Encouraging and Equipping Missionaries Through Prayer
“Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Romans 15.30).
The letters of the Apostle Paul to the churches of the New Testament reveal the transparency and need for prayer from this great missionary. In Romans 15.30 (above), he was pleading for prayer support. Using the example of his prayer requests, we can also encourage and equip our missionary friends as they face the many challenges of intercultural ministry away from home.
By Grant McClung
1. Pray for open doors
“At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah “(Colossians 4.3).
2. Pray for clear communication
“Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Colossians 4.4).
3. Pray for responsiveness to the gospel
“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (2 Thessalonians 3.1).
4. Pray for boldness
“I am in chains now for preaching this message as God’s ambassador, But pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should” (Ephesians 6. 19 – 20 NLT).
5. Pray for protection
“…pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men…” (2 Thessalonians 3.2). “Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea…” (Romans 15.31).
Prayers “closer to home”
Whatever family status, missionaries need prayer for their personal spiritual life and for their family. The missionary may be single, married with children at home, married with grown children and grandchildren living in their country of origin, etc. If single, pray that the missionary is not lonely and finds “family” in their adopted homeland. If married, pray for the missionary and his/her spouse, that their marriage relationship will grow and be blessed.
Pray for missionary kids. Pray that they will have solid, deep, and stabilizing experiences with God at an early age. Pray that they will “find their place” in their local church. Pray that they will adapt well to their new language and culture and find good, wholesome friends. Pray that the Lord “puts a spiritual hedge” around them from evil influences. As they grow, pray for them as they make choices for college, career, marriage, etc.
Pray for the missionary family in the same way you would pray for your own family as it transitions through life’s changes and challenges. Long-term career missionaries face the separation from children and grandchildren back home and try to be “long distance” grandparents.
Others have to work through the realities of aging parents back home, or behavior difficulties with their children with them on the field – problems that sometimes cause an early return or interruption in their service. They need the encouragement of continued prayer during those transition times when they have to return temporarily or permanently back home.
Missionaries need prayer partners at home to share their burdens and victories. We must encourage and equip them through intercession – and let them know that we are praying. Take time today to remember your missionary friends in prayer and communicate an encouraging word to them. Resources and ideas for prayer, along with Ebooks and missions articles are available under the “Resources’ link at www.MissionsResourceGroup.org.
Dr. Grant McClung is President of Missions Resource Group and Missiological Advisor to the World Missions Commission of the Pentecostal World Fellowship. He and his wife, Janice, are International Missionary Educators with Church of God World Missions (Project # 065 0853).
(Source: Church of God World Missions)
