LETTERS MISISONARIES NEVER WRITE
Frederick L. Kosin
Copyright 2002, DIME Publishers
Part 2: What to pray for?
In general, pray that missionaries would be sensitive, not hardened by monotony.
- Sensitive to the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit
- Sensitive to the impact the Scriptures should have in our lives
- Sensitive towards other believers
- Sensitive towards the lost around us
It is common for Christians to pray that the Lord would ‘bless’ various people that come to mind. The word bless is used in the sense of prospering, or more often we mean the escape of any trial or problem that may come in the context of sickness, suffering or something that would hinder the progress of the “Lord’s work”. To ask the Lord to remove a trial is to forget that the Lord may have sent it and promised that a person living a godly life would experience tribulation in the world and persecution for the enemies of the cross.
The need for missionaries is to make it through the trail or test God has allowed or sent for our learning and development.
Pg 139
Prayers for specific types of missionaries:
(not an exhaustive list, but what I’ve never thought of before)
CANDIDATE MISSIONARIES
Pray that they will not choose a field based strictly on emotions, convenience of lifestyle, climate or culture. Pray they will understand that setbacks and delays are of the Lord’s choosing and can be a source of thanksgiving.
NEW MISSIONARIES
It is easy to think that the great sacrifice a missionary has made is not appreciated by the nationals they are serving. Pray they will know, compared to the Lord Jesus, what they have given up is not really a sacrifice. Pray they will listen far more than talk. Pray they will accept the older missionaries’ experiences of more weight than their youthful zeal.
SINGLE MISSIONARIES
Pray that they will accept that being single is often a great help in their service. Pray they will not choose missionary work because they are single but because the Lord called them as a single person to serve Him. Pray their loneliness will drive them to closer communion with the Lord. Pray they will not seek romance among the nationals which may greatly reduce their effectiveness as missionary. Pray that will accept the wisdom to go home if they must marry and are burning in lust toward a national. Pray they will accept the counsel of a veteran missionary about the difficulty and stress of cross cultural marriages. Pray that the strong temptations of a single life in a foreign culture will be overcome by a consistent walk with the Lord.
SHORT TERM MISSIONARIES
Pray they would know what it is to sacrifice for the good of others. Pray they will not see this as a time of romance and social self-gratification. The Lord may use these times to show the need for a companion in life but also that they may serve without a mate.
A MISSIONARY ‘KID’
Pray they will understand that the Lord has overseen their lives just as He has overseen the lives of their parents. Pray they will find a trusted friend to whom they will be accountable.
Some pointers we can do for a missionary kid:
They are our most precious possession on earth. You could influence them by being interested in them and relating to them. You could help us by spending time with them, by encouraging your kids to relate to our kids. You can show interest by remembering their birthday. Ask them to stay overnight at your house with your family while we are home on furlough. Take them to fast food places when you take your children. Give them a subscription to a sports magazine for the boys and a suitable magazine for the girls. Let them know when you are going to a camp where they would have a good time physically and spiritually
MISSIONARY MOTHERS
Pray they will accept the calling of a mother as being a higher calling than being a missionary. Pray they will know that teaching the Bible to their children is a higher priority than teaching the Bible to the ladies in the village. Pray that their husbands will know they are responsible for the development of the children as they are.
VETERAN MISSIONARIES
Pray they will have the courage to mend relationships with missionaries and nationals which have been offended. Pray they will know when to turn the work over to other missionaries or to the nationals. Pray they will know when to go home and let the work survive on its own.
FURLOUGHED MISSIONARIES
Pray they will not be discouraged by the state of the church they come home to visit. Pray they will not give in to the temptation to show how much better the work is on the field than at home. Pray they will not be condescending because they have sacrificed and the church is living in abundance. Pray they will not complain about all the things that are different in the country since they were home last time. Pray they will not glamorize the mission field unfairly or present the work in an unbalanced way. Pray they will be honest and transparent about their life and service.
‘FAILED’ MISSIONARIES
Pray they will learn to accept God’s forgiveness even though men may not offer it. Pray the church will demonstrate that ‘love covers a multitude of sins’, and welcome them home as the father welcomed the prodigal. Pray the church will learn not to talk freely about the situation but pray personally and specifically.
RETURNED MISSIONARIES
Pray they will accept the Lord’s plan even though they may not understand it. Pray they will believe the Lord is in charge, if returning is beyond their control. Pray the will realize the Lord may think their work there is done even if they do not. Pray they will not be bitter against those who may have precipitated their return, either nationals, their children, elders or fellow missionaries. Pray they will know that coming home is not failure if the Lord has directed them.
RETIRED MISSIONARIES
Pray they will accept the fact that they cannot continue to do what they did in their youth. Pray they will not hold the reins of the work from home. Pray they will find a ministry and outlet for their spiritual gifts and abilities. Pray they will learn that to be set aside is not to be left alone. Pray they will be willing to promote missions in younger people. Pray they will be committed to developing an interest in missionary service worldwide. Pray they will be delivered form pride for their years of service. Pray their sunset years will be as beautiful as the sunset.
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