First Saturday Prayer December

World Vision December Hope Prayer Team

A Christmas Focus on Jesus Christ

The glitter and excitement of the holidays can leave us harried and breathless. But the gleam of anticipation in a child's eye — reflecting the magic and wonder of the season — reminds us of the hope we have in Jesus Christ. And as we focus on Him amid the barrage of worldly noise and commercialism, we remember how much Christ in His earthly life identified with those who are hurting.

Suggested Prayer Points

In your quiet times this month, or as you bow your head to pray before a meal, remember to intercede for:

The millions of children and families who are homeless.

A heartbreaking 1 billion people worldwide lack adequate housing. Millions live in health-threatening conditions, in overcrowded slums and informal settlements, or in other conditions that do not uphold their human rights and dignity. Jesus knew that feeling of isolation and displacement. In Luke 9:58, He says, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Dear God, You knew what it was like to be without a home. Guide to spaces of safety and comfort those who don't have a place to call their own.

Those who are hungry. 

Perhaps not surprisingly, the number of people who experience hunger on a daily basis — about 925 million — is close to the number who lack adequate housing. Hunger is one of the leading child killers around the globe. Worldwide, a child dies from hunger-related causes every 15 seconds. In Matthew 25:35-40, Christ says that when we feed a hungry person, we are feeding Him.

Dear God, help us see You in the faces of the hungry. Give us courage to reach out when they lift up their hands in need.

Those forced to flee their homes because of natural disaser and war.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 47 percent of refugees and asylum seekers are under the age of 18, and 80 percent of the world's refugees in 2010 were in developing countries — nations with the fewest resources to meet their needs. Jesus started His life on Earth as a refugee. Born far from His home, He and His family fled persecution and lived in Egypt.

Dear God, the psalmist wrote that You are our safe refuge, a fortress where our enemies cannot reach us. Be that safe refuge for those who must flee their homelands.

Christians who are persecuted for their faith.

When you live in a place where Christmas is widely celebrated, it might be hard to imagine being restricted from openly worshiping Christ. Human rights experts estimate that approximately 200 million Christians are living in countries with severely restricted religious freedom and are partly suffering discrimination or persecution. Revelation 2:26 tells us that Christ will give authority over all the nations to those who are "victorious, who obey me to the very end" (NLT). He will give a crown of life to those who remain faithful even while facing death (Revelation 2:10).

Dear God, we claim the promise of Your Word for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith. Help them hold on to You and obey You to the very end.

Children who are unprotected and exploited.

Around the world, hundreds of millions of innocent children are forced into labor, armed conflict, early marriage, and sexual abuse. They are especially at risk when they are orphaned or separated from their parents. Christ is very clear that children are close to His heart, and there are consequences for those who would seek to harm them. "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven"(Matthew 18:10).

Dear God, don't let us ever become complacent about our responsibility to protect children from exploitation. Bring us to our feet to rush to their aid.

First Saturday Prayer November

South Puget Sound Chapter Leadership Team 

Fiscal Year 2012

We are just four weeks into our new World Vision (WV) fiscal year (FY) which started October 1, 2011 and have a newly formed Leadership Team as of October 28, 2011. We need much prayer as we are behind several months on planning and projecting for FY2012. 

Here is our new South PUget Sound Chapter Leadership Team. We have two new Co-Chairs, Katrin Deitz and Zeena Smith; new Advocacy Co-Chairs, Brenda Oliver and Diane Zoro; new International Project Chair Melanie Freiberg; new WV Laison, Tina Veer; newly assigned Treasurer, Brenda Shaw; reassigned Partnership Chair, Karen Marion; and continuing Child Sponsor Chair, Patty Dalrymple; continuing Communications Chair, Lynn Arvisais; continuing Education Chair, Annie Brandt; continuing Local Project Chair, Holly Pennington; continuing Domestic Project Chair, Laura Livingston; and continuing Spiritual Life Chair, Karen Marion. We are in need of a secretary for our Chapter.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You in the Name of Jesus grateful to be your women and humbled that you entrust us with presenting You to the world. Give us Your perspective, Your wisdom and Your heart for those who suffer and have great need. We ask that You would hear our prayer.

We pray for our Leadership Team. We lift each woman before Your throne and ask that Your Hand of blessing would be upon each member of this Team. We ask that You would speak to the heart of each of these Leaders about what it is that You have called us to do and become through this experience. We pray for unity amongst this Team. We bind away any divisive thoughts, words or deeds, We ask that this Team would be united in You for the common cause of being Your Hands extended to the impoverished and marginalized women and children that we serve.

Lord, You know the weaknesses and the strengths of each of us. We ask that You would guide us to use our strengths to overcome our weaknesses, remembering that You are our strength and that You use our weakness to cause us to rely on You as You show Your strength.

Lord we ask for the miracle of cleared calendars so that we can come together to meet and discuss and plan. Lord, there are always so many choices and so many voices. Help us to filter our calendars through Your Voice and make time decisions based upon Your will and Your call.

Lord, this Team needs to know how much money we should set as our goal for funds raised for our projects. We ask that You would give each of us the sum that You would equip and bless us to raise. Lord, we know that ALL things are possible with You and that Your Hand is not short; but, we acknowledge our frailties. We need You to press on to have the faith, the energy and the wisdom to know the amount we should target to give to our World Vision Projects in Cambodia and Appalachia.

This Team need to know how You would have us raise these funds. We need to know how much we should pledge individually. This Leadership Team needs to know what events that You would want us to present to communities to raise awareness and funds. Show us the way we should go in setting the FY2012 calendar of events to educate and raise money.

Lord, help this Team to find our rhythm during this two-year term. Help us to maintain a balanced, effective and healthy life style. Help us to set boundaries on time so that there is adequate time spent on Women of Vision Chapter responsibilities and adequate time spent with You, family and friends.

Lord, we lift this Team and ask that You would cover each member with the blood of the Lamb of Jesus of Nazareth and keep us safe from harm. Thank You that the attacks of the enemy will be thwarted and that each of us will walk protected by You.

Lord, this Team has so much to do to achieve the goals that are set. We need more partners to under gird this Team with prayer and man hours. Send us 25 new partners at two per month so that we double in size this fiscal year. You know our hearts and that we want to "go big or go home"; yet, we don't want to go big, burn out and bid the group good bye from burn out! Send us more helping hands to do the work of this Chapter.

We lift all of these requests to You. We take on Your Yoke which is easy and light. We ask these things prostrate at Your Feet. Thank you for hearing our prayer.  Amen.  

Post "make it right" Event Prayer Highlight 10/21-25/11: World Advocacy

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Post "make it right" Event: World Advocacy Hope for Sexually Exploited Girls

Sponsor a sexually exploited child through World Vision  for just $35 a month. Give hope for sexually exploited girls. Your gift will offer girls assistance like medical care, nutritious food, non formal education, vocational training, compassionate counseling, and, where possible, reintegration into a loving family environment.

An estimated 2 million children are enslaved and abused in the global commercial sex trade — most of them girls. Many children are sold into prostitution to pay off family debts or forcibly recruited from the street to work in brothels.

Girls who escape or are rescued face a difficult physical and emotional recovery process. "I wanted to run away, but I had nothing, and my family was too far away," remembers 15-year-old Sophea*. "Life was unbearable ... worst were the beatings if I said ‘no.’"

You can help girls like Sophea recover from exploitation. The World Vision center was the first place in a long time where she felt safe. "I feel good here," she says. "I feel secure, nobody hurts me. I can learn to read and write properly for the first time."

*World Vision is committed to the highest standards of child protection and does not publish names or identifiable photos of exploited children without express permission.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
We come to You in the Name of Jesus grateful that we are free and that chains have been broken around our hearts that once kept us from You and your love and fullness of life.

We lift before Your throne the millions of children enslaved globally as labor slaves and sex slaves. It is almost unbearable to hear and see what is happening in our world at the hands of merciless adults who bring unimaginable pain and suffering to these children. We grieve as we learn of story after story of victims of these heinous crimes. We lift each one to You, valuable and loved. We ask that You would hear their cry for freedom and give them hope. Lord, You and You alone know and hear all things. We entrust them into Your care.

Show us Lord what we must do in response to the knowledge that we have about these victims of slave labor and sex trafficking. Show us what child we should sponsor, what World Vision Project we should support, what community action we must take to end this abomination against humanity. Use us Lord to be Your Hands extended to these victims locally, domestically and globally. Lord, we ask that You would reveal to each of our hearts what our part is to stop human trafficking in this generation.

We pray for those buying and selling young children. We pray for their salvation. We pray that they would be set free from this evil and walk in newness of life through Jesus. We ask that You would begin to work on the hearts of those with evil intent against children in these ways; that You would speak to their hearts and show them that they can stop  what they are doing and be free of their bondage. We ask that You would bring healing to these pimps and johns and slave traders so that the demand will stop and that precious children will be safe. We ask that officials and governments would take measures to impact the lives of these perpetrators in ways that will cause them to step away from these behaviors so victims can go free. Stop the demand for human trafficking in whatever way it takes, Lord.

We have hope in knowing that many millions of people around the world have linked arms and are standing firm against human trafficking. We have hope that World Vision provides the infrastructure that gives our passion to stop these acts a means of becoming an effective reality. We have hope in knowing that You can tear down walls when we pray, that You can break chains and set people free and that Your vengeance will take care of the perpetrators. We have hope in You and we ask that You would bring hope to those who suffer as victims of human trafficking.

Thank You Jesus that You hear our prayers and the cries and prayers of these who suffer. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.  

Post "make it right" Prayer Highlight 10/10-14/11 Washington State Advocacy

 

Washington Engage Founders

Post "make it right" Prayer Highlight 10/10-14/11 Washington State Advocacy

This week as follow-up from our "make it right" Event, our prayer focus is on advocacy in the State of Washington. One organization that endeavors to bring together many of the State anti-human trafficking groups, city officials, and State Government is Washington Engage. We want to learn about this organization and cover it in prayer as they press on with the work of ending human trafficking in our State.

History
From 2009-2010 Rose Gundersen (left on picture above) worked in the Washington State Attorney General’s office as a policy extern on human trafficking. In that role, Rose helped to create the research basis for Rob McKenna’s Presidential Initiative on Human Trafficking launched in 2011. During this time, Rose connected with Deana Berg (middle on picture above).

In 2009, Deana and Rose began working together to build relationships with existing grassroots anti-trafficking initiatives in the region. Thanks to the collaboration of key stakeholders and anti-trafficking leaders, they cultivated a constituency base of over 20,000 voters to bring a unified voice to Washington legislators.

In 2010, in collaboration with Seattle Against Slavery and several other grassroots groups, Deana organized the Inaugural Washington Anti-Trafficking Engagement Day in Olympia that featured leaders of the anti-trafficking movement and opportunities for voters to talk with their legislators. The following year, the number of attendees grew to hear speakers including Bradley Myles of Polaris Project, Rob McKenna, our State Attorney General, and other leaders who addressed a standing-room-only crowd.

In preparation for the 2011 event, Washington Engage in collaboration with International Justice Mission held a legislative training day and trained advocates who then filled more than 40 legislative appointments on the Engagement Day.

As Deana continued her partnership-building work with city officials, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, service providers, and new community advocates and Rose continued her work with legislators and searching out new and relevant research, they added a third member to their team, Dr. Mar Smith.

Mar came to trafficking prevention work from an academic background. After researching and teaching on justice issues at the college and graduate levels, Mar wanted to become more actively engaged with important ethics and labor issues such as trafficking. She founded Interact Consulting, LLC and joined Washington Engage as a consultant to build a business-facing effort to trafficking. The goal of the effort is to help businesses prevent sex and labor trafficking within their own spheres of influence.

Washington Engage (WAE) seeks to eradicate sex and labor trafficking in Washington State by providing tools and knowledge that empower government, business, and grassroots leaders to take action. The foundation to their mission is to eradicate human trafficking through Community Partnership to form a unified voice to leverage with stakeholders, Business Initiative to make trafficking unprofitable and Law and Policy Study to inform laws, policies, and partnerships. Their vision is that Washington State leads the fight to end human trafficking.

WAE partners with Students of Bellarmine Preparatory School, East Side Women of Purpose, Family Renewal Shelter, Frontline For Justice, Hidden Creek Community Church, Olympia WA, Hope for Seattle, Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center, International Justice Mission, Jubilee, Justice and Mercy Foundation, LOOKBOTHWAYS, Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington, New Horizons Ministries, Not for Sale Campaign, REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade), Seattle Against Slavery, Seattle Prayer Against Slavery Movement, Shared Hope International, Soroptimist International Northwest Region, Student Against Slavery at UW, The Freedom Initiative,The Genesis Project, Unbound Conference, University Presbyterian Church Human Trafficking Task Force, University of Washington Center for Human Rights, University of Washington Women’s Center, Washington Coalition Office of Crime Victim Advocates, Western Washington Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Women’s Funding Alliance, Women of Vision South Puget Sound Chapter, Zonta of Everett, Zonta of Olympia, Zonta of South Puget Sound

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come to you in the Name of Jesus worshipping and praising You. Lord, we trust that all things work together for the good to those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. We praise You that You are seated on the Throne in the Heavens and ask that You would be seated on the throne in each of our hearts as we surrender our way and our understanding to Your Way.

Lord, we thank you for Washington Engage and the founders, Rose, Deana, and Mar. Bless them as they pioneer this work in Washington State to eradicate human trafficking. We ask that You would open every door for this organization and bless them with favor, abundant finances and faithful supporters. Give them wisdom as they establish their procedures and protocols, as they make contacts and as they decide about direction and focus. Show them the Way that You would have them go to bring honor and glory to Your Name as they work to set prisoners free from slavery.

We ask that Community Action Teams would spring up in all cities across the State and that communities would begin to say "NO" to slave labor in their communities. We pray for unity within each Community Action Team, between communities and throughout the State. Let each team unite and link together to be a voice to Olympia that citizens will no longer stand by and allow human trafficking in Washington. 

We pray that You would work on the hearts of people in Washington to welcome the victims of slavery into their churches, businesses, and neighborhoods. We pray for recovery centers to be established where these victims can receive after care so that they can heal and be made whole. Let churches and non-profit groups respond to fill in the gap where the Government stops providing these services.

Along with Your heart, our hearts are broken for the children and women who suffer from the crime of human trafficking. Let us not give up in this fight to stop human trafficking. Let us join with Washington Engage to make a difference!

In Jesus' Matchless Name we pray. Amen!

Post make it right Prayer Highlight 10/4-8/11 World Vision Advocacy

World Vision Advocacy Update: October 2011

Will you become a "Justice Prayer Warrior"?

There is no authority except that which God has established. The 
authorities that exist have been established by God." — Romans 13:1 (NIV)
 
It's good to be reminded that we have the great blessing to live in a 
representative democracy. Further, Scripture teaches us that we are 
called by God to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

As October 1 marks the start of the federal government's new fiscal year,
I invite you to pray with us for our elected leaders, and tell them you 
are doing so. 

• Download our prayer guide (pdf).
• Send a message to your elected leaders tell them you pray for them

Use your gifts for God's justice

I believe we all have gifts as the people of God that can be critically important 
in moving legislators to live up to their responsibilities. We understand the power 
of fervent prayer to change hearts and minds.

We can be "chaplains" and "prayer warriors" for God's justice in our world.

With the ongoing budget debate, as well as global crises such as the Horn of Africa 
drought, our elected leaders face difficult decisions that will ultimately impact 
millions of people across the world. Now more than ever, they too need our prayers.

It is with this mind that I invite you to pray and take action with us. I also ask you 
to pray for children around the world as you pray for our governing authorities, 
whose daily decisions impact communities here in the United States and beyond.

Specifically, we are praying:

• For wisdom and perseverance for lawmakers and their staff.
• For children and families affected by global poverty, injustice, and suffering
• For legislative priorities that positively impact the poor.

Download the Justice Prayer Guide (pdf) to help inform your prayers. Send a message 
to your elected leaders to let them know you are praying for them today and in the 
coming year.

With every blessing,


Rich Stearns
President, World Vision U.S.

October 1 World Vision Day of Prayer

World Vision Day of Prayer and Action Prayer Points

Pray together for your community. . .

For awareness of needs within your community.

For courage to be intentional in getting to know your neighbors.

For opportunities to partner together in advocating for justice.

For willingness to love your neighbors as yourself.

Praise God for…

The opportunities that will be presented to you throughout the year that will bring change to your community.

Pray together for our leaders. . .

For wisdom for our leaders as they begin to make decisions about where and how to spend money.

That bold action will be taken to provide the necessary resources to fund interventions that alleviate suffering.

That policies and laws would be put into place that would promote the cause of the oppressed, both locally and globally.

For leaders to seek God’s will above their own.

Praise God for…

The truth that His love and power reign supreme above all the leaders in this world.

Pray together for the hungry. . .
For the children who die from hunger every day.
For wisdom for government leaders who are seeking effective means to address the food crisis.
For greater efforts to urge Congress to expand hunger, child nutrition, and agriculture development programs to eradicate child hunger worldwide.
For God’s guidance in showing us how we can help to break the cycle of hunger.

Praise God for…
The large amount of food aid, agricultural training, nutrition education, and food protection resources provided by World Vision and made possible by donors from around the world.

Pray together for those suffering from HIV and AIDS. . .
For the more than 15 million children orphaned and made vulnerable as a result of HIV and AIDS and that those in need would be provided adequate care and support.
For the millions of people living with HIV and AIDS who have been designated eligible to receive anti-retroviral drugs, but have not yet due to insufficient funds and delays. Pray that they might receive treatment.
That pregnant mothers who are HIV positive will be able to access the drugs and other measures necessary to help them prevent transmission of the virus to their unborn child or infant.
For the more than 77,000 caregivers that World Vision has trained and equipped to care for those suffering from HIV and AIDS.

Praise God for…
The AIDS prevention and care programs that World Vision operates in more than 60 countries.

Pray together for children in slavery and bondage. . .

For those children who are taken advantage of and suffer greatly ─ that they would be comforted.

For those that would exploit or enslave others. Pray for a spiritual breakthrough so that might release their captives and work to prevent the captivity of others.

For the advocates around the world who are standing against slavery. Pray for their protection from harm by corrupt officials and those who enslave children.

For World Vision’s programs, that they would continue to help prevent children from falling into slavery and protect and restore those who have survive the ordeal.

Praise God for…

The many policies put into place over the years to protect children from exploitation and bondage: The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, The PROTECT Act, The Child Soldier Prevention Act.

Pray together for those suffering from malaria. . . 

That recent efforts focused on ending preventable deaths from malaria by 2015 will be achieved.

That families threatened by malaria will receive insecticide-treated bed nets and other interventions that they need to protect their families from this killer disease.

That the difficult economic period will not prevent individuals and governments from responding with the financial resources needed to protect children and help end malaria (more than $6 billion a year). That we might see malaria eradicated in our lifetime.

Praise God for…

The extensive distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to malaria-infected regions around the world, through World Vision.

Take Action! E-mail

your elected leaders today!

OPTIONAL: As we focus our attention on justice issues around the world, it is important to remember that Jesus is the light of the world. As Christ’s followers, we reflect his light in a world where darkness abounds. Lighting candles is a great way to symbolize this message of light dispelling darkness. As we begin this time of prayer, you are encouraged to light candles in solidarity with Jesus’ call to reflect His light on our campuses, in our communities, to our leaders, and as we respond to issues of justice.

First Saturday Prayer October

First Saturday Prayer October

This month begins the new 2012 fiscal year for World Vision and Women of Vision. We need to remember our South Puget Sound Chapter in prayer as we formulate our Leadership Team, gather new partners, plan our calendar and begin a new year of service to the poor and marginalized children, women and families of our World Vision projects and our local project.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You in the Name of Jesus praising you for another incredible year of serving You and being Your Hands extended to poor and marginalized children,women and families as Women of Vision. Lord we praise You for You have taught us about You and the power of prayer and Your Word in overcoming darkness, both in ourselves and in others. We praise You that You have heard our prayers and that we have testimony after testimony from this last year of unity, blessings and growth because of Your favor.

We lift FY2012 for our Chapter before Your throne. Lord, You have called us to be leaders and partners and friends of this Chapter. Please reveal to each heart what role and part should be played.

Please make it clear as we consider leadership positions whom you would have doing what. We surrender our way and our self to You and ask that You would be honored and glorified by each decision. We ask that You would bless each person who is willing to give of time, talents and treasure to advance Your kingdom and to serve others through our World Vision and Women of Vision partnership. We ask that You would continue to give us unity and that we would be kind to each other and gracious as we communicate. Help us to be Your women in each meeting, at each event and in all that we are called upon to do as Women of Vision Leaders.

We praise You for the partners that You have sent and we look forward to having more women join us. Please have Your way with those considering becoming partners who have not made a decision. Lord, we aren't concerned about numbers as much as we are concerned about the heart of each new partner. Bring us women who have a heart turned toward You. Bring us women who have the passion to make a difference in the lives of children, women and families that we serve. Send us women who are team players and willing to make the sacrifice of their time, talents and treasure to make a difference in the lives we serve locally, domestically and globally. We praise You that You send the women and we graciously receive and welcome them to our Chapter team. Bless our unity with each one. May they all feel welcomed and valued as vital members of our community.

We praise You for our friends who pray for our Chapter and attend various events as they can. We ask that You would bless them and invite each one to do what You would have them do to enhance the effectiveness and vitality of our Chapter. Use World Vision and Women of Vision to call them to You if they don't know You. Use us to be Light in their lives. Use them to teach us and show us how we need to grow to be that Light.

We are privileged women and we are grateful. We praise You that we are Yours and that You are ours! We praise You that You have a wonderful plan for FY2012 and that You will reveal that plan to us as we seek You! We praise You that You entrust us with Your work and that You bless us as we serve You and the poor and  those treated unjustly. 

There is none like You, Lord. We surrender all that we are and all that we have to You so that we can become all that You have for us to be. We love You, Jesus and pray in Your matchless Name! Amen! 

Post make it right Prayer Highlight 9/26-30/11 Local Advocacy

Make It Right Prayer Highlight 9/26-30/11 Local Advocacy

 As a follow-up for the "make it right" Event we want to lift up our local advocacy efforts within the State of Washington. The focus this week throughout the State and Nation is the re-authorization of the

TVPRA which is the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. This act will expire this Friday. We need to be contacting our Washington State Representatives and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell by calling them and simply stating:

                                 Hello, my name is __________ and I'm a constituent from

                                 _______________, I would like to ask the senator to cosponsor

                                 the reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (S.1301).

                                 Thank you.

An organization that we are working with that will help you set up local Anti-Human Trafficking Community Action Team is Washington Engage. They will meet with your group and help you set up a plan of action to stop local human trafficking in your city or town. Join the Federal Way Community Action Team meeting this week to see how one community is fighting local trafficking issues.

Another organization that will help local groups advocate for victims of human trafficking is Shared Hope International. Linda Smith, former Washington Congresswoman, founder of Shared Hope International is known for her ability to galvanize the grassroots community. She created a "Kids Are Not For Sale" awareness campaign and authored two books, From Congress to the Brothel (2007) and Renting Lacy (2009). The Finding Lacy training program is being used within the State to bring about awareness of local human trafficking.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You in the Name of Jesus praising You that not one sparrow falls to the ground without Your knowing of it. We praise You that You are seated on Your Throne in the Heavenlies and nothing comes into our lives without it filtering through Your Hands.

Lord, we praise You in advance that the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 will be reauthorized and that funding will continue to be provided to stop human trafficking. We thank You that people will mobilize this week and that all senators and representatives will receive thousands of phone calls and that US Senators and Representatives will have meetings with hundreds of constituents as they plead for this reauthorization. Let it be so, Lord!

Lord, we pray that people locally within our State would become aware and educated about how to fight human trafficking that is happening all around us. We pray that people's hearts would be broken by the things that they discover is happening to children and young people who are victims of sex trafficking and labor slavery. Lord open eyes and hearts to the realities of this horrific situation.

We pray that You would open doors that only You can open so that all human trafficking would stop in this generation. Show us what to do, show us where to go, show us how to make a difference. We are passionate about seeing things change. We are passionate about the victims and we want to be their voice in the darkness to bring them hope and freedom. Use us Lord to set these captives free.

We praise You and thank you that You will show us a way to change our local areas on behalf of trafficked children and women.

In Jesus Name we pray. Amen!

September Devotional

Why We Serve

 Isaiah 61:1-3 reminds us why we serve as Women of Vision:

     The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, 

because the Lord anointed me

     to preach good news to the poor,

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives,

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

We as Women of Vision have the privilege of serving as volunteers within the infrastructure of  World Vision. As we reflect on our recent educational Event, "make it right" it seems timely to revisit an older video that Rich Stearns, President of World Vision US, made for Women of Vision some years ago. To hear his perspective on the significance of Women of Vision to World Vision is heartening and encouraging.

He mentions a movement on behalf of the poorest of the poor and how Women of Vision is making a difference in the lives of children and women around the world through advocating, fundraising and organizing by spending thousands of hours investing in World Vision. He states that the impact is far beyond the fund raising that is done for World Vision because we are advocates for the poor. He mentions mission trips and how they bring to poor communities care and compassion to the countries that are visited by Women of Vision.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We praise You for all that You did on our behalf for the "make it right" Event. We praise You that the number of people attending and the funds raised and the impact to the Seattle Area was made possible through Your Hands of blessing and Your grace. Thank You for using us for Your honor and glory.

Help us not to grow weary in well-doing. Redeem the countless hours that some gave toward this Event. Bless those who continually went and did and gave so that this Event could be successful. Thank you for those who prayed so that Your Kingdom's work could be accomplished.

Thank you for the privilege that we have to be a part of World Vision. We ask that You would continue to bless this organization in every way. We ask for wisdom amongst those who lead and make decisions about goals and priorities. We ask that You would unite us all as a powerful movement on behalf of the poorest of the poor so that the world can see You in all that is said and done. Use us Lord to bring life in all its fullness to the poor and marginalized children, women and families around the globe.

We praise You that this movement of World Vision and Women of Vision to the poorest of the poor will bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, release prisoners from darkness, provide for those who grieve and bring them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil to gladness instead of mourning and a garmet of praise instead of a spirit of despair. We praise You that victims that we serve through the World Vision projects that we support in Appalachia and Cambodia will be called oaks of righteousness and tht the world will look upon them as a display of Your splendor! 

 

We love You Jesus and count it an honor to serve You. In Your Name we pray. Amen.

Post make it right Prayer Highlight 9/19-23/11 Follow-Up Commimttee

Post make it right Prayer Highlight 9/19-23/11 Follow-Up Commimttee

Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of Jesus with praise and thanksgiving in our hearts. We praise You for what You did on September 18, 2011 to show Yourself strong on our behalf. We give You all the praise, honor and glory for your magnificence!

We continue to ask for Your Hand of blessing as we follow-up with thank yous, surveys, event debrief and chapter communications. We thank you for Holly Pennington and ask that You would guide her as she chairs the Event Follow-Up Committee. Give her wisdom about a plan, give her people to complete the tasks and Your presence in all that is done. Thank You for the team that You are raising to assist her.

Lord, show us what You want to teach us from this event about You. Help us to use this Event as a remembrance of Your faithfulness. Let us use this Event and all of the many blessings that You poured down on us as a time of “piling stones” so that we remember.

As we follow up on our Event, let us remember with every fiber to praise You for the miracles.

In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Make It Right Prayer Highlight 9/12-16/11 Sheryl WuDunn

Make It Right prayer Highlight 9/12-16/11

Sheryl WuDunn



Sheryl WuDunn, the first Asian American reporter to win a Pulitzer Prize, is a best-selling author, business executive, and lecturer. Currently, she is a senior managing director at Mid-Market Securities, an investment banking boutique serving growth companies in the middle market, including companies founded and run by women. She is also president of TripleEdge, a social investing consultancy, and – as of Fall 2011 – will be a Senior Fellow at Yale University, co-teaching a course on global affairs with a specific focus on China's economic development and its global role.

WuDunn also is co-author of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, a New York Times best-selling book about the challenges facing women around the globe. It has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Colbert Report, and many other network television shows. WuDunn also helped launch the Half the Sky multimedia effort to create a thoughtful, effective philanthropic strategy that includes an online social action campaign, a documentary series, and a television special.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You in the Name of Jesus praising You.

We pray for Sheryl WuDunn. You know her needs Lord, and we lift them to You. We ask that her schedule this week would flow together and that her days would be relatively stress-free. We pray that she would have wonderful moments with her family and friends and that she would have time to spend resting and being refreshed before she travels.We thank you for giving her traveling mercies. We ask that You would keep her strong and protect her health.

We thank you for sending her here to speak her message to the Seattle area about the global condition of women and children. We ask that eyes and hearts would be opened to the plight of the victims of poverty and injustice. We ask that You would speak through her to bring words of hope about what can be done to help these victims.

We ask that we would be used by You to bless her while she is with us. Help us to be welcoming and kind as we interact with her. Use us to minister to her needs. We ask that You would show us how we can help her see something different in our lives that would bless her and bring her joy.

We praise You for the wonderful day that You have in store for her on the 18th. We pray that she will leave encouraged and hopeful.

In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

The Prayer of the Children 9-11 Remembered

The Prayer of the Children 9-11 Remembered

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today we remember with wounded hearts 9-11-01. We pause. We reflect on that day in our own lives. We remember those who were murdered. We remember those who gave their lives in service to others. We remember.

We remember what America was like before 9-11. We remember what the world was like before 9-11. We remember.

We pray for those who still suffer as a result of this attack. We pray for families, neighborhoods, cities and America who lost loved ones, friends, neighbors. We pray that You would continue to bring healing and comfort.

We pray for our Nation's enemies that they would come to know You. We pray that America will find it in her heart to forgive.

We remember how You did miracles on 9-11. We remember how You gave us strength to carry on in spite of our fears. We remember how You brought peace into new places as we united together, one Nation, under God. We remember that in spite of the pain and suffering, that in the end we learned to trust You, even in this.

We thank You that You heard the "cries of the children". Thank You that the darkness has been cleared and that You have restored peace in hearts. Thank You that they live in freedom and see justice and goodness once again. Thank You that their generation will remember and help to make America a better place.

We ask that You would bless America as it remembers 9-11 and turns its heart to You.

In Jesus Name, amen.



Make It Right Prayer Highlight 9/5-9/11 Reneé Stearns

Make It Right Prayer Highlight 9/5-9/11 Reneé Stearns

Reneé Stearns draws on her experience and passion as a Christian, attorney and mother of five, to speak on behalf of the children and their mothers she has met in her travels to World Vision projects in many countries.

She is particularly passionate about helping women face the challenges of motherhood, whether living in the United States, or in the extreme poverty she sees in her travels around the world. Articulate and compassionate, Reneé is a speaker with a gift for teaching. She says, "My desire is to help people see the world from God's perspective, and to move them to do something about what they see."
Reneé earned her Bachelor of Arts in government at Cornell University and her law degree from Boston College. She served as a legal services attorney for the poor in the Boston area before devoting herself full-time to raising her children.

She is active in church ministries, has written articles and Bible study curricula, and is frequently a guest speaker at conferences and retreats. She serves on the boards of a variety of Christian ministries, including the human-rights focused International Justice Mission, and Women's Enterprises International, emphasizing the empowerment of impoverished women across the globe.
In addition, Reneé continues to pursue her lifelong goal of being an advocate for the poor. Her husband Rich became president of World Vision in 1998, and from her travels to see the organization's work, she shares stories of the mothers and children she meets.

When she traveled to Niger in West Africa, children were facing starvation. "I was in a triage tent where the sickest babies were being treated," she says. "As I talked with the mothers of these children, what impressed me most was that in spite of their circumstances, these moms had dreams and expectations for their kids, who were so near death, that are not terribly dissimilar to mine.
"I'm always so inspired that in the midst of very dark circumstances these women have hope. Something about being a mother makes them optimistic about the future."

Reneé is a life-long student of the Bible and enjoys "helping others to understand how God's Word speaks to us today." She inspires people to broaden their worldview to include the great needs she has seen around the globe: poverty, war, famine, AIDS.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We praise You for how You create each of us for a purpose and that as that purpose unfolds in our lives we bring You honor and glory. We praise You that You have a perfect plan for each of our lives and that as we surrender our lives to You daily that plan is revealed and we walk in newness of life with great joy.

We lift Reneé Stearns before Your Throne. We praise You for her and for the life that she has been called to live devoted to the poor. We rejoice in her calling and are blessed as we read about her ministry to mothers and children and her knowledge in Your Word and how she loves to help others understand Your Word. We delight in knowing that she willingly comes to the Make It Right Event as a testimony and an inspiration to others.

We are humbled that she would set aside her time and bring her talents along side of our hope and vision for this Event. We ask that Your Hand of blessing would be upon her and that You would multiply back to her as she has given of herself to others for this evening. Bless her family as they sacrifice to share her. Bless them for the family time that they give so that she can participate in our Event.

We thank You for her message; not only for that evening but for the epistle of her life. Thank You that You have equipped her and empowered her to be a woman of influence with words that make a difference in the lives of women and children who are poor and marginalized. Use her on the 18th to speak to hearts about her passion for these who are victims of injustice and to motivate listeners to action.

We praise You for this woman who seeks You heart and lives Your Word. Bless her.

In Jesus Name we pray. amen.

First Saturday Prayer September

Sheryl WuDunn Make It Right Event

This Event takes place in two weeks and one day at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, WA from 5:00-7:30 PM. Find the information here.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You in the Name of Jesus praise You for what You have enabled us to do to prepare for this event. We spent 15 days "asking" about this Event and we want to now take time to praise You.

We praise You that You will have Your way on the 18th of September at the Hyatt. That You will call those people that You want there, that You will use this Event to draw people into Your kingdom, that You will use this Event to bring more sponsors for World Vision Children, that You will use this Event to advance Your Kingdom.

We praise You that You take the simple "things"--us--of this world to confound the wise. We praise You that You give us the boldness to take on this Event trusting that You have called us to do it and that You will be our sufficiency in it. We praise You that nothing is too difficult for You and that You are moving on hearts to respond to this Event in a way that will benefit the marginalized women and children that we serve in our projects.

We praise You that You have taken a small group of women who love You and have a passion to make it right and that You have used us to touch lives of those who lack and live in despair. We thank You that You have set up this Event at this time and in this place for Your purposes and that they will be accomplished!

We praise You continually today! We adore You. We bow down before You. Thank You Jesus! In Your Name we pray. Amen!



Make It Right Prayer Highlight 8/29-9/2/11 Treasury/Fund Raising Function Committee

Make It Right Prayer Highlight 8/29-9/2/11 Treasury/Fund Raising Function Committee

The Treasury/Fund Raising Function Committee is chaired by Kathy Anderson of Greater Seattle Chapter with committee members Julie Sievert of South Puget Sound Chapter, Linda Duim of Greater Seattle, Jenny Moore of Kitsap Chapter and Deneen Blake of Eastside Chapter. Kathy Cooper at WOV Headquarters also works closely with this committee. Their tasks include arranging speaker and venue contracts, creating a budget, generating a Brown Paper Ticket Account, completing the final accounting and creating the fund-raising plan ensuring fairness between all chapters.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You because You promise in Your Word that if two or three are gathered in Your Name that You will be in midst of them and that if we ask anything according to Your Will that it will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Lord we come to You bowing down our will to Your Will and surrendering our notions and plans to Your perfect plan.

Lord, You know our hearts in this Event. We want to bless the poor and marginalized children and women with funds that will allow the World Vision staff working within each project we sponsor to do more to make it right for these victims of injustices. We understand that funding is not the only way that this can happen, but we also realize that money is necessary for so many of the needs to be met. You know that we do not ask for ourselves, but for those we serve in these projects; hence, we come before You boldly asking that You will give each of these committee members wisdom, accuracy and knowledge as they perform the tasks assigned to them.

We ask that You would go before this committee and justify all accounting, credit the correct accounts and raise sufficient funds so that there is an abundance of overage to give after expenses are met. Lord, in faith we believe that you will raise the funds that You want to raise and we ask that You would show us what to do to fulfill Your plan in this.

Thank you for each of these committee members, some of whom have worked many hours. Bless them and their families for the sacrifices of time and talents that they have made for this Event. Encourage them as they spend more time before, during and after the evening of September 18th completing with their final tasks.

Lord, we anticipate that the bottom line of our financial picture will be glorious because of You. Thank you for these women who have done their best  as they have served behind the scenes for the success of this Event.

We love You, Jesus, and are so grateful to be Your women, serving You bringing Light to the darkness. In Your Name we pray. Amen.