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 7/13/11

CHILD LABOR - Pray for the estimated 215 million children around the world who work, often full time. Pray for children who labor in jobs that jeopardize their physical, mental, or moral well-being. Pray for those who are denied an education, proper nutrition, and care.
A report from the International Labour Organization
• Pray for those who work in hazardous conditions: those who are sold or trafficked, held in debt bondage, serfdom, or forced labor; those who are forced or recruited into armed conflict; those who are prostituted, made to produce pornography, or used in pornographic performances.
• Pray for children who are exposed to physical, psychological, or sexual abuse in the work they perform.
• Pray for those who work underground, under water, at dangerous heights, in confined spaces, with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, or lift or transport heavy loads.
• Pray for those who work in unhealthy environments that expose them to hazardous substances, agents, or processes, or to temperatures, noise levels, or vibrations damaging to their health.
• Pray for children who work long hours, work night shifts, or are unreasonably confined to the employer's premises.
• Pray for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
Another report from the International Labour Organization

MEXICO - Please pray for the children and people of Mexico who are affected by the escalating drug cartel violence.
• Pray for children who witness this violence and live in fear every day. Pray for those who have had parents or relatives disappear-bus loads of passengers have been kidnapped by drug cartel traffickers and allegedly forced into gladiator-like fights to groom fresh assassins.
A report from the Huston Chronicle
• Pray for an end to the insatiable demand for drugs and that the drug wars plaguing Mexico will cease.

NIGERIA - Please keep in prayer the 32 teenage girls who were rescued from a "baby factory" where they were allegedly forced to have babies that were then offered for sale for trafficking, black magic rituals, or illegal adoption. Pray that God will bring healing and peace to these 15- to 17-year-old young women. Pray for the babies who have been sold. Thanks be to God the owner of this "baby factory" was arrested and faces charges of child abuse and human trafficking. Pray for justice for these girls and babies.
A report from Yahoo News
• Pray for the estimated 15 million child laborers in Nigeria. Pray for those working in very dangerous jobs. Pray that God will free children from work that is hazardous or demeaning and robs them of the chance to be children.
A report from AlertNet

RUSSIA - Pray that God will comfort and bring peace to Darya following the death of her 8-month-old son Maxim last November. Give thanks to God for Darya's passionate work in challenging the incompetence and heartlessness she encountered in the Russian healthcare system. A Russian government study suggests that health care is the most corrupt field in Russia and public spending on health care is very low.
• Thanks be to God that Darya has been able to raise enough money to reopen a children's clinic in her community, complete with an emergency room. The clinic had been converted into a for-profit adult treatment center and wasn't available when Maxim was in medical crisis. And thank God for the formation of a grass-roots nonprofit organization, Health Care for Children, that has been launched to help the children of Russia secure proper medical care.
A report from the Washington Post

UGANDA - Please keep Pastor Peter and the staff with DEYWA in prayer as they minister to the physical and spiritual needs of 100 orphaned children. Pray that God will provide the resources needed to make this ministry self-sustaining. Please pray that God will comfort and bring peace and healing to the leaders of this ministry as they mourn the recent death of one of these children. Pray for encouragement in the face of these challenges.

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.
• If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to Chris Laufer, FOC Coordinator, at claufer@facesofchildren.net