FACTS AND REFLECTIONS ON MOTHERS, CHILDREN, AND
FAMILY PLANNING
PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK OF MOTHER’S DAY 2012
Healthy mothers and children are the foundation of strong families and communities. Christians
working in the poorest regions of the world are trying to help families safely space the births of
their children, grow at a rate they can afford, and protect the health of mothers and children. The
term “Family Planning,” as used by Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH), means
enabling couples to determine the number and timing of pregnancies, including the voluntary use
of methods for preventing pregnancy, not including abortion, consistent with their faith. In honor of
Mother’s Day, CCIH asks congregations to reflect on mothers across the globe and pray for
women, children, families, and the people working to promote health and wholeness.
A Week of Prayer and Reflections
result in seeking an abortion. We pray for
women who suffer needlessly both physically and
psychologically from unsafe abortions, and for
the families of women who die from abortion.
We pray they may find healing in God’s word
and love.
DAY 1
Fact: One out of every 22 women in sub-Saharan
Africa dies of a pregnancy-related cause. That’s
30 women every hour.
Reflection: Lord, we ask that you be with all
women during pregnancy and childbirth. We
pray that a mother may feel your presence and
guiding hand through her entire pregnancy and
that she and her child may be carried safely
through this journey.
Day 3
Fact: Nearly 8 million children under the age of 5
died in 2010 worldwide.i A child in the
developing world has an even greater risk of
dying if the mother dies, or if he or she has
brothers or sisters who are very close in age.ii
Health experts recommend three year intervals
between births to improve child survival.
DAY 2
Fact: 4.7 million women in Africa have abortions
each year, and 98 percent of those abortions are
performed by people lacking the necessary skills
or in an environment lacking minimal medical
standards.
Reflection: Lord, we ask for protection for the
most vulnerable of your children. May children
living in extreme poverty feel your loving hand to
soothe the pain they feel from hunger and
disease. May those of us with the power to help
them come together to work for their survival and
healthy development.
Reflection: We pray that women have the
information and the resources they need to avoid
unintended and unsafe pregnancies that may
www.ccih.org | 1817 Rupert St. |McLean, VA 22101| (p) 703.556.0123 | (f) 703.917.4251
FACTS AND REFLECTIONS ON MOTHERS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILY PLANNING
PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK OF MOTHER’S DAY 2012
Day 4
Day 6
Fact: In Africa, national Christian Health
Associations are networks of faith-based
organizations providing 30 to 50 percent of
health care in their countries. Unfortunately,
health care workers in Africa and the rest of the
developing world often struggle with lack of
equipment and supplies and adequate training.iii Fact: Families have been helped by counseling
and family planning services in the developing
world provided by faith-based organizations,
governments, and others. These services help
communities where couples once struggled to
feed and educate their children. However, cuts to
these programs threaten the work of these
organizations and endanger the health of
women, families, and entire communities.
Reflection: We pray for all your servants striving
to protect the most vulnerable in our world. May
they be blessed with patience and tolerance, and
may they receive the resources they need to save
lives and promote healthy practices for women,
children, families, and entire communities.
Reflection: Lord, we are grateful for these stories
of families in need receiving help and guidance.
We ask that the help these communities receive
continue so all your children have a chance for a
healthy and productive life.
Day 5
Day 7
Fact: There is a large unmet need for family
planning services across the globe, especially in
the developing world. It is estimated that there
are 215 million women who wish to avoid
pregnancy but are not using family planning
methods. iv
Fact: Access to family planning services helps
prevent abortions. Studies show abortions are
lowest in nations where the use of family planning
methods is high.v
Reflection: Lord, we pray that women and
families may have access to family planning
information and methods and can avoid the
tragic circumstances of abortion.
Reflection: Lord, we ask for protection and
guidance for these families in the poorest regions
of our world who are struggling with growing
families, malnutrition, and unintended
pregnancies. May they be able to safely space
pregnancies and grow at a healthy rate they can
afford. i
WHO http://www.who.int/gho/child_health/mortality/mortality_under_five_text/en/ WHO (2006). http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/birth_spacing.pdf iii
CCIH http://www.ccih.org/Contraceptive%20Security%20Report%2010_18_11.pdf iv
WHO http://www.who.int/gho/maternal_health/reproductive_health/family_planning/en/ v
CCIH (2011) http://www.ccih.org/FP%20Reduces%20Abortion%2012_13_2011.pdf ii
www.ccih.org | 1817 Rupert St. |McLean, VA 22101| (p) 703.556.0123 | (f) 703.917.4251