Autism Awareness Month: Turning the Tide

April is Autism Awareness Month. But in my opinion, every one is aware already.

You will see show after article after press release this month offering you the same inane observation...

"Autism Exists"

It is time to say, "no duh", reject the idea that we should passively accept the fact that autism has gone from 1 in 10,000 in the 1970's to 1 in 250 when Chandler was diagnosed, to 1 in 166 when I started my tenure as an autism activist, to what the CDC now presents as a current number, 1 in 150, (which is actually based on a study that is several years old), to what is the most likely the current number 1 in 88, which is the prevalence rate that the Department of Defense is reporting for their dependents. The UK has just announced their new prevalence rate:

1 in 60 children

1 in 34 boys

UC Davis proved this year that this skyrocketing rate is not a result of "better diagnosing" or "changes in diagnostic criteria" as we have been encouraged to believe. This is frightening increase in autism is real.

And yet neither the US or UK Governments will not declare Autism an actual epidemic.

How bad do things have to get before the general population takes to the streets and shouts NO MORE! If one in 100 children were going blind or being kidnapped there would be rioting in the streets if the government declared April "Blindness Awareness Month" or March 30 "World Kidnapping Acceptance Day".

It is time to do something about it.

So instead I am announcing my own little project Autism Attack Month and I will be letting you know what you can do to fight this epidemic and give the children you love a chance to beat the odds.

And it will start like everything should start... with prayer.

Children of Destiny is a great little organization that offers biblical encouragement and guidance in teaching people how to pray for their loved ones with autism. They are announcing their second annual "Turning the Tide" prayer campaign. Please consider signing up praying for this epidemic, our children and for Chandler specifically.

From Children of Destiny:

Dear Daily Prayer Subscriber,

We are thrilled that April (Autism Awareness Month) begins tomorrow, and with it we begin our second annual Turning the Tide! prayer thrust. Just ahead of this year’s launch, we wanted to answer a few questions we have been receiving:


What is Turning the Tide?

Turning the Tide! is a corporate prayer thrust in which thousands from around the world pray over the same issues related to autism for each day of the month of April. Each day of the week is dedicated to a specific issues (for example, this year we will be praying for specific issues regarding families affected by autism on Fridays, educational issues on Saturdays, and so forth). We have set aside April 23 as a day of prayer and fasting to see the tide of autism turned once and for all.


How did Turning the Tide come about?

As many of you know, autism was once so rare that even doctors knew little of it. But it is now conservatively estimated that 100 new cases will be diagnosed worldwide with each passing day.

As part of Global Harvest Ministries for a decade, we participated in several global prayer initiatives for effective evangelization in different parts of the world. The results were amazing! Therefore, we at Children of Destiny decided in 2008 to launch a corporate prayer thrust over autism and those affected by it. We plan on making this an annual event until the wonderful day when it will no longer be needed.


Why is corporate prayer important?

As Christians, we believe that our most powerful tool in any of life’s circumstances is prayer. James 5:16 says, “the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” Furthermore, we believe that the power of our prayers are greatly increased as we join corporately to beseech the Lord. Jesus Himself said, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:19-20,NIV ).


How can I be involved?

1. Download and print out the Turning the Tide! brochure and prayer calendar. It is available free of charge on our website at http://childrenofdestiny.org/turning_the_tide.asp. Consider printing the brochure and calendar out for your family and friends, or direct them to our website for more information.

2. Take a few minutes each day to pray through the special extended versions of the Daily Prayer you will be receiving throughout April, or check our website frequently for that day’s corporate prayer and extended prayer points.


3.Consider joining us on April 23 for World Day of Prayer and Fasting for AutismSpectrumDisorder. For more information on this day and fasting in general, please visit ASDPrayandFast.com.


4. As you are probably well aware, current economic situations have taken a real hit on ministries, and we are no exception. Therefore, we would be deeply grateful if you would consider making a donation to help with the costs of this prayer thrust and our ongoing ministry to families of children and adults with autism. To make a tax-deductible donation, please send a check or money order made out to Children of Destiny to:

Children of Destiny
PO Box 120607
Melbourne, FL 32912

or visit http://childrenofdestiny.org/make_a_donation.asp for more donation options.

If you have any other questions or comments regarding Turning the Tide! or anything related to Children of Destiny, we would love to hear from you! Please email us at prayer@childrenofdestiny.org.
We are excited, and expecting the Lord to move on the Earth as we come together in agreement to see the tide of autism turned. Thank you for standing with us!

Blessings,
Jack and Rebecca Sytsema

Chandler Does a New Thing

"Webster"! Chandler yelled as he got out of the car after school today when he saw his brother standing in the doorway.

He ran up the sidewalk and up the stairs and threw his arms around his brother and said, "Gimme a hug", and squeezed and squeezed his big brother, with a huge smile on his face. Finally Web tried to pull Chandler's arms off his neck, but nothin' doin'. When I got there, he put out one arm and said, "Mommy"! So I bent down and he hugged both of us around the neck, smashing all three of our heads together.

He was the one in charge of that hug and I could barely keep my balance.

You would have thought his brother had just come back from war by the greeting he gave him, but it had only been four hours since they had seen each other.

Chandler has never been that excited to see anyone. Ever.

We started him on the SCD diet last week and he has had lots of prayer this week from lots of people that it would help him out. He has been a bit more verbal this week, but the thing that has been the most dramatic is just how affectionate and attentive he has been to us.

I don't remember anything in the research that says that it would turn kids into love machines. Perhaps a study should be done.

A Day of Prayer and Fasting

Thank you to Sam for inspiring this International Day of Prayer and Fasting.

Thank you to his parents for loving their son and listening to God.

Today we ask that you join us in praying for those with autism, their friends and family, and the world that God has charged with serving them.

First, pray for Sam. He inspired this day and he should be the first on our list to pray for.

Second, pray for autistic people, children and adults, and their families around the world. Theirs is a difficult life made more difficult by the people around them who just don't understand. Pray that these people would gain the world's attention and that they would be given the support that they need, socially, politically, medically, financially, emotionally and specifically spiritually. Pray that the world would seek to understand them and be patient with their ways that are so different from ours.

Pray that those who have much in this world will help bear the burdens of those affected by autism, and that both will be better for it.

Pray for healing in those with autism and in autistic communities. Physical healing, healing of broken hearts and of broken relationships.

Pray for those with autism, that God would speak directly to their hearts and let them know how precious and valuable they are. That all of the messages that the world sends them, both real and perceived, that they are not as “________” their typical neighbors or siblings would be wiped away, and they would see the very special honor that God gives to them.

For those of you would like to pray for Chandler today, here are the things that we are asking for him:

For Chandler's healing: That the toxins will be removed from his body, that his digestive system would be healed, that the inflammation in his body would be gone, that his body would begin to produce its own glutathione, that any viruses that Chandler has would be killed completely and that his brain would get the nutrients it needs to heal itself.

For Chandler's diet: We have started him on a VERY clean diet of not much more than fruit, veggies, meat and nuts (the SCD diet). No prepackaged food, all home made, hormone free and organic. Pray that he will find foods that he loves and that he will begin to eat vegetables. Pray that his digestive problems would be healed.

For Chandler's safety: Chandler's innocence and lack of fear put him at serious risk for accidents and victimization. Time and time again we have chased him as he headed toward traffic, and you may know that autistic children are often bullied by other school children and are often victims of prejudice and discrimination. What you may not know is that autistic children are 6 times more likely to be victims of sexual assault. They make safe targets for assailants because they cannot tell their parents what has happened to them. Ask God to have his strongest Angels surrounding Chandler at all times.

For Chandler's education: He has an IEP next week that will set the course for his education. Pray for wisdom for us and the professionals involved in his care. Pray that he will get ALL the services that he needs to thrive.

For Chandler's parents and brother: That they would surrender completely to God. That all the idols and obstacles in their lives that keep them from doing the right things for Chandler would be brought to light and gladly handed to God.

For Chandler's resources: God “owns the cattle on a thousand hills”, it ALL belongs to Him. Pray that He would open up his storehouses and pour out his blessings on Chandler. Not just the financial resources to serve and heal him, but spiritual resources, emotional availability, wisdom and even energy to Chandler, and even more so to those surrounding him and entrusted with his care. It takes a lot to serve an autistic child well. Pray that God's supernatural provision is given to all those who are in Chandler's life and that they pour it back into him.

For Chandler's family: Sadly, Chandler's extended family is broken. The only thing that will bring the family back together and heal it will be a working of the Holy Spirit to bring those who have wronged Chandler to confession and repentance. Pray that all the lies that have been spoken and believed will be wiped away and replaced by absolute Truth.

For Chandler's ministry: God has clearly said in Matthew 25 that what we do to the least of these, we do to Jesus Christ Himself, and those actions are what He will use to judge the hearts of men. Chandler, who is one of the least of these, has been given a very special mission in this world, to be a fork where one takes the narrow road or the wide road. It is easy to ignore the needs of someone with autism and get away with choosing to serve yourself instead. God stands behind Chandler at all times and watches what we do to him and what we don't do for him and uses it as a litmus test of our salvation.

In God's economy, Chandler is the most powerful person in our community. He is the weak thing that God has chosen to shame the strong. He is one of the Meek that will in inherit the earth, and one day he will be our landlord. Pray for the people whose lives he touches, that God would use Chandler to show them that God's economy is completely opposite to the one in which the world operates. Pray for them that even their failures to serve Chandler, and therefore Christ, would bring them to repentance and show them that they really have nothing to offer to God, but their own brokenness.

… God is excited to completely forgive every broken person who asks for it.

Pray that God would openly bless, in every way, those who serve Chandler.

And finally and most importantly:

For Chandler's understanding of God: Pray that the Holy Spirit would be in there with Chandler, where we cannot go, teaching him when our words cannot.

Thank you again for loving my son and praying for him.

Ginger

Day of Prayer and Fasting

Thought I would add this wonderful email from Children of Destiny about Monday's day and prayer and fasting.

A Call to Fast for Autism on April 23 Dear Daily Prayer Subscriber,

As many of you know, April is Autism Awareness Month here in the United States. In the several years since we have been involved in the cause of autism, we have been very pleased to see that with each passing April, more and more awareness of and programs devoted this devastating disorder have been presented in the media. Sadly, however, with each passing April, more and more children and families are devastated by the diagnosis.

This April, Paulette Britton, mother of Sam, was impressed to call for a Day of Prayer and Fasting for those affected by autism. We commend Paulette for this great effort. We at Children of Destiny fully endorse this opportunity to join with many others from around the world in fasting and lifting our prayers before the Lord on behalf of those afflicted with autism. Therefore, we are asking that you would consider joining with us as we humble ourselves before the Lord in Prayer and Fasting for our children and adults with autism. The official fast is for 24 hours and runs from sun up on Monday, April 23 until sun up on Tuesday April 24.

Why Fast?

For the Christian, fasting is an essential part of spiritual life. Even Jesus agreed that some things simply could not be accomplished without fasting.

Fasting removes spiritual clutter and puts us in a better position to receive from God. By fasting, we make it possible for the Lord to reveal Himself to us in a greater way, not because He speaks more clearly, but because we can hear Him more clearly.

Why is that? Because fasting is a sacrifice of submission and worship unto Him. It is because we have given up something temporal in order to pursue something eternal. To the degree we allow ourselves to hunger after God is the degree to which we will be satisfied by Him.

The fruit of our fasting is God's to decide. We cannot manipulate God through it, but we certainly can please Him. Fasting almost certainly will produce a deeper covenant relationship with Him. Isaiah 58, the great chapter on fasting, offers us a list of additional benefits that fasting can produce including deliverance, giving, guidance, healing, increased protection, spiritual cleansing, answers from God, increased fruitfulness, and restoration of spiritual things that have been lost (This material has been adapted from the book Possessing Your Inheritance by Chuck D. Pierce and Rebecca Wagner Sytsema, pp. 134-135).

Of course, we are asking that you join us in this fast as we specifically ask God to heal children and adults with autism. Paulette suggests that you make a specific list of what you are asking God for as you fast. Doing so is essential because it not only focuses you in prayer, but also allows you to go back later and see how the Lord has moved.

Here at Children of Destiny, we recommend that this list not just be generic, such as "God, please heal Nick of autism," but rather a list of specific issues related to the autism. For example, potty training, aggressive behaviors, language, running away, digestive disorders and so forth. The reason for doing this is so we can see the hand of God moving in very specific ways as issues on this list improve. Not only does it encourage us that God is moving on behalf of our loved one, it also increases our faith for the whole miracle!

Please Join Us

Again, the fast runs from sunrise on April 23 to sunrise on April 24. Many will likely choose to fast from all food. However, if for any reason you are unable to fast for the entire 24 hour period, or are unable to fast from food, please consider joining us anyway. Perhaps you can consider a fast of any beverage other than water, or perhaps you can abstain from sugar. We ask that you are wise in making your decisions to fast and do not compromise your health in any way. If you have health issues and are not able to consult with your doctor before Monday, please consider fasting in some other form -- perhaps from television or reading for pleasure. Also consider asking your children or granchildren to fast as well. If a food fast is unwise or unwelcomed, kids could also be encouraged to fast from video games or other daily indulgences.

Again, we thank Paulette for putting together this great initiative. She has put together a web site containing all the information necessary to participate. We encourage you to visit her site at http://www.asdPrayandFast.com.

Please pass this information along to your friends and family and listmates.

We would be thrilled to hear of your plans to participate, and also of the answers to prayer you see!

Blessings,
Jack and Rebecca Sytsema
Children of Destiny

Day of Fasting and Prayer for Autism

Monday April 23rd http://www.asdPrayandFast.com

From Unlocking Autism:

As Autism Awareness Month approached us this year, I am sure that so very many of you wondered what you could do to make a difference. Our children are so precious to us and so many of them are still suffering in silence or struggling so bravely in this world that assaults their senses at every corner of their lives.

Paulette Britton, mother of Sam, turned to God for an answer to what she could do to make a difference and below you can read her words as she was impressed to call for a Day of Prayer and Fasting for those affected by autism.

I call on each of you to join with us on Monday, April 23, as we humble ourselves before the Lord in Prayer and Fasting for our children and adults with autism. Please share this info with your friends and family and listmates.

http://www.asdPrayandFast.com

Paulette lives in Southern California and you may contact her with questions and inquiries at: pdbrit@mac.com.

Nancy Cale,
Unlocking Autism