Baptist World Mission Baptist World Mission
  • Home
  • About Us
  • BWM Administrators
    • Dr. Bud Steadman – BWM Executive Director
    • Rev. Steve Anderson – BWM Field Administrator for Africa, UK, Ireland, Middle East and Furlough Replacement
    • Dr. Kevin Brosnan – BWM Field Administrator for Europe and Central Asia
    • Dr. David Canedy – Deputation Director and Field Administrator for USA and Canada
    • Dr. Pat Delaney – BWM Field Administrator for Asia
    • Rev. Mike Martin – BWM Field Administrator for Latin and South America
  • Resources
    • Global Focus Video Series
    • Global Vision Video Series
    • Devotionals
    • BWM Blog
    • Sermons
  • Publications
    • Messenger
    • MK Digest
    • BWM Brochures
    • Dr. Ernest Pickering’s Publications
    • Computer Wallpaper
  • Apply
    • Full-Time Missionary
    • Missionary Apprenticeship Program (MAPPER)
  • Giving
  • Contact

Partnering Through Prayer

Home / Partnering Through Prayer

Partnering through prayerThe electronic age allows this generation to pray for missions as never before. There was a day when missionaries’ prayer requests were outdated by the time they reached the churches. Supporters faithfully prayed for general needs, unaware of the challenges of a specific day. Praying saints sometimes heard weeks later how God wonderfully delivered the missionary through some crisis on the very day of their burdened intercession. The lag time of “snail mail” sometimes left people wondering how God had answered their prayers. Internet-based communication now provides instant access to the most remote corners of God’s harvest fields, enabling missionaries to communicate needs in real time. Does this mean that missionaries benefit more from intercessory prayer today than they did in the past?

Improved communication between missionary and supporters doesn’t compensate for the sin of prayerlessness among Christians. God’s people must be convinced and committed to pray for world missions. We must believe that our prayer makes a difference! We must believe God when He says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” We must heed His command, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” We must be moved by those on the frontlines of spiritual battle who plead, “Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course.”[1]

Christians participate in missions through prayer. They partner with missionaries and are directly engaged with God’s work in foreign lands. The experience should be life-transforming, helping believers internalize God’s perspective on the world and their role in it. Prayer often leads to even greater involvement in missions. Today’s praying child may become tomorrow’s foreign missionary. One of BWM’s present missionaries began by praying for his church’s missionaries. Little did he know that years later he would be working with one of those missionaries as part of a church-planting team. Prayer for missions benefits more than the missionary.

Missionaries have persistent and circumstantial needs. Persistent needs include everything necessary for successful daily life and ministry. This is the missionary’s spiritual battleground. Although he may not always specify these concerns, they pose the greatest threat to him. Anyone who questions the reality of overt spiritual warfare need only speak to a veteran missionary. Satan removes the gloves when missionaries wage war on his turf. His tools include disillusionment, discouragement, temptations, interpersonal conflicts, and wedges in the missionary’s marriage and home life. Prayer for personal victory in these persistent threats plays a role in your missionary’s ultimate success or failure on the mission field.

Personal safety is another constant need. Foreign missionaries have never faced a greater threat to their persons than in the post-9/11 world. The risk of abduction or violent attack is very real in many countries. There can be no doubt that prayer has saved the lives of many missionaries.

Some of the greatest blessings arise from prayer for circumstantial needs. Specific answers to prayer glorify the Savior and build faith for both the prayer warrior and the missionary. Whether it is the salvation of a particular individual, an evangelistic thrust into a new village, or a visa approval, acts of God in response to specific prayer greatly encourage God’s people. A prayer is too general if it is impossible to discern God’s answer to it. Supporters should ask for specific requests from missionaries, who should also follow up on those requests with specific answers to prayer.

Missionaries cannot succeed without intercessors. Many would testify of God’s sustaining grace, deliverance, or empowerment during times of great personal weakness. Surely, many of these victories arise from intercessory prayer. Instant information allows churches to mobilize prayer as never before. Like cookies fresh from the oven, the information age empowers missionaries to place “hot” needs before God’s people. The question is, “Will God’s people come to the table while the cookies are hot?”

Guide to Prayer for Missionaries:

  • The Missionary Calling. God commands every Christian to pray that God will send new missionaries throughout the world. Ask God to reach into your local church and motivate believers to present themselves for full-time missionary service (Matt. 9:38).
  • Spiritual Needs. Missionaries are real people who need God’s daily grace over sin and circumstances. This need supersedes anything physical or financial (Col. 1:10-12).
  • Family Life. Deputation lifestyle and the cultural challenges of a foreign field can place tremendous strain on a marriage and family. The husband needs wisdom to perceive and address these needs (Eph. 6:4; 1 Pet. 3:7).
  • Adaptation. Missionaries need a Holy Spirit-driven attitude toward their new culture. They need victory over pride, bias, and prejudice if they are to compassionately reach lost souls for Christ (1 Cor. 6:11; 9:19-23).
  • Fruitfulness in Ministry. Faithful labor is not enough to reach souls and establish churches. Ask God to keep the missionary a vessel fit for the Master’s use. Pray for God’s power upon his life and ministry (Jn. 15:5; 2 Thess. 3:1).
  • Prayer Requests. Don’t fail to pray for specific requests. Each missionary has his own set of needs at any given time. These generally fall into the categories of health, finances, family, and ministry activities (Col. 1:9).

[1] James 5:16; Matt. 9:38; 2 Thess. 3:1

mission conference speakers
Looking for a Speaker for your Mission Conference?
  • Dr. Bud Steadman – BWM Executive Director
  • Rev. Steve Anderson – BWM Field Administrator for Africa, UK, Ireland, Middle East and Furlough Replacement
  • Dr. Kevin Brosnan – BWM Field Administrator for Europe and Central Asia
  • Dr. David Canedy – Deputation Director and Field Administrator for USA and Canada
  • Rev. Pat Delaney – BWM Field Administrator for Asia
  • Rev. Mike Martin – BWM Field Administrator for Latin and South America
Missionary Enrollment
  • Your Pastor's Role
  • Doctrinal Stand
  • Why a Mission Board?
  • The Application Process
  • What BWM Missionaries say About BWM
Resources
  • Our Blog
  • Devotionals
  • Our History & Stand
  • Photo Gallery of our Fields of Service
  • Global Focus Video Series
  • Global Vision Video Series
  • Sermons
People & Publications
  • Deputation Missionaries
  • Furloughing Missionaries
  • On-the-field Missionaries
  • The BWM Staff
  • Computer Wallpapers
  • Newsletters
  • MK Digest
Baptist World Mission Baptist World Mission
QuestionPro powers business intelligence by providing free customer satisfaction survey templates. We are thankful for QuestionPro's contribution of this software for our use.
This site is designed and maintained by the staff of BWM.
Baptist World Mission © 2021 | All Rights Reserved | BWM is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT