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 05/01/14
Nigeria
An estimated 234 girls were abducted from the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School in northeast Nigeria shortly after midnight on April 14, 2014. An Islamic extremist group called Boko Haram (which means “Western education is sinful”) is believed to be responsible for the kidnapping of the girls who are between 16 and 18 years of age. Boko Haram uses violence in its efforts to establish an Islamic Sharia state in northeast Nigeria, but the most recent attacks and kidnappings in this five-year-long campaign are unprecedented. The group has abducted girls in previous attacks to use as porters, cooks, and sex slaves; however, the kidnapping of so many girls from one school has shocked the country. In addition to the mass kidnapping, Boko Haram is believed to be responsible for a massive explosion during rush hour at a busy bus station outside the capital city Abuja, also on April 14. At least 75 people were killed and 141 injured.
• Please pray for the safety and freedom of each girl kidnapped from the high school in Chibok. Give thanks several girls managed to escape from the truck when they were first abducted. Pray for the safety of the parents of these girls as they search for them in nearby Sambisa Forest, a known hiding place for the militants.
• Keep in prayer those injured in the bombing on the outskirts of Abuja. Pray for they receive good medical care and experience complete healing. Pray for the loved ones and friends of those killed in this attack.
• Please pray for peace in Nigeria’s troubled northeast region. Pray God would change the hearts of those who use violence to achieve their goals.
South Korea
On April 16, 2014, a South Korean ferry, carrying 476 people, capsized and sank. Almost three quarters of the passengers on board were 16- and 17-year-old students from Danwon High School in Ansan, near Seoul. The students and their chaperones were headed to Jeju, a popular resort island, on a school field trip. On that first day, 174 people were rescued, but no other survivors have been found since. To date, 113 bodies have been recovered with more than 190 still missing. The students were ordered to wear life jackets and stay below deck. The evacuation order wasn’t given until 30 minutes after the ship began to tilt, trapping many in cabins or passageways as the ferry listed heavily to one side. The captain and crew have been accused of failing to save passengers.
• Please keep in prayer the survivors of this tragedy as they recover from injuries sustained in the accident and from the trauma of the experience. Pray for their families as they help their loved ones through this difficult season.
• Pray for the families of the students still missing as they await word about their children. Pray for God’s comforting presence with them all during this anxious time.
• Please pray for the loved ones of the other passengers still missing. Pray God will comfort and bring them peace.
• Pray for the rescue crews as they continue to dive down into the submerged ferry and search for the bodies of the missing. Pray God will sustain them in this difficult work.
United States
• On the morning of April 9, 2014, 16-year-old Alex Hribal allegedly attacked students using two knives as they passed through the hallways of a Murrysville, Pennsylvania high school. The violent attack injured 21 students and a security guard—several of the injured are still in critical condition.
• Please pray for God’s healing touch to be upon the injured students and security guard. Pray for their complete recovery. Pray for the parents and guardians of these young people as they help their children through the recovery process. Pray God will also bring emotional, psychological, and spiritual healing to those affected by this brutal attack.
• Pray for the young man accused of committing this attack. Pray for his parents and brother as they try to understand what happened and support their son/brother.
• Give God thanks Hribal was stopped by an assistant principal and a security guard before he could do more harm.
• Pray students and staff at Franklin Regional High School will experience the peace of Christ as they resume their studies and work. Pray for those who feel anxiety or fear at returning to the school.
Faces of Children
• Please keep close in prayer Faces of Children prayer partner Faye Long and her family following the death of Faye’s husband Laddie on April 17, 2014. Pray Christ’s peace will comfort them in their season of loss.
• 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
No comments:
Post a Comment