Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Their mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, they 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,
We will be meeting this Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., in the gym conference room at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. I hope you can join us!
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.
Warmly,
Carrie
Dear Intercessors,
Continuing with our heart theme, I wanted to draw attention to an issue impacting kids with congenital heart defects that we may not always consider ... access to medical care.
Meet Oliver and his Mom ...
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| LWB Photo |
"After suffering from infertility for eight years, Oliver's mother was thrilled to find herself pregnant in 2015. Immediately following little Oliver's birth, however, they were given the news that their miracle baby had been born with congenital heart disease and Down Syndrome.
In China, around 95% of women terminate their pregnancies if they learn before birth that their child has Down Syndrome. For those families who discover their child has this special need after delivery, abandonment is very common. Orphanages in China are caring for many children who have Down Syndrome as many Chinese families are not willing or able to take on the challenges of parenting a child with this need.
Oliver's family, however, could not imagine abandoning their precious son. They absolutely adore him and are willing to move heaven and earth to make him well. Oliver's blue lips tell just a part of the story of his failing health. He suffers from breathing distress at night and frequently comes down with fevers and coughing due to his weakened heart.
There were two enormous hurdles standing in the way of saving Oliver's life. His family is extremely impoverished and heavily in debt due to medical bills, and sadly they had been unable to find a hospital willing to help their son.
Oliver's family has traveled to three different cardiac hospitals searching for help for their little boy, only to be told they should take their son home to die. When our China director met with Oliver's devoted mom, she broke down crying saying how hopeless she felt that no one seemed to believe her son's life mattered. Over and over she had been told that nothing could be done for her beloved baby.
We knew exactly where little Oliver needed to be seen. The surgeons at Fudan University in Shanghai are some of the top cardiac surgeons in the world, and they have taken beautiful and compassionate care of the babies we have sent there with Down Syndrome."
• Read the rest of the story here ...
In China, children are frequently abandoned due to the cost of medical care. So not only are foundations like Love Without Boundaries providing life-saving medical care for children, but they are also preserving families... ensuring children don't end up in orphanages. Though Oliver's medical care is now fully funded through donors, if you want to be involved in contributing to family preservation through medical care, Love Without Boundaries' Unity Fund provides financial assistance to impoverished Chinese families who need help paying for their children's heart surgeries.
Though it's not related to heart surgeries, it is connected to family preservation. The economic situation in Venezuela continues to worsen, and families are abandoning their children to orphanages because they do not have anything to feed them. These families need our prayer, along with the over-taxed charitable groups working to care for these kids.
This week, please join me in praying for:
1) Oliver's successful surgery... and in the week's leading up to his surgery, please pray for his health to be good and for his body to remain strong. Also please pray for his family in this stressful and overwhelming time.
2) Other impoverished families around the world whose kids need medical care they can't afford to provide. Please pray more and more are able to connect with charitable organizations who can help.
3) For the people of Venezuela facing the impossible choice of feeding their babies or abandoning them.
Blessings,
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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