My son spent a year after college working for Americorps Vista, a national program that that places adults for a year of service in nonprofit programs which fight poverty. He worked for Amachi (which means who knows what God has brought us through this child?), a partnership of secular and faith-based organizations working together to provide mentoring to children of incarcerated parents. He did this through Big Brothers Big Sisters in Portland, Oregan. After doing that for two years, he moved with his family to Bend, Oregon where he now works for Deschutes Children’s Foundation, another nonprofit that buys and manages facilities for organizations serving the needs of children and families. These properties cluster like-minded organizations together in welcoming spaces which it provides rent-free. Needless to say, I am very proud of the way he is giving back through his work.

Today we especially pray for organizations, like the ones that my son has served, that support parents in the challenging work of being the kind of parents God has created them to be. We pray for parents that they may be positive supporters and encouragers of their children and those who teach their children.

DAY 5 Prayer for Parents to be the Best Advocates for their Children

Did you know that there are people, programs and organizations all across Texas who faithfully serve the needs of at-risk and vulnerable children? Did you also know that your voice can and will make a difference in the lives of children? As parents become better advocates for their children and agents of change, they can choose the right schools for their children and get more involved in their kids’ education. There’s also a growing commitment by the Faith Community to reach up in prayer and out in love to reverse these damaging trends in the lives of at-risk children.

Let’s Pray

Father, your word declares, “How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” You are the ultimate parent and you want the very best for each of your children. We are so thankful.

Father, you have called parents to both nurture and impart your values to our children. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) But we need your help. Many of the families in our city are struggling. They are facing enormous pressures and are often lacking in the parenting skills they need to care or advocate for their children. Many among us are attempting to fill the role of both father and mother. Please help us, the Faith Community, to see how we can serve the parents and families of our communities. Show us what you have already raised up to engage and strengthen families. Help us to share resources, models and experiences that can effectively meet the needs of families, especially families of at-risk children.

Thank you for the commitment that is growing in our midst. Bless these efforts and cause them to multiply across the Greater Houston area. All of this we ask in your name, the name of Jesus, and for the sake of the children of our city. AMEN

Can We Be The Answer?

Do you know groups whose specific mission is to empower parents to effectively advocate for their children? Share a story where a parent’s advocacy made a difference in the life of a child.

Did you know that Texas ranks last in the nation in the percentage of adults with high school diplomas; only 79.6% of Texans have a high school diploma. In 2009, 34% of Texas 4th graders and 27% of 8th graders tested below basic reading levels. Moreover, low- income children achieve approximately 23% below their more affluent peers.

Extended learning time opens the possibility of a wider range of study and exposure to subjects such as history, science, music, and art. Adding quality time to the school year would serve as an opportunity for our children to boost academic performance, to close achievement gaps, to stay in school and reduce drop-out rates, and to take advantage of expanded enrichment in order to compete in a globalized market.

Let’s Pray

Loving God, we find the fact that Texas ranks last in the nation in the percentage of high school diplomas to be unacceptable. We know you want our children to be equipped to succeed in life.

We are calling out to you for help. Please give us, your people, the wisdom and tangible strategies to turn this situation around. (James 1:5) We know that nothing is impossible with you so we are asking you to come to our aid. (Luke 1:37) Help us to engage this problem with vision and passion. Raise up a sustainable movement in the midst of our city to address this critical need head on.

Thank you for the many mentoring programs that enable local churches to adopt and care for at-risk students. We see the tangible fruit as 99.3% of students with a mentor demonstrate academic improvement. Thank you that every independent school district in Greater Houston is welcoming the church to provide mentors for students. Bless these efforts and multiply them until every at-risk child is served across our community. All of this we ask in your name, the name of Jesus, and for the sake of the children of our city.

Can We Be The Answer?

Check out the many mentoring programs available across our community.

Neighborhood Centers (http://www.neighborhood-centers.org)

Kids Hope USA (http://www.kidshopeusa.org)

Cy Fair ISD Partners in Education (cfisd.net/newsmedia/press/2011/0809mentors.htm)

Tomball ISD (Mentors)

Klein ISD (Volunteers)

At the Faith Summit at St. Martin’s last week, one of the presenters was from Mission CyFair. Mission Cy-Fair was started by a Cypress church, Lifepath, as a way to put faith into action. If you want to amazed with what God can do through a handful of faithful people, see where the ministry is today. What could God have in mind for St. Mary’s?

As individuals, many of us can offer our time through volunteering in schools, one student at a time, one hour at a time. Many businesses give employees time to volunteer in schools near their place of business. What could God have in mind for you? For me?

Before I was a priest, I was an educator. I worked nearly twenty years in three public school districts. The truth is that teachers and school personnel are with students for a longer length of time Monday through Friday than most any other influence. So of course, we pray for all those who serve in schools, most of which have daily challenges that are beyond our imagination.

For years at St. Mary’s, we have had a cycle of prayer for schools. Two schools are prayed for each week, four times on Sunday, and again at Morning and Evening Prayer other days of the week. We send post cards letting the schools know that we are praying for them, and from time to time we get a reply.

The Sunday before the beginning of school, at the Offertory, we invite all students and educators to come forward for a blessing. Well over half of our parish is part of the education system is some way. This coming Sunday, students, backpacks, and all who serve in schools will be receiving a blessing.

What else is God calling us to do?

DAY 3 Prayer for our Educators to be Extraordinary

Did you know that while every child has the capacity to achieve at high levels, there are a variety of social and economic circumstances that threaten a student’s potential? Effective teachers can help students overcome these barriers, and excel academically and personally. Quality education is the anchor for success in career and life in the 21st century; every student deserves a highly effective teacher to provide him/her with the high level knowledge and skills he/she needs to prepare for the college and career.

We need to recalibrate our educational system to ensure that we are providing every student with a highly effective teacher that will provide them with the tools they need to reach their full potential.

Let’s Pray

Father, we understand that teaching is more than an occupation. It is a gift from you. (Rom 12:7) First of all we want to thank you for the many dedicated teachers and educators that serve the children of our community. We ask you to strengthen them with your wisdom, counsel, knowledge and power. (Isaiah 11:2)

Where our educational system is functioning ineffectively, we’re asking for your help. Give grace, courage and creativity to our policy makers, administrators and educators. Help them to make decisions that will provide students with the most effective teachers and educational resources possible.

Father, thank you for raising up ministries that have a vision and a strategy to adopt and cover every school in prayer. Your word teaches us that we are to pray for all those in authority and we know that teachers and educators have a place of authority in the lives of our students. (1 Timothy 2:1-4) Raise up a movement of prayer that will touch every school and every educator across our community. All of this we ask in your name, the name of Jesus, and for the sake of the children of our city.

Can We Be The Answer?

Moms In Touch is making a difference, one school at a time http://www.MomsInTouch.org

Teach for America (http://www.teachforamerica.org)

Generation One Academy (http://www.generationone.net/academy)

Yes Prep Public Schools (http://www.yesprep.org)

KIPP Academy (http://www.kipphouston.org)

Other resources that you know? Please share below!

This week, St. Mary’s parish family is invited to pray daily for children at risk in the Houston area. We are joining people of faith as we pray seven days for the specific needs of children and youth.

Will you pray with us today?

Did you know that 23% of Harris County children live in poverty and in 2009, 50.6% of children in Texas were living in low-income families, compared to 42.2% nationally? This means that one half of the children in Texas are set up to be unsuccessful.

There are many long term risks associated with child poverty, as children living in poverty have a higher risk of dropping out of school, poor adolescent health and adult health, poor employment outcomes, and experiencing poverty as adults. Child poverty can have life- long repercussions for those children and the future of our community.

Let’s Pray

Jesus, when you began your ministry you declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because God has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoner and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18)

We understand that the poor and disadvantaged are at the very top of your priority list. You have called us to follow in your footsteps. (John 17:18) We’re asking you to help us have those same priorities.

You instruct us by saying, “and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10)

Help us to see them with your eyes and to serve them as if we were serving you.

Your word says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full.” (Proverbs 19:17)

Empower your people across Greater Houston to make a difference. Let your Spirit rest upon us to serve the poor and the oppressed. All of this we ask in your name, the name of Jesus, and for the sake of the children of our city.

Can We Be The Answer?

to hear one of their stories of impact.

Resources:

Change Happens (http://www.changehappenstx.org)

Communities in Schools (http://www.cishouston.org)

Citizen Schools (http://www.citizenschools.org)

Collaborative for Children (http://www.collabforchildren.org)

Other resources that you know (please share!)