Faces of Children: Prayer Requests

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).

Prayer Concerns for the week of 3/9/11

Afghanistan
• Pray for children who live in some of the most violent
provinces of Afghanistan-the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand and in Kunar and Kunduz provinces in the east and north. More than 750 children were killed in conflict-related security incidents last year according to an independent Afghan rights watchdog. Pray for children who live in fear for their lives, who are denied a childhood, who are unable to attend school because of the violence.
A report from Reuters/alertnet.org
• Give thanks to God for the agreement between the UN and the Afghan government outlawing the recruitment of children in the Afghan armed forces. Pray for boys who are forced into militias and government forces to serve as foot soldiers, suicide bombers, or sexually exploited as bacha bazi.
Another report from Reuters/alertnet.org

Libya, Tunisia, Egypt
• Pray for the children and people of Libya as revolutionary violence continues in this country. Pray for those who have been attacked by the Libyan government's mercenary forces. Pray for children and families whose lives have been totally disrupted by this violence. Pray that God will comfort and provide for children who have lost parents or family members in the fighting.
A report from The Washington Post
• Please pray for children and families that have fled the fighting and crossed into neighboring countries like Tunisia and Egypt. Pray for those who are extremely vulnerable to trafficking or other exploitation because they are refugees.
A report from The Telegraph
A report from The New York Times

Middle East, Northern Africa, Europe
• Pray for refugees in the Middle East and North Africa who are fleeing the revolutionary violence in their own countries. Pray they will find safety and protection from the violence. Pray for the leaders in countries like Italy, France, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, and Spain who anticipate a huge influx of refugees from countries in revolutionary tumult. Pray that God will give them wisdom in dealing with the situation and courage to do what is right.
A report from Reuters/alertnet.org

New Zealand
• Please keep the children and people of Christchurch, New Zealand held close in prayer as they deal with the destruction caused by a powerful 6.3 magnitude aftershock on February 21, 2011.
A report from US Geological Survey
• Pray for those who lost loved ones in this earthquake, especially for children who lost parents or caregivers. Pray that God will comfort 18-year-old Lizzy and her 15-year-old brother Kent as they grieve the death of their mother.
A report from The Mirror
A report from Australia Network News

Zambia
• Pray for the children and people of Zambia's Western Province as tensions rise because of tribal conflicts. Lozi tribal loyalists want to secede from the rest of Zambia and would like to reinstatement the Barotse Agreement of 1964 that recognized the authority of the king of the Lozi people. Please pray for a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
A report from Global Voices Online
Another report from Global Voices Online
The barotseland.com website

United States
• Pray for 19-year-old Jenny*, a homeless young mother who is expecting a baby in the next week. Please pray that God will be with her as she cares for this new baby and her daughters, 3-year-old Serenity and 5-year-old Gabriella. Give thanks to God for the Family Promise Program ( www.familypromisemidlandtx.org in which Jenny is involved and through which she receives support as she works to become independent and secure more permanent housing for her family.
* Name changed for confidentiality and/or protection

Faces of Children
• ive thanks to God for the new intercessors from the Canton, Ohio area and from Granbury, Texas who recently joined with Faces of Children to pray for children.
• Please continue to pray that more churches and individuals will join with the ministry of Faces of Children in spreading awareness about children in crisis and inviting more people to pray for children at risk.