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, TODAY
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 - TODAY - 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,
NEPAL // "Child marriage is illegal in Nepal, yet the impoverished Himalayan nation has failed to put in place policies to curb the practice with almost 40 percent of girls married before the age of 18, a report by Human Rights Watch said on Thursday. It found that poverty, compounded by illiteracy and society's disapproval of unmarried women, compelled many parents to seek out husbands for their daughters. Yet child marriage often results in a vicious cycle of malnutrition, poor health and ignorance since a child bride is more likely to drop out of school and experience problems during pregnancy and childbirth. Her children are more likely to be underweight or die before the age of five, said the report based on over 100 interviews with children, former child brides, parents and activists."
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Father, we understand this crisis in Nepal is rooted in many complicated issues - none of which is easily solved. But we trust that you see each of these little girls. You know their names, the desires of their hearts, and their hopes and dreams. Please provide ways for their families to see past current challenging circumstances... to see a future where their educated daughter can bring great honor, joy, and success to the whole family. Help these families find ways to meet their most basic needs - for food, shelter, and work - so that they do not feel backed into a corner with the only option being to marry off their daughter. And finally, Father, for those girls who are married much too young - we ask that you be their protector and ever-present-help. We know you can redeem and restore even the most broken lives, and we ask for your healing presence to be made real in their lives. Amen.
USA // More than 1,000 women and girls have been apparent victims of sex trafficking in illicit cantinas in the United States that largely operate beyond the reach of law enforcement, the anti-slavery group Polaris said on Thursday." According to the report, more than half of the cases occurred in Houston, Texas. "Cantinas, social gathering spots popular in Latino communities, may disguise the cost of commercial sex in very high drink prices, and women are forced to flirt and drink with patrons, the study's author Tessa Couture told the Thomson Reuters Foundation... At one illicit cantina in Houston, some victims were forced to have sex as often as 50 times a day, it said. The cantina owner, convicted of sex trafficking, conspiracy and other charges, was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year. While cases of trafficking in brothels have been the subject of high-profile prosecutions, only a small number of prosecutions have focused on cantinas, mostly in Houston, the report said. Cases can be hard to investigate and prosecute because traffickers and owners may hide their ownership of cantinas or liquor licenses, and because victims are too scared to testify in court, afraid that traffickers will retaliate by hurting their families, Polaris said. "Those organized crime networks reaching back into Mexico and Central America are very real. People know that there's a very real possibility their families will be hurt," Couture said.
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Father, we know that the trafficking and victimization of children breaks your heart. We know that as we lift up these broken and abused lives to you, you weep with us. And as we feel anger towards those perpetrators and abusers, we only feel a fraction of the passion in your heart. Thank you for the light that has been shed on these cantinas... please continue to open the eyes of local authorities, concerned citizens and even patrons who suddenly realize the truth of the circumstances. And as people's eyes are opened, please help them have the courage, wisdom, and ability to act on their knowledge and bring justice for the victims. For organizations working to bring healing and restoration to victims, we pray you fill them with energy and hope and creativity and insight and meet their every need. Amen.
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| Getty Photo by Louisa Gouliamaki |
Mexico and Central America are very real. People know that there's a very real possibility their families will be hurt," Couture said.
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Father, these numbers are staggering and so incredibly hard to even fathom. Help us to take in the magnitude of this problem; to sit with the enormity of it so that we can no longer ignore it. But also help us to focus in on the specificity of this tragedy; to peer at it closely enough to realize that each one of these mind-boggling numbers represents a single child. A little boy with sweeping eye lashes who likes to play with his soccer ball. A little girl with curly black hair who pretends a line of three stones is a toy train. And give us specific burdens to lift up to you in prayer... send your Holy Spirit to help us intercede on behalf of these children; to know their stories even if we never know their names, to carry their burdens even if we never feel the weight of them in our arms. And Father, help us to know how we can act... show us ways that we can be the hands and feet of Christ by supporting organizations working on the ground, by getting politically engaged in advocating for refugees and migrants, or by becoming personally involved in some other way. We know you hold the whole world in your hands -- help us to trust you even when it feels like it is falling apart. Amen.
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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