Edition 55: 7th Jan 2009

NEW YEAR GREETINGS –

As we enter a new year we extend our warm thanks to you for journeying with us in prayer to date. We look forward to being in agreement with you in praying for the continuing issues that children face around the world.

ORPHANOS

We want to praise God that in 2008 Orphanos was enabled to make more than 120 cash grants to ministries working with children at risk. These grants totaled more than US$250,000 for things such as schooling, food and clothing, new buildings, remodeling of buildings, and attending the Memphis Messiah.  These grants benefitted thousands of children from places as far away as Korea, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica as well as children as close as right here in Memphis, TN.  We facilitated 85 people on 11 different short term mission trips going to visit the children in their orphanage homes.  We provided logistical support for 6 on field missionaries and 2 home office missionaries.

• Praise God for the fruitful end of our 11th year in ministry.
• Please pray for our 2009 short term mission teams.
• Please pray for our 2009 financial grants to homes.
• Please pray for our overhead expenses to be covered.

TESTIMONY  –

We were really humbled to read a recent Christmas response from the directors of a project in Honduras.

‘The children of the orphanage collected funds and items to give to poor families in town. Last year they were able to give to about 40 families. In 2008 they wanted to expand the work and doubled the size of the ministry group in preparation for the work that God was going to do. The kids were able to collect items and funds for 150 families! Tripling the results from last year. It was so amazing to see the joy and the desire that God placed in the kids to give. It was also a humbling experience to see how "poor little orphan" kids were so dedicated to doing something for someone else. It really shows us that we all have the ability to give, that even in our poverty there is always something to give. What we seem to lack however is the desire to give. We encourage you to be as the widow woman and give not out of your abundance but give even when you can't afford it. Times are getting rough financially, but God is still the great provider. Remember that it is not us or our efforts that keep us standing, rather it is the hand of the Almighty.’

• Praise God for and pray for the directors of Orphanage Emmanuel in Honduras as they model and teach the children Kingdom principles. May they be abundantly blessed this coming year.

• Pray that more projects and ministries would be released to walk in and teach children Godly values so that the promised blessings would flow.

• Thank God for the many thousands of ministers around the world who lead children by example to see His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

• Pray that this year there would be an even greater outpouring of Father’s love and provision to those who trust Him daily.

PALESTINE, ISRAEL

As many of you are aware, since the cease fire ended, the conflict in the Middle East has once again become the focus of much headline news.

Behind the scenes the children on both sides are growing up in an atmosphere of hatred, vengeance and violence.

• Please be in prayer for the children of Israel and Palestine as the violence escalates between Israel and the Hamas government in the Gaza strip.

• Pray for those who have been wounded, lost family members, friends or homes in the Israeli air strikes and Hamas cross border rocket attacks.

• Pray for Israeli and Palestinian children who are programmed to hate one another because of the violence and vengeance. Pray that a voice of peace would be raised that children will hear, connect to and be released to walk in.

• In all the complexities of the situation pray that a ceasefire would be forthcoming and that there would be resolution to the conflict.

WORLD WEEKEND OF PRAYER FOR CHILDREN AT RISK 6-7th JUNE 2009

Preparation is well underway for the prayer material to be distributed over this weekend in June. As always we expect that many of those participating in the day will be children themselves and look forward to seeing and hearing all that Father is revealing through their prayers alongside our own.

• Pray for the publication and distribution of the prayer material that there would be favor throughout all the processes.

• Pray that more people, churches and organizations would be inspired to participate in prayer over this time.

• Pray that people would be captivated with the love of Jesus for the children and pour out hearts on behalf of the children who faint at the head of the streets.

May the peace and presence of Jesus be close and may 2009 be a year where we continue to make a difference through our heartfelt prayers.

‘Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street.’