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 9/12/13
Burma, Bangladesh
• Continue to pray for peace between two ethnic groups in Burma’s northwestern Rakhine (formerly Arakan) State. Animosity between the predominately Buddhist Rakhine and the predominately Muslim Rohingya goes back many years to when the Rohingya first came to Burma from Bangladesh. Last year’s violence between these two ethnic groups left 140,000 homeless, mostly Rohingya, and at least 192 dead. Pray for reconciliation and understanding between these two ethnic people groups.
• Please continue in prayer for the estimated 800,000 Rohingya children and families that live in abject poverty near Burma’s western border with Bangladesh. Pray for the estimated 300,000 Rohingya refugees who are believed to live in Bangladesh. The Rohingya are denied citizenship in both Burma and Bangladesh.
• Pray for children affected by recent violence between police and Rohingya Muslims. Oppressive, apartheid-like policies, instituted after last year’s violence, have segregated the Buddhist Rakhine from the Muslim Rohingya. • Pray for Rohingya children and families who have been forced into primitive camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) and have little hope of being resettled elsewhere. Pray for IDP children and families who lack access to medical facilities, latrines, shelters, blankets, and regular food distribution.
• Pray the government of Burma will have a change of heart towards the Rohingya who are restricted from moving freely, finding jobs, accessing basic services like healthcare and food aid, or having more than two children.
Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey
• Continue to keep the children and people of Syria close in prayer during this very difficult, violent period in their country. Pray for the families of those killed in this sectarian civil war. An estimated 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict; 7,000 were children.
• Pray for the estimated 4.25 million people, almost half of whom are children, who are displaced within Syria because of this conflict.
• Pray for the more than 2 million Syrians, 1 million of whom are children, who have sought refuge in neighboring Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. Please pray for the 3,500 unaccompanied children who have fled Syria and crossed into neighboring countries. Pray God will protect vulnerable refugee children from being sexually exploited or trafficked; from being sold into labor, early marriage, or prostitution.
• Pray for children who have been traumatized by the violence in Syria. Pray for those who have witnessed gruesome, violent acts against loved ones, family, and/or friends. Pray for those experiencing depression or hopelessness about the losses they’ve witnessed.
• Please pray for children and families affected by chemical weapons attacks, allegedly done by the Syrian government to stop rebel advancements in Damascus. More than 1,400 people, including 426 children, have died in what U.S. intelligence analysts believe were chemical weapons attacks.
• Pray for an end to this horrific violence. Pray Syria’s government and rebel leaders will work towards a peaceful solution to this civil conflict. Pray international governments will seek God’s guidance concerning their intervention in this crisis. Pray they will work together to help Syria achieve peace.
United States
• Please pray God will bring healing to 1-year-old Jace who has been very sick with an undiagnosed illness. Pray doctors will be able to discover what is making him so ill and provide a plan of treatment. Pray for Jace’s family as they care for this little boy
Faces of Children
• Pray for Faces of Children prayer partner Robin Richey, her mother Mickey, and their family during this season of illness and loss. Robin’s mother is in an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s and has other medical complications. Pray Mickey will experience God’s peace and comfort during these last days and weeks. Pray for Robin’s brother and sister-in-law who are with Mickey and helping to care for her. Pray for Robin as she experiences this loss long distance. Give God thanks for the compassion and skill of the hospice agency caring for Mickey.
• Please pray for James, the younger brother of Faces of Children intercessor Tara Kirkpatrick, as he recovers from surgery. Pray the surgery and the previous chemotherapy and radiation treatments will stop the spread of cancer. Pray God will bring complete healing to James. Please pray for James’ sisters and father who are very worried about this beloved brother and son. Pray God will comfort James and his family in this season of illness
• 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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