-old Gavin who is sick with mononucleosis and was recently hospitalized when he became dehydrated. Pray for comfort during the long period needed to recuperate from this viral infection.
• Continue to pray for the children and young people at Children’s Hope Residential Services. Pray that God will bring healing to these emotionally disturbed children, some of whom are quite violent. Pray for the protection of all these children and those who care for them. Give thanks to God for the staff at this facility who care so deeply for these children and young people. Pray that God will sustain them in this difficult and demanding ministry. Pray that God will provide the resources needed to expand this ministry so it can help even more children.

Faces of Children
• Please keep Faces of Children intercessor Margaret Purvis held close in prayer as she recovers from recent surgeries. Pray that Margaret will heal completely.
• Please pray for Peachy, the daughter of a Faces of Children prayer partner, who is suffering from debilitating headaches, dizziness, hearing blockage, and continuous body shakes. Pray that Peachy will be able to find a compassionate physician who will listen to her and diagnose her correctly. Pray for healing for this young woman and peace for her family.
• Give thanks to God for the opportunity to share the ministry of Faces of Children with members of the Midland Rotary Club recently.
• 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.