Praying for Missions

I grew up in a church were there was always an emphasis on missions. Missionaries routinely visited our congregation and shared what God was doing on the mission field. For this, I am very thankful. My one regret is that for some reason I developed a perception that missionaries were somehow "superhuman" and did not have the same difficulties as the rest of us. I should have known better, but I did not.

After years in the ministry, visiting with countless missionaries who have come to our church, and my own visits to the mission field, I now clearly understand that missionaries are just like the rest of us. Their calling is extraordinary, but their needs are what is common to man.* This understanding has changed how I pray for missionaries. The information on this site about prayer is a collection of items that in cases are redundant but taken as a whole are intended to stimulate us in praying for missionaries. Use these items to formulate you only daily prayer guide for missions.

*Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. Acts 14:15 ESV

Pray that the missionary will...

gain wisdom to understand God's purpose and plan - Colossians 1:9
have a heart for the lost - Matthew 25
have a sense of personal sin and confession - 1 John 1:5-6
not grow weary in welldoing - Hebrews 13
have a true vision for God's work in him - 2 Thessalonians 1:11
a willingness to listen to needs of others - Ephesians 1:16
have the proper financial support so as to be free from the distractions of daily needs and a confidence that it is God who provides daily bread - 2 Timothy 5, Matthew 6
have a burden to pray - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

A Seven Day Prayer Guide

This general outline is not original to me but I do not know where it came from so I cannot provide proper credit.

Sunday: The missionary's own Spiritual walk, growth in grace through the use of the means of grace (the Word, prayer, sacraments, fellowship, worship, etc.)
Monday: The missionary's personal life, health, safety, emotional stability and well-being, avoidance of loneliness, and the desire of fleshly things
Tuesday: The missionary's family life, husband wife relationships, parenting, children, extended family from whom they are separated, and the model of a Godly family they display before those who observe them daily
Wednesday: The missionary as a communicator, facility with the foreign language, cultural adaptation, and communicating the truth by the example they set
Thursday: The missionary's ministry, teaching, preaching, witnessing, boldness, fruitfulness and satisfaction in their work, and open doors through which they may pass to share Christ
Friday: The missionary's relationship with fellow workers, a sense of cooperation and not competition, humility, consider others better than self, avoidance of pride, working with nationals
Saturday: The missionary's county of service, stability, freedom, governmental leaders, passports, visas, work permits, etc.

Pray for the Persecuted Church

There is very little persecution of the church in Uganda and the Ugandan government is not at all hostile, however there are many other parts of Africa that see great persecution of the church, especially by Islamic governments. I encourage you to regularly remember and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer for their faith. International Christian Concern maintains a list of countries where Christians are presecuted.

E. H. Hamilton's poem Afraid.

February 13, 2012 Newsweek article on Persecution

2013 Summary Report on Persecution Religious Freedom Report.

For a excellent booklet on prayer (12 pages) by vertern African Missionary Nell Robertson Chinchen, with Africa Bible Clollges (Liberia, Malawi, and Uganda) visit Ten Ways to Pray for Your Missionary.

Prayer | Uganda Mission Home