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).Hi Friends,
I hope you can join us TODAY (Wednesday, November 18) at 11:30 for prayer in the gym conference room.
Dear Intercessors,
It seems the world exploded this week. Terrorist attacks in Paris led to politicians across our own country shouting yesterday that we should shut out the refugees, and they found a large and supportive audience even among the church. These are complicated issues, and I know solving this geo-political crisis requires more ingenuity, creativity, and deep social and political understanding than I have. I don't know much about politics, but as a follower of Jesus, I know we are called to something higher than self-preservation. I know that we are told to welcome the stranger, love our enemy, and pray for those who persecute us. I know we are told that perfect love casts out all fear and we are described as the light of the world; a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.
It seems the world is awash in arguments this week. I don't want to contribute more noise and divisiveness to a conversation that seems almost intractable. I don't know how to do it, but for the sake of our children -- for the sake of my own two beautiful daughters -- we have to find a different way; a way of hope and love and mercy and forgiveness and seeing the beauty of our common humanity. So this week, I want us to take a moment and look at the faces of children on the run from ISIS. Children that many of our own politicians have said would not be welcome coming to us for shelter. Please read their stories and pray however the Spirit leads you.
Photojournalist Magnus Wennman traveled around Europe and the Middle East, capturing these children of war as they tried to find some rest in a frightening, uncertain world. These images come from his series; see the full collection here.
Walaa, 5, in Dar-El-Ias.
Walaa wants to go home. She had her own room in Aleppo, she tells us. There, she never used to cry at bedtime. Here, in the refugee camp, she cries every night. Resting her head on the pillow is horrible, she says, because nighttime is horrible. That was when the attacks happened. By day, Walaa's mother often builds a little house out of pillows, to teach her that they are nothing to be afraid of.
Lamar, 5, sleeping on the ground in Horgos, Serbia.
Back home in Baghdad the dolls, the toy train, and the ball are left; Lamar often talks about these items when home is mentioned. The bomb changed everything. The family was on its way to buy food when it was dropped close to their house. It was not possible to live there anymore, says Lamar's grandmother, Sara. After two attempts to cross the sea from Turkey in a small, rubber boat they succeeded in coming here to Hungary's closed border. Now Lamar sleeps on a blanket in the forest, scared, frozen, and sad.
Fara, 2, asleep in Azraq, Jordan.
Fara loves soccer. Her dad tries to make balls for her by crumpling up anything he can find, but they don't last long. Every night he says goodnight to Fara and her big sister Tisam, 9, in the hope that tomorrow will bring them a proper ball to play with. All other dreams seem to be beyond his reach, but he is not giving up on this one.
All the best,
Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153
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 info@facesofchildren.net
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