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Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Col 4:2 (ESV)

The importance of prayer is not something we dispute in our circles. Yet, too often, prayer is the last thing on our “to do” list. For those preparing to participate in short-term missions (STM) in the OPC this summer, prayer ought to be a vital component of the planning process. Our churches, too, can be actively involved in this important preparatory work as they anticipate sending out STM teams.

One missions organization (SIM-USA) offers the following list of prayer requests for Short-Term Missions participants:

Safety Issues:

• Pray for physical protection (Ps 121:5-8)
• Pray for emotional and spiritual protection (Eph 6:10-18)

Growth Issues:

• Pray for spiritual growth (Phil 3:10-11)
• Pray for growth in their ability to trust God (Prov 3:5-6 / James 1:2-4)
• Pray for them to trust the Lord to provide their financial support (Phil 4:19)
• Pray for a devotion to prayer (Col 4:2)
• Pray for the bearing of spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22-23)
• Pray for a Christ-like attitude toward servanthood (Phil 2:1-8)
• Pray for a commitment to unity with other believers (John 17:20-21)
• Pray for a commitment to love other believers (John 13:34-35)
• Pray for an increased missionary vision (John 4:34-35)

Ministry Issues:

• Pray for appreciation of and sensitivity to their host culture (I Cor 9:19-23)
• Pray for a genuine love for the people to whom they minister (I Thess 2:8)
• Pray for open doors for ministry (Col 4:3-4)
• Pray for boldness in witness (Eph 6:19)
• Pray for them to effectively report back to their churches after their return (Acts 14:27)

Printable Prayer Guide:

Visit www.OPCSTM.org for a link to a printable version of this list including full Scripture references: “Scripture Prayer Guide Using the Word of God to Pray for Short-Term Missionaries.”

David Nakhla, OPC Short-Term Missions Coordinator

Email: nakhla.1@opc.org