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 8/17/11
CHINA/VIET NAM - Give God thanks and praise for the recent rescue of 89 kidnapped infants and the arrest of 369 people linked to two human trafficking rings. Pray for the 81 infants who were abducted, then sold in China's southern regions of Guangdong and Guangxi. The babies range in age from 10 days to four months old and are now in the care of institutions. Pray for the eight babies kidnapped in Vietnam and brought to China for sale. These infants range in age from 10 days to seven months old and had been drugged with sleeping pills.
• Pray all of these babies will be reunited with their families soon and that God will bring comfort to each of them.
• Pray for an end to China's strict "one child" policy and the tradition of favoring boys over girls (sex-selective abortions are widespread). There is a huge gender imbalance in China that's contributed to the rising number of cases of trafficked children and women. Since April 2009, police in China have uncovered 39,194 cases of human trafficking with the majority involving children or women.
A report from the msnbc.com
HAITI - Please pray for the children at Wings of Hope home for disabled children in Fermathe, Haiti during this critical time. Pray for the friends, family, and caregivers of the two children who died recently. Pray for the children at Wings of Hope who are very ill and receiving intravenous fluids for symptoms consistent with cholera. Pray for their quick and complete healing.
A report from heartswithhaiti.org
• Pray God would provide the resources needed to treat and care for these children. Please keep the staff and volunteers at Wings of Hope held close in prayer as they tend to the sick and the healthy children in their care. Pray that the illness will not spread to any other children or to the community around the home.
INDIA (International Justice Mission www.ijm.org/) Give God thanks and praise for the rescue of 24 children, women, and men from slavery at a brick kiln in Bangalore, India. Pray for these rescued families as they return to life in their home village where International Justice Mission (IJM) has helped them resettle. Praise God these children and adults no longer live in fear.
• Thanks be to God for the work of IJM in advocating freedom for these families who were often verbally threatened and physically abused. The night before they were freed, the brick kiln owner threatened to lock the laborers in a shed and set it on fire. Pray these families will receive the government rehabilitation benefits to which they are entitled and that they will have access to good jobs and educational opportunities.
A message from International Justice Mission
UNITED STATES - Pray for the 1-year-old boy who was bitten on the leg by his mother. Pray that God will protect this child and surround him with a loving, protective community. Give thanks that he is now in the care of his stepfather. Please pray that God will bring transformation and healing into the life of this little boy's mother who has been charged with child abuse and was previously convicted of cruelty to animals. Pray for all children in abusive situations, especially those who haven't been rescued.
A report from the Grand Forks Herald
• Please keep 14-year-old Sherrie * held close in prayer during a very difficult time in her life. Pray that Sherrie might be surrounded by a community of support and love that will enforce healthy boundaries for this out-of-control young woman. Pray for her mother and step-father, and for her siblings and friends, as they interact with Sherrie and respond to her often inappropriate behavior and threats.
* Name changed for confidentiality
• Please pray for Kara and her family as she goes through treatments for a recurrence of cancer. Pray that Kara's family and friends will form a strong circle of support for this young mother. Pray that God's healing touch will be upon this young woman. Please pray for comfort and peace for Kara, her husband, and her children.
• Pray that God will provide qualified, compassionate caregivers for the nursery and pre-school programs at churches in the hiring process.
• Please keep 3-year-old Zoe held close in prayer following the sudden death of her mother. Pray for a circle of love and support around this little girl. Pray for harmony and peace between her immediate and extended family.
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
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