Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 31, 2012

THE PRESBYTERY OF CRISTO - In the weeks after the January 8, 2011, shootings in Tucson, Arizona, an impromptu memorial sprang up outside the University Medical Center. There were narrow paths between thousands of offerings: candles, flowers, messages of goodwill, and prayers for peace. One volunteer removed her shoes. She moved through the labyrinth with resolve. Her bare feet connected to that holy ground that unites us and connects us to who God created us to be. She paused, lingering in front of a prayer. She fell to her knees, tears filling her eyes. She accepted a hug and gave a hug. And there is the sense that out of a senseless act of violence, God might be working to bring a community together.
CLICK HERE to read more.

ChinaAid Picks 2011’s Top 10 Cases of Persecution of Churches and Christians in China

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

ChinaAid Picks 2011’s Top 10 Cases of Persecution of Churches and Christians in China
Distributed by ChinaAid, January, 2012 ...

Shandong Province: Rubble from demolished church

"MIDLAND, TEXAS – 2011 can be regarded as China’s “year of political and religious persecution” or “year of Beijing terrorism.” Last year saw the revival of extreme leftist ideology and a severe deterioration of the rule of law, bringing with it not only the most severe deterioration in political and religious freedom for the Chinese people since the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution and the 1989 military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement, but also blatant human rights violations and a worrying economic crisis. Because of the Arab Spring Jasmine Revolution in 2011, a systematic crackdown on churches and prominent Christians that was launched in the second half of 2010 was extended and lasted for the whole of 2011.

Beijing: Church members outside police station
singing worship songs to encourage brothers
and sisters detained in the police station

ChinaAid’s selection of the top 10 persecution cases for 2011 is based on the severity, impact and significance of each incidence of persecution and is a highly representative list. These cases occurred in different parts of China and involved both urban and rural house churches, as well as “Three-Self” churches and Catholic churches. The victims included pastors, human rights lawyers, political dissidents and artists

CLICK HERE for more on this story from China Aid

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 30, 2012

THE SYNOD OF THE SOUTHWEST - Several years ago, the synod started a class in northern New Mexico with 14 people who were considering a call to become commissioned lay pastors (CLP). One of the main goals was to bring to the mountain churches a sense of permanence by utilizing their own members. Three people completed the required courses and in December 2010, John Detterick, Shirley Sandoval, and Gay Veit, together and individually, were commissioned and became Los Mensajeros (The Messengers), serving El Rito Presbyterian Church, Chacon; First Presbyterian Church, Mora; and First United Presbyterian Church, Las Vegas, bringing to their ministries a variety of gifts.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 29, 2012

MINUTE FOR MISSION: CRIMINAL JUSTICE - "In faith responding to our Creator, we celebrate the full humanity of each woman, man and child, all created in the divine image as individuals of infinite worth, by working for: ... A system of criminal rehabilitation based on restorative justice and an end to the death penalty."

These words from the Social Creed adopted in 2008 by member communions of the National Council of Churches, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), call us to a vision of restorative justice that is grounded in our understanding of the enduring possibility of repentance that is part of the hope we have in the Christian life.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 28, 2012

BRAZIL (continued) - The United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPU) has approximately 10,000 members in 51 congregations. However, it has a significant prophetic and ecumenical voice and the largest number of theologians per capita in any church I know.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Partners: "Behind the Headlines"

Steve and Oddny Gumaer started Partners Relief & Development in response to the needs of refugees and displaced people from Burma. This blog is meant to be a more personal stream of conversation than newsletters allow for. The opinions expressed here may not be those of Partners Relief & Development.

I met a lady at the store the other day. She is a prolific knitter and has made hundreds of warm hats for IDPs hiding in the jungle during the cold season. “I guess I can stop knitting now that things are going so well in Burma,” she said. “Please don’t,” I begged her. “The needs today are as great as ever!"

We still have our work cut out for us, but there is change happening in Burma. Just last week the government signed a ceasefire agreement with the Karen National Union. There are many points that still need to be agreed upon and adhered to for it to have significant meaning, but this may very well be the beginning of the end of a violent conflict in Karen state that has lasted for 60 years. During the same week the government also released about 300 political prisoners, among them some of the most prominent dissidents.>

Partners is cautious yet hopeful about the changes. This is what we have been waiting for, praying for and hoping for for so many years. Could it be that the children of Burma will get to experience free, full lives in our lifetime? Could it be that we soon will be able to visit reconciled communities living in peace?

While we see positive steps, we continue to receive first-hand reports that reveal a very different reality, one that stands in direct conflict to what is being reported in mainstream media. In Kachin state the violence continues. Daily bombings are causing innocent people to flee their homes, schools to close, and thousands to live in hiding and in constant fear. Civilians get killed and women raped. People are starving and suffering from a lack of medicine and warm clothing. This may all change tomorrow, but years of healing and re-building will need to take place.

Our job is far from done! We continue to send much needed emergency supplies to the populations that are in hiding in Kachin state. The need for training of medics and midwives is as great as ever, and we continue to train the local communities. The need for education is ongoing, and Partners continues to build schools all over Burma. The need for development is ever increasing, and Partners staff are working hard to create agricultural methods that will provide the most sustainable life for people in villages. The need to know God’s love is universal – and that is ultimately why Partners staff share it with the people we meet.

Please continue to watch what is unfolding in Burma, reading beyond the headlines to get to the deeper truth. Please continue to give financially so we can continue to help those whom no one is helping; and develop this nation that has been suffering for so long.

Please keep praying for real and lasting change in Burma.

In His service,

Oddny Gumaer
International Advocacy Officer
Partners Relief &Development International

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 27, 2012

BRAZIL - The history of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPIB) has been one of learning how to relate two fundamental elements in the life of the church: mission and theology. Sometimes they appear to be mutually exclusive: good theologians grow in the knowledge of God but do not produce fruit; good missionaries produce fruit but do not grow in the knowledge of God.
CLICK HERE to read more.

From ServLife International: "January 2012 Message"

ServLife International is a movement defined by values of God’s kingdom, not programs built around human efforts and activities. The reign and rule of God should be made apparent to every person on the planet, despite their religion, race or socioeconomic status. We believe that issues of justice are inseparable from the good news that Jesus Christ came to proclaim. ServLife exists to take the gospel of Christ and the hope of a better, more just, world to the lives of people we touch. This happens through individual contributions of time, creativity, resources and dreams.

"Making a World of Difference"
By Jeff Romack
ServLife International

Okay, I'll admit it. I am something of a football fan. I'm not exactly a raving fan but I do enjoy the game if not all the hype that so often goes with it. This, of course, is the season that is especially good to fans of the game what with the college bowl games and now the NFL playoffs. All that leads up to the Super Bowl which, by the way, will be held here in Indianapolis next month but that is another story.

I'm sure you've noticed that players and coaches alike have a jargon peculiar to their sport. And because sports play such a significant role in American life we often end up borrowing terms from the world of sports for our own wider use. Now everyone can "hit a home run, " "score!" or make a "slam dunk!" but sometimes, unfortunately, we also "strikeout.'"

One expression of the sports vernacular that I've heard recently is an exceptional athlete referred to as a "difference-maker." A "difference-maker" is a special player that is able to change the course of a game by virtue of a combination of innate ability and the development of that ability to high level. This takes an uncommon commitment on the part of the individual. Difference-makers are what separate championship level teams from the rest of the pack.

Okay, so here is where I borrow some of the jargon to say that the donors of ServLife, those that pray for us and give to the causes that we advocate for and serve; you are our "difference-makers!" All that we do to serve orphans and children-at-risk, all that we do to train and support church planters in the remote corners of the earth, all that we do to help create and support means of sustainable income for the poor - all of it depends on you-- and us -working together to make a difference in this world of need.

Making a world of difference is our vision and our hope at ServLife. For those of you that are already on our team, we are glad to be in it with you. For those who have yet to get in the game, we are looking for more difference-makers to get involved. Won't you consider one or more of the possibilities below?

We also want to make you aware of a new member to our staff. We are pleased to announce that we have hired Adam Nevins as our new Director of Operations. Adam has been a part of our community for a long time, and brings diverse experience from the business, church and nonprofit realms.

Having founded a nonprofit and an active volunteer with many more, Adam has a passion for seeing Jesus minister to the spiritual and physical needs of humanity through the Body of Christ. His eight years as a worship pastor fueled his understanding of true worship and justice, as well as cultivating a pastoral heart.

Adam and his wife Christin have been married for 12 years and are blessed with three children: Carolyn, Emily and David. They have had the joy of adopting from India, attend Common Ground Christian Church, and have raised their family in an inner-city Indianapolis neighborhood for the last 8 years.

Adam concluded his work as a Project Manager at a local multimedia firm last December and joined our staff at the beginning of this year. Welcome, Adam!

You can make a difference in this world of need ...

• Pray with us and for us. CLICK HERE and join those who pray for ServLife
   and all we do.
• Give to train and send a church planter to the frontiers of the gospel.
   CLICK HERE to make a one-time gift, or give on a monthly basis.
• Make a difference in the life of a child . . . give . . .hope. CLICK HERE to
   become a ServLife child sponsor.
• Serve the poor through micro-lending. CLICK HERE to give to the ServLife
   Hope Fund.

Thanks for all you do,
Jeff


ServLife International is a non-profit organization planting communities of the Kingdom and restoring hope to children-at-risk and the global poor.

ServLife International, Inc.
P.O. Box 20596
Indianapolis, IN 46220
USA

In the News ... "Sisters, laity to receive papal honors"

By Lyxan Toledanes
Reporter
Odessa American

WEST TEXAS - After a life of dedication and servitude to the Catholic Church, three Odessans will be awarded papal honors on February 20 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Angelo.

Sister Esperanza Razura of the Catholic Churches of South Odessa and Sister Regina Javier of Midland’s Our Lady of Guadalupe will receive the “Pro Ecclesiae et Pontifice,” the highest pontifical medal given to those who serve the Catholic Church in an exemplary manner. Anita Diaz, elementary education director at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, will receive the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 26, 2012

ARGENTINA/PARAGUAY/URUGUAY - El Pastoreo Social Services Center has been serving the community of El Pastoreo in Rosario, Uruguay, for more than 50 years. It was created to help a community with all types of needs while opening the door for evangelical witness. The neighboring Waldensian communities supported the Center but as time passed, the community grew and the initial sense of ministry seemed to diminish. Then a devastating fire destroyed almost all of the facilities. Dismay and disbelief overwhelmed the church as well as the community. Cries of "How will we go on?" and, more important, "Is it worth going on?" were heard. The community had changed; its people's needs had changed. How were they to proceed?
CLICK HERE to read more.

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 12/25/12

HAITI - Please continue to keep close in prayer the children and people of Haiti who still struggle to recover from a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake two years ago. Give thanks to God that almost a million people have moved out of tent cities—many received help with rent or home repair. Pray for the 500,000 children and people who still remain in dangerous tent cities…20,000 of whom live in a squalid camp in downtown Port-au-Prince.
A report from the Washington Post
• Give God thanks that the cholera epidemic, which started in late 2010 and killed 7,000 people, is now under control. Please continue to pray for the health of the children affected by this water-borne disease.

INDIA - Pray for the children of Mumbai’s massive slum known as Dharavi. An estimated one million people live and work in this contained residential and commercial “city” within a city. Pray for families who struggle to make a living in the informal economy of this infamous slum.
A report from the New York Times
• Please pray for children who grow up in this unhealthy environment—there aren’t enough toilets (most are communal pay toilets) or clean water sources (ten families share a single water tap). Pray for children living in this densely populated slum where sewage flows through open channels; diarrhea, malaria, tuberculosis, asthma, and premature tooth decay are common sicknesses affecting children; education is unreachable or expensive for many; and where daylight struggles to reach through the tightly packed shanties.
• Pray God will be at work in the hearts of those with the authority and power to make a difference for Dharavi’s children and people. Pray God will give wisdom to those government leaders who struggle to understand and deal with the complicated informal city that is Dharavi slum. A government movement to raze the slum and sell the high-value property on which it sits has Dharavi residents and leaders concerned that the booming, informal economy of the slum would be destroyed and poor people would be pushed into new slums out of Mumbai.

UNITED STATES - Keep in prayer the students, teachers, and staff at Creedmoor Elementary School, a rural Texas school at which the majority of students are considered economically disadvantaged. Pray God will provide for each child in this school … that they will have sufficient food, school clothes and supplies, and constructive parental involvement. Pray God will support and sustain Creedmoor’s teachers for this challenging work. Pray God will help each of them be a shining light of love, grace, and mercy in the lives of the children with whom they work.

ZAMBIA - Please pray for the children of Zambia who are lured, forced by circumstance, or coerced into commercial sexual exploitation. Pray for those who are sexually abused either through prostitution, trafficking, child sex tourism, child marriage, or child pornography. Pray God will bring them freedom from this abuse and healing to their bodies, minds, and hearts.
A report from Women's eNews
• Pray that those with the power to provide protection to children from commercial sexual exploitation or sexual abuse will recognize the damage this abuse does to children and act in the best interests of Zambia’s children. Pray God will bring transformation to Zambia’s legal systems and cultural traditions so they will protect sexually abused children. Please pray law enforcement officers won’t criminalize or arrest prostituted children, but will treat them as victims of crime.
A report from the Children In Need Network

FACES OF CHILDREN - Please keep in prayer Faces of Children prayer partner Rebecca Nicholson and her family during their season of sorrow. Rebecca’s father, Wilkie Miller, died January 11, 2012.
• Pray God will protect 11-year-old Max* and his 8-year-old sister Laura*, the niece and nephew of a Faces of Children prayer partner, from their father’s increasingly violent behavior. Pray for God’s healing presence in the lives of these children and their mother. Pray their father/husband will learn to cherish his family instead of terrorizing them.
• 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.

* Name changed for confidentiality and/or protection.

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

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 25, 2012

CHILE - The Evangelical Presbyterian Church is involved in ministries that occupy an important place in our lives. Prayer is a foundation in our communities of faith. Solidarity is also very important. The earthquake of February 27, 2010, in the south-central area of our country, heavily damaged the Talca and Rancagua churches. Other churches acted in solidarity, helping and accompanying the most affected people. Sisters and brothers showed a love that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Invitation to Prayer

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).

Epiphany (Again)

“Gracious God, giver of love and peace, you call us to live together as one family: Give us grace to learn your ways, that all people may have the necessities of life and no one must struggle to survive; in the name of the Source, the Word, and the Spirit. Amen.”

Collects for the Church Year, by the Reverend Elizabeth Rankin Geitz

A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children

Greetings, Faces of Children Prayer Partner,

We are about to move into the fourth week after Epiphany and Ash Wednesday will be here soon — February 22, to be exact. Hard to believe we’ll begin the season of Lent in a little over four weeks. Didn’t we just celebrate Christmas?

Ever since I was a child, I’ve found this time in the church year—the time between Christmas and Easter—a bit puzzling. First we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, and then 15 weeks later, his death and resurrection. That’s hardly four months between the two major observances on the Christian calendar. I’m sure there are perfectly good reasons for this and if I asked my seminary-educated friends, they’d explain it to me (hopefully in terms I might understand).

Yet it still feels too soon to move into another season of the church. The Christmas decorations haven’t been put away for very long and now we’re pulling out Easter ones? As a little girl, I interpreted this time frame in a more literal way. I wondered when Jesus had time to grow up, hang out with his family, learn about the carpentry business, teach the disciples, or perform miracles if he was only a few months old. (Yes, I was a precocious child—my poor parents!)

Perhaps I should push my puzzlement aside about this perplexing period between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday—this interval called Ordinary Time* on the Christian calendar—and spend it living out the Epiphany prayer above. Perhaps, in this in-between time, I might be better off focusing on the Giver of love and peace, the One who calls us to live together as one family. At least I think that’s where the Holy Spirit is leading me. What are your reflections on or thoughts about this between-church-seasons time?

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, the Midland Faces of Children prayer group will meet at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland, to pray for the children of our community and world. Lunch ($5) and fellowship will follow. I hope you will be able to join us.

If you have 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 me at at claufer@facesofchildren.net, or give me a call. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer for the children of our world.

Christ’s peace and joy to you and yours,

Chris

In the News ... "'90 Minutes in Heaven' author to speak in Midland"

By Lyxan Toledanes
Reporter
Odessa American

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Don Piper, author of the New York Times Bestseller “90 Minutes in Heaven,” will be the guest speaker at the fourth-annual National Prayer Breakfast Midland, at 6:45 a.m., Wednesday, February 15, at the Midland Center. The event gives Midlanders the opportunity to pray together for our community, state, nation and leaders, as well as to hear Piper’s account of his life-after-death experience as chronicled in his popular book.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 24, 2012

BOLIVIA - The earth is renewed by the young: "encountering, enacting, and sharing life" was the theme of the Fourth Youth Environmental Congress, held in Lima, Peru, in 2011. Fruit of collaboration between different networks of the Joining Hands program, the congress brings together youth and young adults from Peru, Bolivia, and the PC(USA) partner presbyteries to learn about issues of common concern in the areas of creation care and human rights, and to share about the work they are doing.
CLICK HERE to read more.

ChinaAid: Beijing Shouwang Church Announcement on Outdoor Worship Service

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

Beijing Shouwang Church Announcement on Outdoor Worship Service
Distributed by ChinaAid, January, 2012 ...

"MIDLAND, TEXAS – Since the indoor meeting place the church rented for Sunday service cannot be used as the government interfered for many times, the church made a decision last Friday to continue to have outdoor worship service on the third platform of Zhongguancun Square.

As far as we know, on Sunday morning, at least nineteen believers were taken away for going to the planned location to join the outdoor service, either at the spot or on their way there.

CLICK HERE for more on this story from China Aid

In the News ... "'One More Home' initiative kicks off across Permian Basin"

By Sara Higgins
Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Leaders from churches across the Permian Basin had one simple but admittedly difficult request for their congregations Sunday: to welcome a bit of chaos into their lives.

Messages encouraging families to consider foster care flooded the sanctuaries and auditoriums of churches across the Basin on Sunday as 17 participating churches kicked off the One More Home initiative. Through this call to action, local pastors and agencies hope to inspire 200 families to enter the foster system in the next 18 to 24 months.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 23, 2012

PERU - Jennifer and Alesandra met in Lima. Alesandra is 14 years old and comes from the mountains. Jennifer is 16 years old and comes from a rural farming town. Both are fighting for justice in their home communities. Alesandra is fighting for a clean environment. Jennifer is fighting for a day of rest.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Video Vault: Introduction to 'One More Home'

The "ONE MORE HOME" Initiative is an initiative by pastors and agencies in our community to call the body of Christ to step up and respond to this significant need in the community by releasing 200 families into the foster system in the next 18-24 months.

One More Home Short Intro Video from onemorehome on Vimeo.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 8, 2012

MINUTE FOR MISSION: UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - Every January the senior class at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary divides into groups that go with faculty members on various journeys. It's a course called Evangelism and Mission in Context that immerses students in rural, urban, and Native American contexts. Frequently, it tests their sense of call as well.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 21, 2012

COLOMBIA - Studying Bonhoeffer, singing karaoke, worshiping together - these are just a few of the ways Presbyterian sisters and brothers from Colombia and the United States made manifest the partnership they have shared for the past 10 years. Through a retreat in the countryside of Medellin, leaders from both presbyteries have been able to study, worship, play, and envision a better future together.
CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Carolers donate to Family Promise"

By Audrie Palmer
Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Nineteen Christmas carolers presented a check Thursday to a nonprofit organization that specializes in helping the homeless. Voces Dei raised $3,300 in donations during the Christmas season for Family Promise of Midland.

The group is comprosed of singers who sing at various events in the community for an offering. All money goes to a charity. This year, Voces Dei selected Family Promise as its recipient agency.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 20, 2012

VENEZUELA - The New Life Mission congregation in the city of Calabozo, state of Guarico, was born from a group of seven women, three adolescents, and eight children. In the early days, they met in the homes of the Santaella, Lopez Ortega, and Alvarez Herrera families, among others, converting the homes into spaces to meet and worship God.
CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Local Churches Team Up to Provide More Foster Families in the Permian Basin"

By Jason Britsch
Reporter
KOSA-TV

ODESSA, TEXAS - --"For the churches to team up like this, it means so much to us, it means so much to these kids, it means an actual home for these children," said Amber Chapman, High Sky Children’s Ranch.

Eighteen churches in the Permian Basin started the initiative [this week] of One More Home, recruiting the community to step up and keep foster kids closer to home.

CLICK HERE to read/watch the rest of the KOSA story.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 19, 2012

CARIBBEAN ISLANDS - She was a lawyer in her hometown and wanted to make a difference by helping ordinary people become aware of their basic human rights. She offered her time and talents and left the comforts of her home and island for six months to provide language training as a member of our Joint Mission Action Team. Her faith was stretched, and she saw God transform her life in ways she least imagined.
CLICK HERE to read more.

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 12/18/12

AFGHANISTAN - Please keep the children of Afghanistan’s government-run orphanages held close in prayer. Pray for children who have had their food, clothing, and bedding stolen by those hired to care for them.
• Pray that the directors and staff of these orphanages will have a change of heart towards the orphans in their care. Pray they will value children over money, political ties, or ingrained corruption.
• Give thanks to God for the work of the new director at the National Directorate of Orphanages in Afghanistan and his indignation at the suffering so many of these vulnerable children endure. Pray that God will provide this director, an orphan himself, with the resources and tools needed to protect all children in government-run orphanages.
A report from the New York Times

BULLYING - Please pray for children who are bullied…who are intentionally tormented in physical, verbal, or psychological ways. Pray for their physical and emotional health—bullying can affect children’s sense of self-worth and future relationships. Pray that children who experience bullying will find a trusted adult in whom to confide.
• Please pray for girls and boys who experience sexual harassment — who have been subjected to unwelcome comments or jokes; inappropriate touching or sexual intimidation; harassment through texts, emails, social networking sites; or have had sexual rumors, innuendos, or photos spread about them.
A report from the New York Times
• Pray for children who are marginalized by or considered unimportant because of their different learning styles; the shape, size, or color of their bodies; their lack of athletic skill or intellectual ability; their disability or illness; or their lack of wealth.
A report from the Daily Mail
• Pray for children who desperately want to fit in, but are ostracized—given the cold shoulder—by their peers. Pray for God’s comfort and encouragement. Pray that a network of support will surround these children.
• Please pray that adults who are made aware of bullying will respond to the situation and not ignore it. Pray for school administrators and teachers who deal with bullying situations…that God will give them wisdom and courage to handle the challenges of bullied children and child bullies.
Bullying page on Kids Health website
• Pray for children who use violence, name-calling, threats, or other physical tactics to get what they want from their victims. Pray for children who bully by shunning others or spreading rumors about them.
• Give God thanks for programs like Rachel’s Challenge that exist to help students make a positive difference in their world. Praise God that so many students have embraced this program and that bullying and violent behavior on many school campuses has been replaced with kind and compassionate behavior, enabling students to learn in a safer and more respectful environment.
Rachel's Challenge website

UNITED STATES - Give God thanks and praise for the “One More Home” initiative to develop 200 more foster homes during the next two years in the Permian Basin (17 West Texas counties make up this area). More than half of the children picked up by Child and Family Protective Services in the Permian Basin are sent out of the region because there aren’t enough foster homes.
A report from the Midland Reporter-Telegram
One More Home website
• Thanks be to God for the 14 churches involved in this initiative and pray that more will recognize the desperate need for foster homes in the area and become involved with the project.
• Pray for children who are removed by CPS and placed in foster care outside their community. Pray for those who lose their families, friends, homes, and communities when they are removed. Parental visitation, when allowed, is more difficult when children are placed in a different county from their home county. Pray for children who are moved often or must stay long periods in emergency shelters because of the lack of foster homes.

FACES OF CHILDREN - Give thanks to God for the life of Jane Riddle, a Faces of Children intercessor in Washington, who died January 6, 2012. Please keep Jane’s family and friends held close in prayer as they celebrate the life of this amazing woman of prayer.
• Give thanks to God for the opportunity to share the ministry of Faces of Children with members of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas last week. And thanks be to God for the new prayer partners from Westlake Hills who committed to pray for children through 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.

* Name changed for confidentiality and/or protection.

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

In the News ... "Former county attorney embraces role as chaplain"

By Sara Higgins
Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me."

These words are personal for Mark Dettman, who might be known by some Midlanders as a former county attorney.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 18, 2012

MINUTE FOR MISSION: CHRISTIAN UNITY - The theme of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity comes from Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth. "We shall be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15: 51-58). What a fascinating theme for a focus on Christian unity! So much of the ecumenical work of the church is healing divisions born out of past struggles over differences between Christians - differences that resulted in labeling who's right and who's wrong - who will win and who will lose. At the same time, we are mindful of new divisions that emerge as a result of "irreconcilable differences.'' Unfortunately, one of the legacies of the Presbyterian/Reformed traditions is our proclivity for schism. Some divisions have been healed through reunion efforts, only to have other schisms emerge. Each scenario creates its own set of winners and losers.
CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Pastor, family have new beginning in Asia"

By Lyxan Toledanes
Reporter
Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - As the month that signals the start of the New Year, January is inherently full of changes for most people.

And no change is more significant to the Rev. Cory Ward and his family than becoming missionaries in Asia for the Christian nonprofit MANNA Worldwide. MANNA is an organization that partners with regional missionary groups to care for children in need by feeding and educating them.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 17, 2012

JAMAICA AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS - Crime and violence, especially among adolescents and youth, are major concerns for Jamaica. Statistics indicate that both the perpetrators and victims of crimes are to a large extent youth aged 14 to 24. This is a big concern for the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, so we continue to seek ways to positively influence and empower young people.
CLICK HERE to read more.

ChinaAid: FLASH: “Disappeared” Human Rights Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Imprisoned in Remote Far Western China

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

FLASH: “Disappeared” Human Rights Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Imprisoned in Remote Far Western China
Distributed by ChinaAid, January, 2012 ...

"WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the first time since his most recent forced disappearance 20 months ago, the whereabouts of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng were confirmed on Sunday.

ChinaAid learned that Gao Zhisheng’s older brother, Gao Zhiyi, received written notification on Sunday of Gao’s incarceration in Shaya Prison in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in far western China. The notification was signed and dated on Dec. 19 by the prison."
CLICK HERE for more on this story from China Aid

Invitation to Prayer

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).

Epiphany

“O God, who became vulnerable for our sake, you challenge the powers that rule this world through all who work for justice, freedom, and peace: Fill us with your passion that we may have the courage to persevere against evil in all its disguises; in the name of your Beloved, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Women’s Uncommon Prayers, by Elizabeth Geitz

A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children

Greetings, Faces of Children Prayer Partner,

I was drawn to this prayer because it reminds me that all of us involved with Faces of Children are engaged in this work for justice, freedom, and peace about which Geitz writes. However, it’s not the kind of work or involvement society might think of immediately. The average person probably wouldn’t consider prayer to be an effective form of work in helping children.

Yet, I firmly believe God is at work through our individual and corporate prayers for children in challenging the powers that rule this world. I’ve witnessed so many answers to prayer ... so many ways in which God has worked through prayer…that I am humbled by God’s power and God’s grace.

Just last week, I was blessed to meet in person Emmanuel and Grace (these are their real names—love it!) …children who, against all odds, escaped poverty and exploitation in Africa and were reunited with family in the United States. These beautiful children grinned with joy and happiness when told they had been prayed for by so many of you. They looked me in the eye and said, with deepest sincerity and love, “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

And now, I pass this “thank you” from Emmanuel and Grace along to you because you did the hard work of prayer. It isn’t easy to open your heart to the pain and suffering of children, but your passion for them and prayers of concern for them helped you persevere. You became an instrument of God’s work by praying for Emmanuel and Grace. You prayed and God, who is with us always, listened and answered. Thanks be to our generous God of grace.

The Midland Faces of Children prayer group will meet on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. to pray for the children of our local and global community. The Midland Faces of Children prayer group meets in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland. Please join us for this time of prayer, and afterward for lunch ($5) and a time of fellowship.

If you have 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 me at at claufer@facesofchildren.net, or give me a call. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer for the children of our world.

Giving thanks to the God of Grace and Emmanuel and you,

Chris

In the News ... "Churches work to provide 'One More Home' to foster children"

By Kathleen Thurber
Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - With twin 6-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl, Pastor Daniel Stephens assumed he and his wife, Kayla, were done adding to their family.

Kayla wasn't so certain. The Bible teaches Christ's followers to care for orphans, and Kayla said she felt like the Lord asked them to adopt.

Their story is one the Stephens family hopes will become more common in 2012. While their own experience started out of a desire to adopt, Daniel Stephens said they learned about statistics that indicate Midland-Odessa is doing an abysmal job in caring for its children.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 16, 2012

CUBA - There has always been something special to me about gardens, something soothing and miraculous about looking out over beds of tender plants. A garden is a feast for the eyes and salve to the soul.

For the church is in the business of "cultivation" ... cultivating spirits and hearts in the love of God in Jesus Christ; cultivating minds in the knowledge of God; cultivating friendships, mutual regard, and concern among people of diverse backgrounds and nationalities. Why would the church not also cultivate gardens of fresh vegetables to nourish the bodies of the seminary community and to share with neighbors.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Video Vault: Lack of adequate child sex trafficking laws in the U.S.

ECPAT-USA is is a non-profit children's rights organization whose mission is to protect all children from commercial sexual exploitation, and is the US Chapter of Thailand-based ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking) International, working at the community, national and international levels.


NEW YORK - Arresting children involved in prostitution does not rescue them. That is the clear message of “What I’ve Been Through Is Not Who I Am,” a new documentary released by ECPAT-USA and WITNESS that tells the story of Katrina, a formerly sexually exploited teen who was arrested many times. It was only after she accepted an offer of help from a safe haven that she was able to escape.

“Most states’ laws allow children to be arrested for prostitution. Instead of a jail cell we need to give them a safe place to heal. They are not ‘bad’ children, they are abused children,” says Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies to protect sexually exploited children.

“We believe this film will bring much needed visibility to this issue,” says Kelly Matheson, WITNESS Program Manager for the Americas. “When decision makers hear Katrina’s personal story and understand that we are jailing children who are bought and sold for sex, it would be devastating if they did not change the system.”

Children under 18 years old who are sold in the commercial sex industry should be offered protection and a way out of the life of prostitution. This is the message of the new 21-minute documentary released today by two human rights organizations, ECPAT-USA and WITNESS. In the documentary, Katrina, tells the story of being lured into the sex industry while still a teen, and the abuse she suffered from a trafficker who keep her in that life. Her compelling and emotional story takes us from Atlanta to New York City to Atlanta again, from desperation to recovery and success. Her story illustrates the failure of the criminal justice system to help these youth.

The documentary brings together a diverse set of experts from juvenile justice, law enforcement, child rights, and service providers to speak about the traumatic effects of commercial sexual exploitation of children. They make the case that arresting children is not the right approach for ensuring their recovery from the trauma of prostitution.

The video was created to educate public policy makers, especially state legislators, about the best way to help children involved in the sex trade and ask them to make changes on behalf of these youth. Legislative reform measures and new approaches, recommended in the film, can shift our collective responsive from a punitive one to a restorative one.