Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... TOMORROW

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 all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have so much to be grateful for, and it was nice to pause and remember all of His wonderful gifts. I'm looking forward to joining you TOMORROW (Wednesday, December 2) in prayer at 11:30 in the gym conference room. Afterwards we will enjoy lunch together.

A small business matter: The church no longer has an employee cooking lunches, but has instead begun using a small caterer. I think you'll find the lunch is delicious, but the cost has gone up. Instead of $5, it is now $8. You can also elect to bring a bag lunch, if you'd like. I just wanted to give you a heads up!

Dear Intercessors,

Today is World AIDs Day. Much has changed in the treatment of HIV and AIDs over the years, and the diagnosis is no longer the death sentence that it once was. (Praise God!) But despite these incredible medical advances, millions of people still fall through the treatment cracks. And as you might imagine, children are among the most vulnerable. This week, please lift up the needs of children living with HIV and AIDs.

Consider the following statistics that appeared in a recent article in the Washington Post to help guide your prayers:

     • According to the United Nations' agency for children, "AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African teenagers and the second most common killer for adolescents across the globe."
     • According to UNICEF, globally "the number of 10-to-19-year-olds dying from AIDS-related diseases has tripled since 2000... Only a third of the 2.6 million children infected with HIV were on treatment."
     • In the same report, UNICEF says that, "infection rates among those aged 15 to 19 now add up to 26 new infections every hour with 70 percent of those infected girls." While women are biologically more susceptible than men to infection, experts also credit child marriage and illiteracy and other social factors as part of the reason the disease affects a disproportionate number of females.
     • UNICEF also reports that while "60 percent of adolescent infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa - with South Africa leading, followed by Nigeria - countries like the United States, India, Indonesia and Brazil also showed a worrying rate of infection among teenagers." But of course, there's so much more to this story than just statistics. There are little kids taking antiretroviral drugs before soccer practice. There are teenagers hearing hard words in cold clinic rooms that forever change their futures. There are mamas worried about whether or not they'll pass the disease onto their newborn babies. There are sex workers and child brides and women around the world who have very little control over their own bodies and health and don't get to say no to dangerous sexual encounters. There are children growing up in orphanages who are infected with HIV and face a future not only living with the stigma that comes from being an orphan, but also the stigma that comes from being HIV positive.

In fact, to make this deeply personal, would you join me in praying for these three HIV positive children who are currently waiting for adoptive families in China? Due to age requirements governing adoptions, all of them only have a limited time before the opportunity to know the love of a forever family is over.
• Learn more about them in this article from the adoption advocacy group, No Hands But Ours

Rebekah is a quiet, sweet spirited, talented and beautiful girl. Her hobbies include riding bikes and roller skating. She has a servant's heart and seems to be in tune with what those around her may need. She is described as a joyful girl and a sweetheart! Next week Rebekah will turn 13 at her group home for HIV positive children in China. This means she has one year to be adopted before she is legally too old to be adopted. Children with HIV in China cannot get treatment at most hospitals, cannot get an education, and cannot get a job. She is so lovable and she wants to move to America saying, "I want a family."

Bree, age 13, and Bryan, age 11, are biological siblings who must be adopted together. They have tested positive for HIV, which is controlled with daily medication. Bree and Bryan live in a group home with other children who have also tested positive for HIV. Both children attend a private school. Bree is an excellent student who especially enjoys her language classes, and her math scores are also very high. She loves to read and does her homework consistently. Smart and well-behaved, Bree has good friends in school and keeps an eye out for her brother. Bryan is a confident, independent boy who likes computers and playing sports. His caregivers describe him as a "free soul" who often chooses to do his own thing rather than going along with the group. Bryan's behavior in school is good and his teachers have no complaints about him.

Thank you for lifting up the needs of children suffering from HIV and AIDs around the world.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153

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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