Hi everyone! My name is Sarah and I blog at Seriously, Sarah?
I’m here to share about how to pray for foreign missions. I’ve never gone on a foreign mission trip, so it might seem odd to write about how to pray for foreign missions. In reality, you can be a part of foreign mission trip teams that leave from your own home church by simply participating in praying for their trip!
Last summer, my boyfriend, who is now my husband, went with our church to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. Since I was unable to accompany him, due to work, I knew that I would miss him terribly. However, even from my house in South Carolina, I was able to participate in his trip by praying for him before he left and while he was there. Even after the team returned, we were able to continue to pray for the full time missionaries who live in the Dominican Republic.
Before the Team Leaves:
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
It is important to pray that the team is growing in their love of the Lord. Pray that they are going on the trip to bring God glory because that is the chief goal of missions.
When the Team is on the Trip:
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
While the team is traveling and at the mission site, praying for their safety, comfort, and strength is important. Pray that God will comfort them and give them strength for the good works to which they’ve been called and the good news that they will spread.
Isaiah 49:6
I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.
Pray for the people to whom the team will be ministering. The team has been called to be a light for the nations, so pray that salvation will reach to the end of the earth!
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Again, pray that the team will be effective in preaching and ministering while they are on their trip. Praying that they will be competent in their teaching and patient with their work. The team may only be planting seeds, so to speak, so they may never see the fruits of their labor in person.
When the Team Returns Home:
Everyone can continue to pray for the full time missionaries, their families, and the community where the team went!
John 17:21
That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Pray that the missionaries will feel community and be supported, long after your team comes home. Pray that they will be understood by their communities.
I pray that these verses will be helpful and encouraging as a lot of summer mission trips are leaving from churches all over the country. I encourage you to pray for foreign missions, regardless of it you are physically going on the trip or not.
**Note from Jenni: Hi friends! At this point I have boarded my plane and officially began my trip. I wanted to send a word of caution on things you comment on here, IG, & message me. I will still be receiving messages and sometimes things like “praying for you” and the word mission can cause issues in China. I am not going to be anywhere where I am in danger, but it’s just precautionary. Thank you so much for your encouragement and I can’t wait to share with you when I return!!
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