Nigeria,
Cameroon, Chad, Niger
Boko Haram continues to
terrorize the people of northeast Nigeria with daily raids, murders, and
abductions in their campaign to establish an Islamic Sharia state in that
region. Tens of thousands of people have fled this violence to the neighboring
countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. An estimated three million people have
been affected by the fighting. Boko Haram, which means “Western
education is forbidden,” generally targets Christians, but a large number of
their victims have been Muslim. The militant
group has looted villages and burned homes and churches to the
ground in their raids. They’ve also been reported to use boys and girls as
young as 10 as soldiers. Self-defense militias that have sprung up in the
absence of a strong Nigerian military presence are also reported to recruit
children as soldiers, spies, and cooks. In a new development, Boko Haram has
begun using female suicide bombers in their campaign of terror. Most of them
have been teenage girls, possibly the children of Boko Haram fighters or poor
girls lured by the promise of financial security. http://tinyurl.com/pg5gx4o http://tinyurl.com/nusds88 http://tinyurl.com/n59yyy2
·
Please continue
to pray for children and families who’ve been affected by Boko Haram’s violent
campaign. Pray for those who’ve had loved ones killed or injured in attacks by
this militant group. Pray for children and families who have lost their homes
and communities. Pray God will provide for their immediate and deepest
needs.
·
Pray for children
who have been forcibly recruited as child soldiers by Boko Haram as well as
other warring factions. Pray for those who’ve been abducted and for those
subjected to sexual violence.
·
Keep in prayer
captured child soldiers who are held in Nigerian military detention facilities
known for their mistreatment of prisoners. Pray for their protection, release,
and rehabilitation.
·
Please continue
to pray for peace in Nigeria’s troubled northeast region. Pray for Nigeria’s
government and military leaders during this challenging season. Pray for wisdom
and courage to do the right thing for their fellow Nigerians, especially the
children of this fractured country.
·
Pray for Boko
Haram’s leaders—that God would change the hearts of those who use violence to
achieve goals.
Uganda
Baraka, a 7-year-old boy with
brittle bone disease, is unable to walk because of complications from a surgery
several years ago. His family lives in an upstairs apartment without an
elevator, so Baraka’s mother or father must carry him up and down. Last summer,
Baraka’s teacher was carrying him downstairs when she fell. He suffered several
broken bones in that fall. Baraka recently had another surgery and is still in
immense pain and experiencing a lot of bleeding.
·
Please continue
to pray that God will bring healing to Baraka and lift the terrible pain. Pray
his little body will experience a miracle of complete healing.
·
Pray for Baraka’s
mother and father and his four brothers and sisters as they help care for him.
United States
Last spring, 4-year-old
Jordan had surgery to remove one of her kidneys that had a fist-sized tumor
wrapped around it. Several days after that surgery, Jordan had another
operation to remove a tumor in one of her lungs. On a happy note, Jordan
finished 10 days of radiation and chemotherapy the day before her baby sister
Leslie was born. Jordan recently had her first CT scan after completing several
months of chemotherapy and there were no indications of
abnormalities—everything looks good!
·
Thanks be to God
for Jordan’s wonderful medical news! And give thanks to God that her energy
level is back to normal, her hair is growing back, and she loves her new
school. Please continue to pray for Jordan…that she will remain tumor-free.
·
Continue to keep
Jordan’s parents, Jerin and Kristen, in prayer as they care for Jordan and her
baby sister. Jordan’s parents shared their gratitude for the support they’ve
been given during this ordeal. They praise God for those who’ve been in prayer
for their family and say the prayers carried them through.
·
Give God thanks
for the joy baby Leslie has brought to her big sister and their family in such
a challenging season.
Faces of Children
·
Please pray for
the mother of Faces of Children intercessor Robin. Pray for God’s healing touch
upon her mother and for her complete recovery from a recent knee surgery.
·
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.
