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 06/05/14
Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Algeria
The northern part of Mali has long been a hotbed of violence as Tuareg rebels and Islamist militants struggle for independence from the government of Mali. In January 2012, increased fighting between these groups, followed by international intervention the next year, caused a surge in refugees fleeing to neighboring countries. In January 2013, farmer Massaya and his wife Taghri and their six young children fled central Mali along with half of the members of their village. They walked five days to reach Mbera refugee camp across the border in Mauritania, part of an influx of 15,000 refugees arriving in the camp that month. An estimated 60,000 refugees struggle to survive shortages of water and food in the 122 F degree heat. Shortly after their arrival, Taghri realized she was pregnant. An ultrasound revealed she was carrying quadruplets. With help from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Taghri delivered the three boys and one girl five weeks early by caesarian section.
• Thanks be to God for the safe delivery of the quadruplets who are now 4 months old and in very good health.
• Give thanks to God Taghri was able to access medical help—living in the refugee camp gave her access to care she might not have had at home in Mali.
• Please pray for Massaya and Taghri as they raise their 10 children while living in a swelteringly hot tent in the Mbera refugee camp. Give God thanks for the compassionate neighbors who help out with the four babies and six other children while Massaya tries to find work. Pray their children will be able to continue their education and have hope for a future.
• Pray for all of the refugees in this camp and in others in Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Algeria. Please pray God will provide for their physical and spiritual needs while living in such difficult circumstances.
• Pray the situation in Mali will stabilize and refugees will be able to return home.
Turkey
An explosion at a coal mine in Soma killed 301 miners on May 13, 2014. An electrical fault is believed to have triggered the blast and cut power to the elevators, trapping coal miners more than a mile below the surface and several miles from the mine entrance. Many miners died of carbon monoxide poisoning or were killed in the pit collapse. Four hundred and fifty miners were rescued with 80 suffering minor injuries. Coal mining is a major industry in Soma, but safety issues have long been a concern. Protests about this mine disaster broke out in two of Turkey’s major cities and three mine company personnel have been arrested and charged with negligence, including the mine company’s operations manager.
• Please keep close in prayer the loved ones—the parents, spouses, children, grandchildren, siblings—and friends of those killed in this mine disaster. Pray for the children and loved ones of those still missing. Please pray each of them will feel God’s comforting presence in this difficult season.
• Please pray for the survivors as they process this frightening experience and the trauma it may have caused.
• Pray for the safety of those still involved in the recovery process at the mine.
• Pray the cause of this disaster will be revealed and, if there is negligence involved, that justice will be obtained.
United States
Eight-year-old Tyler* and his 3-year-old sister Rebecca* were caught in a bitter custody battle between their grandparents and their mother. Their mother Anna* is pregnant and unable to take her medications for bipolar disorder, making her quite emotionally volatile. * Name changed for confidentiality and/or protection.
• Give God thanks for answering prayers about Tyler and Rebecca’s custody. Their grandparents were recently awarded custody of Tyler and Rebecca’s birth father has custody of her. Please continue to pray Tyler and Rebecca will feel God’s loving arms around them throughout this chaotic time.
• Pray for Anna as she struggles with her mental illness and her relationships.
• Pray for peace, reconciliation, and healing in all of these relationships.
Faces of Children
• Give thanks to God for the life of Louise Lang, the mother-in-law of Faces of Children prayer partner Karen Lang. Louise died last weekend following complications from surgery. Pray God will comfort Louise’s family and all those who loved her in this season of grief..
• Please keep in prayer 20-year-old Donnie, the friend of a Faces of Children intercessor, as he receives treatment for cancer. Pray God will bring healing to this young man and comfort him during his treatments.
• 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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