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, TOMORROW
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 - TOMORROW - 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
Dear Intercessors,
Last week I invited you to pray with us for Rev. Hodge, Mt. Moriah Church of Christ, and the "Cops, Kids, and BBQ" event they were planning for this past weekend. Our youth pastor put together a great little video that captured the spirit of the day. The event was a great success and brought lots of beautiful smiles to lots of kids.
And some good-natured police officers enjoyed a few minutes to cut loose, have some fun with the kids, and unleash their inner "Iron Man."
Everyone enjoyed big plates of BBQ, and there was lots of laughter and opportunities to make new friends. As I was looking at pictures from the weekend with my 5-year-old daughter, Cora, she pointed out this picture and said, "Mom! That's me with my new friend! We got our faces painted together and then we jumped in the bounce house! I'm so glad to have a new friend."
Her exuberance seemed to capture the heart of the event, to me... and then this morning as I was reading in a devotional book, I happened upon this excerpt from Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning:
There is a wondrous open-mindedness about children and an insatiable desire to learn from life. An open attitude is like an open door -- a welcoming disposition toward the fellow travelers who knock on our door during the middle of the day, the middle of the week, or the middle of a lifetime. Some are dirtballs, grungy, disheveled, and bedraggled. The sophisticated adult within me shudders and is reluctant to offer them hospitality. They may be carrying precious gifts under their shabby rags, but I still prefer clean shaven Christians who are neatly attired, properly pedigreed, and who affirm my vision, echo my thoughts, stroke me, and make me feel good. Yet my inner child protests, "I want new friends, not old mirrors."
"When our inner child is not nurtured and nourished, our minds gradually close to new ideas, unprofitable commitments, and the surprises of the Spirit. Evangelical faith is bartered for cozy, comfortable piety. A failure of nerve and an unwillingness to risk distorts God into a Bookkeeper, and the gospel of grace is swapped for the security of religious bondage. 'Unless you become as little children ...' [Matthew 18:3]"
"Heaven will be filled with five-year-olds."
Thank you for covering this event with your prayers. We invite you to join us in praying for this to only be the beginning ... and for us all to be as curious and open as 5-year-olds in our daily lives.
Praying with you,
Carrie
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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