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).Compassionate Preayer
“Compassionate prayer on behalf of others is central to the Bible…As disciples of the compassionate Lord who took upon himself the condition of a slave and suffered death for our sake, there are no boundaries to our prayers. Dietrich Bonhoeffer expressed this with powerful simplicity when he wrote that to pray for others is to give them ‘the same right we have received, namely, to stand before Christ and share in his mercy.’
When we come before God with the needs of the world, then the healing love of God which touches us touches all those whom we bring before God with the same power. This experience of God’s healing love can become so real, so immediate, that at times we can even sense God’s healing grace in the lives of others, although they may be far away physically, mentally, or spiritually.
Thus, compassionate prayer does not encourage us to flee from people and their concrete problems into a self-serving individualism. By deepening our awareness of our common suffering, it draws us all closer together in the healing presence of God. It reaches out not only to those whom we love and admire, but also to those whom we consider our enemies.
Prayer cannot exist together with hostile feelings. The fruit of prayer is always love. In prayer, even the unprincipled dictator and the vicious torturer can no longer remain the objects of our fear, hatred, and revenge, because when we pray, we stand at the center of the great mystery of divine compassion.”
Anchored in God Through Prayer by Henri J. M. Nouwen
A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children
Greetings, Faces of Children Intercessor,
The Midland Faces of Children prayer group will meet in the new Family Life Center conference room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland, on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. We will have lunch ($5) and fellowship after our prayer time. I hope you will be able to join us then.
Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer for the littlest citizens of God’s Kingdom! 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
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