Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... WEDNESDAY

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).

Invitation to Prayer, WEDNESDAY

Hi Friends,

Thank you for joining me in prayer for the children of the world. If you can, we'd love to have you pray together with us this Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., in the gym conference room at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, followed by lunch together.

Also, Faces of Children is now on Facebook ! I invite you to like our page so that you can see regular stories, prayer needs, and updates from partner ministries.

All the best,

Carrie

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Dear Intercessors,

It's back to school! Every day I see friends posting pictures on Facebook and Instagram of their children, fresh and ready for their first day of school. My own little girls start in early September. My oldest will be in Kindergarten and my youngest will be in Pre-K3. They are eager and ready, and though it's a bit sad for me to see them another year older, mostly I'm deeply grateful for their good health and development because it means they can take part in milestones like this.

But as kids go back to school, I think about so many ways we can pray for our children...

For children who face bullying or constantly feeling like an outsider, school can be a lonely, terrifying and even dangerous place. For those children, I pray God's presence is like a hedge of protection around them, guarding them before and behind - comforting, nurturing, and empowering them as His sons and daughters. And I pray He raises up other children to be their defenders and their friends.

For children who do not have a home that is a safe refuge... whose parents didn't bother buying school supplies or ensuring there's breakfast each morning; for children who are responsible for getting themselves and their younger siblings out the door and to school on time and don't have any compassionate grown-ups ensuring that their home work is done and that they go to bed at a decent time. For those children, I pray that God's presence is like a mother's warm hug, enveloping them in peace, safety and security.

In each classroom, there are so many back-stories that we may never fully understand: sick parents, parents who abuse drugs or alcohol, families staring down homelessness or hunger, children who come to school having only heard words of anger and abuse since waking. Each child brings so much into the classroom... so many things far heavier than their backpacks. For those children's teachers, I pray God's presence brings wisdom and divine insight. That in addition to teaching the three R's, they would be able to meet the deepest soul-needs of the children in their care. And I pray God raises up volunteers, "classroom grannies," and room parents to help fill in the gaps for all the children.

And as our kids go back to school, I look around the world and can think of so many ways to pray for our children who never get to go to school ...

Reuters Photo

INDIA // To satisfy the world's appetite for sparkly eye-shadow and glittery cars, unregulated and unlicensed mica mines have sprung up and many take advantage of child labor. According to a major report done by Thomson Reuters Foundation, some experts estimate that 70 percent of India's mica production comes from illegal mines and estimate 20,000 children are involved in mica mining in Jharkhand and Bihar, India. Not only is it dangerous and deadly work, but even for children who survive, they do not get basic opportunities like going to school.

NIGERIA // In April of 2014, Boko Haram (an Islamic militant group) kidnapped 219 girls from their secondary school in Chibok, sparking a global firestorm of #BringBackOurGirls media attention and criticism of the Nigerian government for not doing enough to rescue the kidnapped girls. Now, nearly two years later, the first girl has been rescued along with her 4-month-old baby. Amina Ali, 21, said she is now afraid of school and isn't sure she wants to go back. Instead she would like a sewing machine so she can learn to sew clothes. She hopes the other surviving girls are also rescued.

I hope you'll join me this week in praying for all of our children going back to school ... and all the children who will never get that chance.

Praying with you,

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