Praying for Missionaries
Every person who answers God’s call to the mission field, short or long term, does so prayerfully. Each team member who makes this leap of faith knows how important it is to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that their efforts as individuals and the efforts of the team as a whole will in all ways glorify God to be the leader in all they do and all they say.
Every mission team member needs to know that people are praying for them and for the team. The Diocese of West Texas maintains a prayer list of mission team members that is sent to every congregation via their World Mission representative to be used for corporate prayer. Each team member also selects one or more personal intercessors who pledge to pray for him or her on a regular basis. Often the team member will ask the intercessors to pray for specific situations at specific time during the trip. It is important also for the intercessor to continuing praying for their team member as he or she returns home as it is often difficult to re-enter a regular routine after the mission experience.
The South American Missionary Society [SAMS]
has given the following prayer suggestions
to use when praying for a missionary.
What to Pray for:
For Health
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There are many dangers to health through food, unsanitary conditions, and disease. It is not God's will that sickness strip the mission fields. It is his will that his children have health and strength to carry out his work.
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Pray from Scripture: Deut. 7:15, Ps. 97:10, Isa . 53:5, John 10:10b.
For Protection of Mind
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Climate, cultural differences, and loneliness are all contributing factors, which lead to a breakdown in the normal functions of the mind. The missionary needs to enter into the provisions promised in Scripture and enjoy the Lord's peace.
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Pray from Scripture: Ps. 42:11, Ps. 147:3, John 14:27, Heb. 4:9-11a.
For Protection in Travel
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There is great danger when traveling over narrow roads on the edge of mountains, derelict bridges, in areas where safety is not a design consideration, and in merciless weather conditions.
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Pray from Scripture: Isa . 43:2.
For Unity
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Differences arise among missionaries, especially team ministries and in isolated situations.
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Pray from Scripture: Ps. 133.
For Protection of Spirit
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Discouragement, a sense of failure, a sense of being out of the will of the Lord, are missiles used by the enemy on those who serve on the front line. The missionary needs encouragement and the strength to resist the powers of darkness.
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Pray from Scripture: Deut. 31:6, Matt. 18:18, Jas. 4:7
The Persecuted Church
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Many Christians in today’s world are being persecuted for their faith. Many are dying because they are unwilling to renounce Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They are being persecuted as they continue to share the Good News of the Gospel. The most important way we can help these our brothers and sisters in Christ is through prayer.
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If you would like to be a part of this prayer ministry by using a prayer calendar published quarterly by Christian Solidarity Worldwide go to http://www.csw.org.uk
From the South American Missionary Society
For the Mission of the Church
Almighty God, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to reconcile the world to yourself: We praise and bless you for those whom you have sent in the power of the Spirit to preach the Gospel to all nations. We thank you that in all parts of the earth a community of love has been gathered together by their prayers and labors, and that in every place your servants call upon your Name; for the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours for ever. Amen.
Of a Missionary
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servant _________________, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the people of _____________________ (or to the ___________________people). Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For Social Service
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For Mission and Servanthood
O God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the multitudes who have been created in your image but have not known the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ; and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your holy Church, they may be brought to know and worship you as you have been revealed in your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Merciful God, creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; let your Gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray for all who have not received the Gospel of Christ; For those who have never heard the word of salvation; For those who have lost their faith; For those hardened by sin or indifference; For the contemptuous and the scornful; For those who are enemies of the cross of Christ and persecutors of his disciples; For those who in the Name of Christ have persecuted others; That God will open their hearts to the truth, and lead them to faith and obedience. Amen.
Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the cities of the earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and show us your presence in those who differ most from us until our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, by your grace you have given us a new life in Jesus Christ, and by your Spirit you have called us to proclaim his Name throughout the nations: Awaken in us such a love for you and for your world that we may so boldly proclaim Jesus Christ by word and deed that all people may come to know him as Savior and follow him as Lord; to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
A prayer attributed to St. Francis: Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Almighty God, whose will it is to be glorified in your saints: Shine, we pray, in our hearts, that we in our generation may show forth your praise, who called us out of darkness into your marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For travelers: O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel [in particular ______________________]; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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