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 2/2/11

Afghanistan
• Please keep in prayer the girls and women of Afghanistan who
suffer from traditional practices like child marriages and honor
killings.
• Pray that Afghan authorities will become more familiar with and enforce the 2009 Law on the elimination of Violence against Women. This law makes it illegal to sell or buy women for marriage; force women or girls into marriage; deny women and girls the right to an education, work, or access to health services.
• Pray for girls who run away from home to escape these kinds of
situations and are arrested, jailed, and prosecuted for "moral crimes" although running away is not a crime.
A report from Reuters/alertnet.org


Brazil
• Pray for the people of Brazil who have been affected by the heavy rains, flooding, and devastating mudslides that have plagued a scenic, mountainous region north of Rio de Janeiro. Pray for the families and friends of those who have been killed in what is one of Brazil's worst natural disasters on record. Authorities believe the death toll will reach 1,000. Pray for those who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and villages. Please pray that help will reach children and
adults trapped in remote regions.
A report from Reuters/alertnet.org
Another report from Reuters/alertnet.org

United States
• Give thanks to God for the life of 14-year-old Ali Borgen who died last week after spending nearly a third of her brief life fighting an aggressive form of leukemia. Thanks be to God for her generous spirit and sunny nature despite the excruciating pain she experienced from vertebrae fractures that twisted her spine. Pray for Ali's parents, her brother Dylan, her grandparents, extended family, and friends as they mourn this courageous young woman. Pray that the funds Ali raised at her "Celebration of a Lifetime" party earlier this month will indeed help find a cure for childhood cancer.
A report from the Grand Forks Herald
• Give thanks to God that 2-year-old Andrea's * recent check-up
showed she was doing well and making progress. Andrea was deprived of oxygen at birth for nine minutes and suffers multiple health problems as a result.
     • Thanks be to God that her hearing is good enough that she is beginning to talk even though she still uses sign language. And thank God that she is now able to take nourishment by mouth.
     • Please pray that Andrea will continue to progress and that her adoption will be finalized soon.
     • Pray for Andrea's foster parents as they navigate the adoption process and care for Andrea and her foster siblings.
* Name changed for confidentiality and/or protection
• Give God thanks that 10-year-old Emily is free of the infection she contracted after having surgery to correct an extreme form of scoliosis. The rods implanted in her back and the spacers in her ribs need periodic surgical adjustments. Please keep this 10-year-old little girl held close in prayer as she undergoes further surgeries in the near future. Also give thanks to God that Emily is free of the anxiety attacks she was having at the doctor's office.
• Pray for baby Lexi who was born two-and-a-half-months premature to young parents addicted to cocaine. Please pray for comfort and healing for this baby girl who is having seizures probably due to the drugs found in her system at birth. Pray for Lexi's father who was arrested and for her mother who is only allowed limited, supervised visitation because of continued drug use. Pray that God will provide loving and knowledgeable parents to raise this baby as she will probably have life-long physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

Faces of Children
• Give thanks to God that Joanne, a friend of a Faces of Children intercessor, is improving following a major stroke earlier this month. Pray for Joanne's continued healing and pray that God will comfort her husband Toben and daughters, 12-year-old Audrey and 9-year-old Emma, as they go through this difficult recovery process with her. Thanks be to God for the supportive community of faith that surrounds this struggling family with prayers and love.
thesimplewife.typepad.com
• Please keep Andrea William's family and friends held close in prayer as they mourn the death of this young mother and close friend of a Faces of Children prayer partner. Pray that God will bring comfort to her husband Jim and their children, 15-year-old Lauren, 12-year-old Zach, and 10-year-old Josh. Pray for the peace that surpasses all understanding to sustain them during this dark time. Give thanks to God for Andrea's life and for the gifts of love and friendship she shared with so many.
• 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.