Praying for Special Needs Kids in Montgomery

Doctors appts, therapies, school meetings, diets, routines, thinking about what their futures hold are all a part of a day in the life of parents who happen to have kids with special needs.

Friday, April 1, is WEAR IT BLUE for Autism Day in recognition of Autism Awareness

Did you know ...

Autism now affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys.

Autism prevalence figures are growing.

More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined.

Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade.

Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases.

Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism.

There is no medical detection or cure for autism.

This is JUST AN EXAMPLE of the many illnesses and disorders that children face here in the Montgomery area.

How can you help?

1. Pray for people to surround the families and support them through this long journey.

2. Pray for better medical resources to come to Montgomery. Most families have to travel to Birmingham or other cities to get the specified treatment their child needs.

3. Pray for churches to step up and be aware of kids with special needs and the special resources that they need in church.

4. Pray for parents to make the intentional effort to care for themselves s o that they can better care for their kids.

There is an opportunity for churches and individuals to come together this Friday night, April 1, and attend/volunteer at the Miracle League Opening Season Banquet. They need volunteer buddies, servers and others to help make this night special for the families and team members. You can contact Beth Ames at bucky280@gmail.com or call her 396-7773/462-6316

Jesus said: 'When you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me.' Matthew 18:5

Praying for the Poor in Montgomery

"If you negect the cries of the poor, your own cries for help will not be heard." Proverbs 21:13

In Montgomery, 17% of the population lives UNDER the national poverty level of $21,000. There are many reasons that people live in poverty: lack of education, generational poverty, unemployment, illness, divorce, lack of good judgement. There is no one thing that contributes to poverty. There is also not one culture that has the edge on being poor.....It seems like an overwhelming issue. How do we pray for the poor and disenfranchised in Montgomery? Here are some suggestions:

1. Pray for our city and state governments to begin to create new ways of "assisting" people in need. Ways that will give a hand up instead of making people dependent on a system.

2. Pray for ministries/churches all over Montgomery to see the deeper needs that a person has as they come and ask for food or clothing. Pray that there will opportunity for that person to hear the gospel in a way that they understand and get the support that they need to build a new life.

3. Pray for all of our churches to be sensitive to the needs of the poor in their communities especially as they may visit our churches and not understand the way in which we "do" church.

4. Pray for healing , heart changes and open doors for jobs that will provide for that familiy of low wealth.

5, Pray for Christians to be even more generous than we have in the past and pray for us all to have opportunities to serve those who are hurting financially.

And finally, pray for each of us to have a deeper understanding of God and his generous spirit, so that we will be ready and willing to serve those of low wealth with the resources that we have been given.

"Because you have been treated generously, live generously" Matthew 10:8 The Message