There is something beautiful about watching a child’s personality develop. About seeing interests form and passions ignite. I love watching as a child begins to connect his enthusiasm with the world around him.
But for many children, there comes a point when outside influences dampen their excitement. They are told their dreams are silly. Their passions are impossible. It saddens me when a child loses her identity in the crush of outside influences.
For children in poverty, that robbing of dreams and desires comes quickly and cruelly. It goes deeper than being told their goals are impossible. Poverty tries to steal the very core of a child — their very essence of purity and innocence. I meet children who were never able to fully relish their childhood, who had to take on adult responsibilities far too soon. Children who have to make decisions no child should have to make. Children who refuse to dream because the loss of that dream is far too painful.
Through Compassion, more than a million children are being told “Just be yourself” by loving, caring adults who passionately advocate for their dreams and passions. Will you pray for these workers as they try to speak louder than the lies? As they spread the message that “You were made for more than this.” And please pray for the hearts of these children. That passions will be reignited. That dreams will be dreamed. And that innocence and purity will be restored.
Thank you again for your continued prayers on the behalf of children in desperate poverty. May your 2013 be filled with God’s peace and protection!
"Search me, God, and know my heart."
— Psalm 139:23
Mark Hanlon
Senior Vice President, USA
Compassion International
January 2013 Prayer Calendar
Verse of the Month
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
— Isaiah 41:10, NIV
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Tuesday 1
As we begin the new year, praise the Lord with us for the honor of helping millions of precious children rise above the limitations of extreme poverty. Pray that every one of these children will know that God loves and treasures them.
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Wednesday 2
Please pray that Compassion’s child development centers would continue to give children a Christ-centered place of safety and respite from the harsh realities of severe poverty — a place where children can set aside adult-level concerns and enjoy being “real” kids.
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Thursday 3
Please pray for the 177 children and their families from 11 Compassion programs affected by the recent 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Guatemala. Compassion is providing food, water, blankets and other emergency services.
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Friday 4
Please pray for 5-year-old Werner and 8-year-old Madelin, siblings whose father was killed in the Guatemala earthquake.
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Saturday 5
Please continue to pray for the Compassion-assisted children and their families in India whose homes were damaged during cyclone Nilam.
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Sunday 6
Please pray for Kiattisak in Thailand, whose father recently drowned. Pray for the family’s peace, comfort and provision.
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Monday 7
Please pray for the Turyahikayo family in Uganda, who have lost three loved ones to the Marburg virus including Boaz, a Leadership Development Program (LDP) graduate.
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Tuesday 8
There are 22 Compassion child development centers in the region of Uganda where the deadly Marburg virus is active. Please pray for God’s protection of our children, their families, and staff there.
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Wednesday 9
Please pray for the nearly 200 Compassion-assisted children and their families in Haiti and the Dominican Republic whose homes were damaged by recent heavy rains and flooding. Compassion is helping these families with emergency shelter and provisions.
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Thursday 10
Pray for rain for the eastern part of El Salvador. Rain is vital to their food supply and the region is experiencing a sparse rainy season.
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Friday 11
Please pray for recent Leadership Development Program (LDP) graduates in Ethiopia and around the world as they seek God’s guidance for job opportunities.
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Saturday 12
Rose, an LDP student in Haiti, was murdered as she walked home from the store. Please ask God to comfort Rose’s family, her friends and her sponsor.
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Sunday 13
Pray for the 36 Compassion children and their families in the Bududa district of Uganda whose gardens and crops were destroyed by recent heavy rains. Our church partner there is helping these families.
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Monday 14
Praise God that four LDP graduates in the Philippines recently passed their CPA board exams!
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Tuesday 15
Recent severe flooding in Burkina Faso and Sri Lanka has damaged homes and destroyed belongings of more than 100 Compassion beneficiaries. Please pray for these families and for Compassion workers who are providing relief.
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Wednesday 16
Praise God for healing Bithi, Rea, Sinthia, Ashraful, Nazrul and Shyamoli in Bangladesh, who all suffered from typhoid fever.
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Thursday 17
Please pray for comfort and provision for Carlos and his six siblings in Peru as they grieve the loss of their mother to cancer.
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Friday 18
Please pray for comfort for the family, friends and sponsor of 6-year-old Christopher, who recently passed away in the Philippines.
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Saturday 19
Please pray for God to strengthen Alexandra in Ecuador as she undergoes dialysis for chronic renal failure.
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Sunday 20
Please pray for Pablo in Peru, whose mother recently passed away due to a brain tumor.
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Monday 21
Please pray for the health of Mauricio in Ecuador, who is awaiting a second kidney transplant after the first one failed.
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Tuesday 22
Please pray for wisdom and guidance for the staff of Compassion Tanzania as they interview potential Implementing Church Partners to expand Compassion’s outreach.
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Wednesday 23
Please continue to pray for the families affected by Hurricane Sandy on the island of Hispañola, home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
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Thursday 24
Please pray for Susmita, Anjoli, Pronoy, Nitya and Monica in Bangladesh, who all suffer from epilepsy.
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Friday 25
Please pray for God’s protection of our children in Bolivia, where there is a marked increase in gang activity targeting children and young adults.
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Saturday 26
Our Kenya staff request prayer for God’s protection of Kenyan children as they walk to and from their Compassion centers along dangerous and often-deadly roads.
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Sunday 27
Please pray for newly opened Compassion programs in Burkina Faso as our church partners and staff learn their new roles and responsibilities.
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Monday 28
Please pray for God’s guidance for the staff of the Leadership Development Program in Bolivia as they prepare to select new students from many applicants for the program.
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Tuesday 29
Please pray for 7-year-old Jefferson in the Philippines, who needs a kidney transplant.
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Wednesday 30
Please pray that as we continue to expand Compassion’s ministry in Togo, God would provide dedicated church partners with a vision to reach children in need.
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Thursday 31
Praise God for the more than 6,000 partner churches and their dedicated staff around the globe who work diligently with Compassion to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name!
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