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).

Prayer for the Perpetrator

""While we strive to heal the world, the darkness is putting up a massive assault on the planet. God's healing must extend itself, not to heal light, but to heal the darkness.

The perpetrator of violence may or may not be consciously horrified by his or her own behavior. As with any addictive pattern where the drive toward certain behavior overwhelms and drowns the yearning of a human conscience, it is only through the power of a genuine spiritual awakening that the deepest darkness is turned to light.

For the perpetrator of wrong action, the need for prayer is great indeed. God hears all prayers...

Dear God,
Please help those who perpetrate violence recognize the evil of their behavior.
Help them to ask forgiveness for the pain they have caused others.
Then forgive them, gracious God, and cleanse their hearts.
Most of all, dear God, please send your angels to release them from any yearnings to do again as they have done before.
Please, God, cast out this evil from within them.
Return them through your grace to the ways of goodness.
Please bless and protect those who have been victims of their perpetration and violence.
God, please lift up the lives of those who perpetrate violence and redeem them so they might receive from you the chance to live the rest of their lives on the path of good,
through the grace of God, and in service to humanity forever and forever. Amen."

Illuminata, a Return to Prayer
by Marianne Williamson

A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children

Greetings, Faces of Children Prayer Partner,

Thank you for praying for children! Your prayers matter in the lives of at-risk children in our local and global communities.

The Faces of Children prayer group will meet to pray for children on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride’s room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland, with lunch ($5) and fellowship to follow.

If you have prayer concerns or celebrations 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.

Grace and peace,

Chris