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 11/16/11

CHINA - Please pray that God will comfort the parents and family of 2-year-old Yueyue, a little girl who was run over multiple times in the street while more than a dozen people walked or drove by and didn't stop. Yueyue died from her injuries a week later.
A report from the Washington Post
Another report from the Washington Post
Another report from the Washington Post (Warning: Includes graphic video)
• Pray God will be at work in the hearts of the drivers that hit Yueyue and left her lying in the street. Pray for all those who walked past her broken body and did not stop to help.
• Pray for a change in the hearts and minds of those in China who are afraid of being arrested or sued for stopping to render aid. Good Samaritans have been accused of causing the injury when they have stopped to help an injured person. Pray that love for one another will overcome fear of retribution.
• Please pray for an awakening in the hearts of those who are not outraged or disturbed by this incident. Pray that indifference to suffering will be replaced by compassion and love.
• Pray for justice for Yueyue and all children who are abandoned in times of crisis or emergency.

INDIA - Please pray that the girl children of India will be recognized for the blessings they are to this country. Pray for a change in attitude of those who perceive female children as financial burdens or as of no value to society.
• Pray for pregnant mothers who are pressured into aborting female fetuses because of these societal perceptions. India's 2010 census estimates there are 7.1 million "missing girls" out of a total population of 1.21 billion people-girls whose lives were ended before birth often because of the easy access to cheap ultrasound tests at illegally-run sex determination clinics.
A report from IPS News
• Give thanks to God for the Kopal (sapling) program that educates parents and communities about the adverse physical and psychological effects on women who have sex selective abortions.
• Pray the laws regarding sex determination before birth are upheld and enforced throughout the country, especially in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand where the child sex ratio has dropped to 886 girls per 1,000 boys.

Kenya ( CURE International: www.helpcurenow.org ) - Pray for the disabled children receiving treatment at the CURE International Hospital in Kenya and for the medical staff and caregivers there. Also pray for two 9-year-old girls, Kiswii and Muema, and their needs.

Malawi, Tanzania ( Marion Medical Mission: www.marionmedical.org/ ) - Give thanks to God for the work of the staff, volunteers, and African partners with Marion Medical Mission in providing clean water sources for communities in Malawi and Tanzania. As of late October 2011, more than 2,046 wells have been installed.
• Pray God will provide the resources needed to continue the work of building shallow water wells in villages and communities in these countries. The ministry goal is to build 2,500 shallow water wells.
• Pray for the volunteer team members-the field officers, installation supervisors, and builders-who are very tired. Pray God will encourage and sustain them in this important work of building shallow water wells and bringing clean water to the children and people of Malawi and Tanzania.

UNITED STATES - Please keep in prayer New England residents who continue to deal with the aftereffects of two powerful tropical storms that struck within a week of one another last August.
A report from KOMO-TV News
• Pray for children and families who are still homeless in upstate New York and in Vermont because of the severe flooding caused by tropical storms Irene and Lee. Pray for those who have lost businesses and jobs-pray for those who struggle to provide for their families.
• Please pray for students and faculty of schools flooded by Irene and Lee-many are experiencing great trauma.
• Keep the students at Middleburgh High School/Middle School held close in prayer (the facility had extensive physical damage) and give thanks to God they were able to return to school far sooner than expected.
A report from the Middleburgh School District
Another report from the Middleburgh School District
Index of reprts from the Middleburgh School District

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