HARLINGEN — “I need a prayer.”
The young faces with the pain in their eyes say it all, without saying, without seeing, without hearing: A future is in crisis at the hands of monstrosities visited upon them by …. Who? Mom, Uncle Bob, the brother, the sister … the monsters.
That’s why churches throughout the United States are setting aside a moment of prayer Sunday for chidren in peril. It’s called the National Blue Sunday Day of Prayer for Abused Children. Churches are signing up on the BlueSunday.org website to pray for children who are suffering all kinds of abuse.
“There’s nothing to join,” said Janet Magee, executive director of Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention Initiative.
“We do ask that everyone who participates register to monitor our effectiveness,” said Magee, who founded Blue Sunday in the Valley in 1994 to raise awarenees about child abuse. It has since spread across the United States and around the world. The nonprofit continues to raise that awareness about child abuse through numerous activities like Sunday’s prayer.
The abuse, a disregard for the welfare of children, manifests itself as physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and other forms. Neglect can deal a serious blow to a child’s self esteem and his or her future.
“The long term effects of abuse obviously really affect the adults in every situation,” said Jamie Graham, an assistant to the Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention Initiative.
“We believe that God hears our prayers and he will answer them in this fight against child abuse,” Graham said. “We are the warriors. We are the faith community. We are the ones on the front lines that are fighting this battle.”
The battle is huge, the casualties vast, the veterans many.
“Statistically it’s one in four girls and one in six boys,” Graham said. “So if you can just imagine yourself in any room, in any classroom, in any meeting, that statically is where we are at.”
The prayers offered are for the children, their allies, and their defenders.
“People from all over the world commit to praying for abused children, the people who rescue them and to the children’s healing,” Graham said. “They take time during their service at church to pray for these kids.”
Local churches have responded well to the call for this year’s event.
“Here, locally, we have churches that have registered with us,” Graham said. “They are committing a time during their service to praying for these children and just bringing awareness to the community that this is here, this is everywhere.”
Janet Magee, executive director of Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention Initiative, pointed out the observance is free.
AWARENESS PROGRAMS:
– The National Blue Sunday Day of Prayer for Abused Children has over 8 million participants.
– Provide free Happy Families materials to public schools, doctors’ offices, and day care centers.
– Host the Blue Sunday Monthly Brown Bag Lunch for children’s workers.
RELIEF SERVICES:
– Provide emergency groceries and rent for families rebuilding their lives.
– Provide cribs, car seats and highchairs for babies receiving service from Child Protective Services.
– Help maintain family visitation rooms for the purpose of family reunification.
– Host a regional foster teen graduation party along with Texas Dept. of Family and Protective Services.
– Provide prom dresses for foster teens attending their first prom.
– The Sibling Revelry project brings foster children together with their siblings who are not housed together.
– The Brighter Christmas for Foster Kids Campaign includes foster teens gift cards, foster family Christmas parties, and the Adopt a Kinship Care Family project. For many foster children our events are the only time they will see their siblings during the holidays.
PREVENTION PROGRAMS:
– Provide two weekly Ace Overcomers programs for at-risk teens.
– Host a free WINGS program that helps victims overcome adverse childhood experiences.
– Co-sponsor the Annual Seminar in Forensic Sciences along with C.A.P.E (Child Abuse Prevention Education), and Valley Baptist Medical Center.
– The Kinship Care Program helps children remain out of foster care by helping extended family members to step in as caretakers. We provide emergency items and transportation as needed.
– Meet the needs of abused children.
– Raise awareness about child abuse among the faith community through its annual day of prayer which is always the last Sunday of April.
