OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAYS TO PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES
“God, bless the missionaries.” We’ve all prayed it. We know we should pray for missionaries, but often times we don’t really know them, let alone what they’re going through or need prayer for. The typical requests for missionaries go something like this: “God, please be with the Smiths in Timbuktu. Help them as they share the Gospel with the natives there. Keep them safe and bless them. Amen.” Five seconds. And we’re pretty proud of ourselves for that! Hey, I prayed for world missions this week. Betcha not many Christians have actually done that.
But what specific answers will really come from your generic prayers? God is already with the Smiths in Timbuktu. He is helping them. He is keeping them safe and blessing them. What about praying some out-of-the-ordinary things for the Smiths? True – missionaries are just ordinary people trusting God to do extraordinary things. So, how should we pray for them? I could write a thesis right now on the ways Paul asked people to pray for him. Or, I could list 15 New Testament prayer requests for people involved in the Great Commission. However, since we all have access to these things anyway, I’d like to take this opportunity to give you a few more specific ways to pray for missionaries living in this year!
Pray for the Missionaries’ Relationships with Each Other
I have no idea who said it first, but it’s been said many, many times that “the #1 reason missionaries leave the field is because of other missionaries.” That may shock you. It may sound ridiculous. I remember thinking when I heard it for the first time, That’s so stupid. How shallow and selfish can people be to allow relationships within the body of Christ to keep them from reaching the world! Well, let me tell you, as a somewhat-experienced missionary now – it is a very valid issue to bring before God on behalf of your friends serving Him overseas. It happens in the States too of course. There are conflicts within every pastoral staff there has ever been and will ever be. But, when pastors and church leaders struggle in the States, there are other people to turn to. When missionaries struggle with each other, there is often times no where else to turn for fellowship.
I personally work on a wonderful team that truly loves each other and works well together. But even within an ideal team there will be conflicts and disagreements. When I’m tired and stressed out (though I don’t really believe in “stress”), my teammates are the ones I take it out on and vice versa. I think we tell ourselves that they can handle it. They know I’m going through a tough time. We all do this to each other. It won’t cause any real emotional damage. But it does. Pray for your missionaries. Pray that they will value unity and treat their families and co-workers with respect. Pray that they will live out the fruit of the Spirit – especially in front of on-looking unbelievers! “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5,6).
Pray for Friends
On this same topic, even when there are other missionaries that you consider friends or can at least tolerate, often there are very few other options for fellowship. Sure missionaries can (and should!) be making friends among the people they are seeking to reach, but I have found when I look around me that every relationship I have on the field is a ministry relationship. Every one is a discipleship effort. No one is encouraging me spiritually! The other missionaries are “burnt out” (and possibly discouraged like me) and every other person in my life is either still unsaved or is a new and carnal believer requiring a lot of maintenance. Missionaries need friends just like everybody else.
Even visitors can be a big encouragement, and have been to me. But no matter how delightful the guests are, they eventually leave. It gets really hard to constantly be left behind.
So when you pray for missionaries, pray good friends into their lives including nationals, other missionaries, visiting family and friends, and new (compatible) laborers. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Also, it wouldn’t hurt to call or e-mail a missionary every once in a while!
Pray for Motivation
Not every missionary is as naturally self-motivated as Hudson Taylor. Sometimes when a missionary faces discouragement, the motivation wanes. Many of the people that you refer to as missionaries work out of their homes and attempt to build, maintain and grow relationships during the course of a week. There isn’t always the accountability that one might find working in an actual church office with a secretary and a staff. Pray for your missionaries that they will have the motivation necessary to learn the language, adapt to the culture, form relationships, live out a Spirit-filled life and accomplish their personal and ministry goals while bringing praise and glory to God. (While you’re at it, try praying that for yourself as you attempt to reach teenagers – one of the hardest mission fields in the world!)
Pray for Purity
How often do you pray that your missionaries will remain pure and above reproach in areas of morality? (Again, how often do you pray this for yourself?) If loneliness, motivation and lack of accountability are issues, then believe me, so is purity. When are the times you struggle? Probably when you’re alone and feeling discouraged . . . maybe even depressed. Spiritual warfare plays itself out in many ways and attacks people on different levels. Missionaries are no different. In fact, temptation is stronger when you’ve been giving of yourself and are running on empty. Satan waits for these moments. Pray for missionaries, that they will be able to stand in the face of temptation and discouragement. “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Pray for Unique, Divine Open Doors
Last night I attended a high school graduation at the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin. The JFKS is an international, bi-lingual school boasting 1,700 students from all over the world. This school is one of those unique opportunities for Berlin missionaries to literally reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries, like myself, are constantly praying for open doors into these types of harvest fields that allow them to strategically impact the lives of influential, multi-cultural families that can in turn take the Gospel back to their own people, in their own tongues. God has opened up doors like these around the globe and the potential is staggering! Ask anyone involved in campus ministry. And this, of course, is only one example of the types of doors missionaries are crying out to God to open for them. I just gave you one specific example. Pray for the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin and for open doors onto public high schools all over the world. You, as youth workers, know how important it is to develop relationships with principals, teachers and parents. As you pray for opportunities for yourself and your local church – pray for us as well.
Pray for Perseverance
Ever think of giving up? Sure you do, otherwise God Himself would not have considered it important to inspire these words: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58), and “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith . . . Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2, 3). Be assured that “the thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy,” wants nothing more than to cause Christian workers to give up, missionaries to pack up their things, youth workers to raise the white flag of surrender. It’s too hard, too demanding, too stressful. Not enough results, rewards or recognition. Stand firm! Give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, and pray for others to do the same. We’re all under the blessing and burden of the Great Commission. Plus, let us not forget, we are being watched. Teens will view ministry the way we present it.
~ Kristi Walker
Kristi Walker serves as part of EBM's Team Berlin -- an English-speaking international church plant in Berlin. Kristi works as the youth director for this developing church, Crossway Baptist Church.
Reproduced from Vision For Youth Magazine, Fall 2007. Used with permission.
