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 07/31/14
China
In addition to caring for special needs orphans, New Day Foster Home also reaches children living in government institutions across China through its Formula Project. New Day supplies nutritious infant formula to partner orphanages that are under-resourced. Babies, especially those with complex medical needs, are at great risk of hunger and malnourishment in orphanages that don’t have the means to provide sufficient, nourishing infant formula.
• Thanks be to God for the staff and volunteers with New Day Foster Home and their willingness to care for children throughout China. Pray God will continue to provide the resources New Day needs to supply infant formula to these partner orphanages.
• Pray God will bring healing to babies and toddlers with complex medical needs who live in these partner orphanages. Pray for the staff at these facilities as they care for special needs children. Pray God will sustain them for this important, demanding work.
United States
Four young girls are at great risk of continued physical and emotional abuse by their biological father. The oldest girl was able to escape from the situation after suffering the brunt of his abuse and is now with her biological mother. However, the three younger girls are still with him and their stepmother.
• Please pray for the safety and freedom of these girls. Pray for their spiritual, emotional, and physical healing from the trauma of this abuse.
• Pray the courts will make an informed decision in their case—that they will decide the very best placement for the girls and do it quickly.
• Pray for their mother who desires permanent custody of the girls.
• Pray God will bring healing to their father’s hardened heart. Pray he will stop the abuse and accept responsibility for his actions.
The only homeless shelter in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota that’s able to accommodate single men, single women, and both one- and two-parent families is bursting at the seams. Churches United for the Homeless is the only shelter in the Fargo-Moorhead area that offers space for full families to stay together, but has been at capacity for years. Churches United for the Homeless, formed in 1987 by more than 50 area churches, offers safe shelter and support in a spiritual setting to those who find themselves homeless. The organization provides temporary shelter and refers residents to appropriate services such as job service, social services, mental health services, and programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Instead of building a larger shelter, Churches United for the Homeless has proposed building affordable housing for homeless families, single residents age 55 and older, veterans, and disabled adults. However, residents near the proposed building site for this new apartment complex have expressed fears about the homeless being too close to them.
• Churches United for the Homeless website
• Please pray for the children currently living in the Moorhead shelter. Pray they won’t be adversely affected by the negative publicity surrounding the proposed building. Please pray each child will have a safe place to call home.
• Pray for their parents as they work to achieve independence and permanent housing.
• Give thanks to God for so many churches working together to help those who are homeless. Pray for the leadership of Churches United for the Homeless as they navigate this current challenge. Pray the affordable housing project will become a blessing for this community.
• Pray for residents whose fear blinds them to the deep needs of others. Pray they might see Christ within those struggling to make a fresh start.
Faces of Children
• Please keep Faces of Children prayer partner Claudia Anderson and her family close in prayer as they continue to mourn the loss of her son, Scott Lon Anderson, who passed away last spring. Give thanks to God for the life of this precious son. Pray God will comfort this grieving family and bring them peace. And please pray God’s healing touch will be upon Claudia who has been quite ill.
• Pray God will bring comfort and peace to Faces of Children prayer partner Mickey Hewitt and her family as they mourn the death of Mickey’s husband Al earlier this month. Give thanks to God for the life of this gentle man.
• 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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