1. Praying for Mission
Presented at the 2024 Remnant Mission Retreat
Prayer is the very genesis of mission. Before the church embarked on its mission at Pentecost, a dedicated period of prayer and waiting for the Holy Spirit was essential. This foundational act teaches us that genuine mission necessitates a season of prayer, anticipating the Spirit's guidance into new forms of outreach.
The events of Acts 1 and 2 initiated a grand mission endeavor. To truly integrate mission into the core of our churches, prayer for mission must become a consistent element of our communal prayer life. While focused, seasonal prayer for specific initiatives has its place, we must avoid treating prayer for mission as an occasional afterthought. Our aim should be to cultivate churches and missions that are perpetually bearing witness and extending welcome. This requires establishing a regular pattern of prayer specifically directed towards mission within our congregations.
How then shall we pray for mission, and when? Several avenues exist for embedding this practice into the regular prayer life of any church serious about its outward calling. One effective method is to designate a weekly day for members to fast and pray specifically for the church's mission. The DHT’s “Litany for Mission” can provide a structured focus, guiding prayers toward the specific aims of our outreach efforts.
Another vital practice is to regularly include mission as a specific intention during the Sunday Eucharist. This ensures that the entire church body participates in praying for mission, recognizing its centrality to our ministry. Integrating this intention into existing liturgical forms, such as the Prayers of the People, reinforces its importance. Furthermore, incorporating a collect for mission as a consistent part of the Mass can serve as a weekly reminder of our outward focus.
Establishing a regular Mass for Missions can also be a valuable addition to a church’s prayer life. However, it is crucial that this does not become a substitute for regularly mentioning mission as an intention on Sundays, ensuring that the entire congregation remains engaged in praying for mission. The Mission Mass should be a regularly scheduled service, not a marginalized event viewed as the concern of only a few.
Prayer for mission can also be a consistent feature of the Daily Office. Integrating a mission collect after the standard collects helps to embed an outward orientation into the very fabric of the church's daily prayer. This practice reinforces the idea that mission is not an isolated activity but an integral aspect of our ongoing relationship with God and our engagement with the world.
Furthermore, incorporating a practice of praying for mission at noonday can be a powerful way to punctuate the day with intentional focus on outreach. Utilizing existing prayer disciplines, such as the brief noonday prayers encouraged by the Book of Common Prayer or the Angelus, and directing them toward mission can effectively engage more members in this vital practice.
A crucial question remains: what should be the specific focus of our prayers for mission? While praying for church growth might seem natural, mere numerical increase should not be our primary aim. Focusing solely on securing the church building also misses the mark, as the New Testament emphasizes that the Body of Christ, not a physical structure, is God’s dwelling place. Buildings serve as vital spaces for communal prayer and experiencing God's presence together.
Instead, our prayers should center on three primary intentions. First, we should pray for the opening of new doors and opportunities for mission and ministry, asking God to lead us into new avenues of reaching those currently beyond our reach. Prayer acknowledges our dependence on God for both the vision and the means to engage in effective mission.
Second, we must earnestly pray for the conversion of hearts to faith in Jesus Christ. Any endeavor claiming to be mission must ultimately aim at bringing people to a saving relationship with Jesus. Even humanitarian efforts should be imbued with this underlying purpose, serving as a witness to Christ so that all might believe.
Third, our prayers should include the spiritual growth of those we reach through our mission efforts. Conversion is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of being transformed into the image of Christ. Therefore, we should pray for their continued growth in faith and discipleship.
Relatedly, we should also pray for God to stir up the spiritual gifts within our congregation. For the church to function effectively as a missionary body, the unique gifts of each member must be activated and utilized. As each person serves faithfully, the collective witness of the church becomes more potent. Additionally, we can boldly pray for God to bestow new gifts upon the church to meet specific needs within our mission context.
A fundamental principle in praying for mission is to first discern God’s specific call and vision for our outreach. We must ask ourselves: “What is God calling us to do? What does success in this mission look like?” Once this vision is clear, we must then ask God for it, encouraging our congregation to join us in persistent prayer. As Jesus himself declared, “Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds” (Luke 11:9-10).
Having discerned our mission calling and established a pattern of prayer, perseverance becomes paramount. Our consistent prayer demonstrates our seriousness to God. We should pray for our mission without ceasing, until our earthly journey ends or the Lord returns. Prayer without perseverance lacks the essential element of faith. As Jesus questioned, “Shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him...? Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8).
In conclusion, we must approach prayer for mission with unwavering seriousness. Once committed, we should never cease praying, continually bringing our petitions before our people and steadfastly believing in God’s ability to answer. We must remain open to hearing God’s voice and willing to make necessary changes within our churches to effectively carry out His mission. Trusting in Christ’s ability to work through our limitations, remembering the apostles’ humble beginnings, we must “be not afraid” to embrace new approaches. The initial step in overcoming fear is to begin praying audibly and persistently for the mission to which God has called us.
Discussion Questions
What are your thoughts about the presentation? Go around the group and give everyone 1-2 minutes to answer.
How does your church/mission currently pray for its mission?
What might you do to establish more regular prayer for mission?
Have you established a day of prayer and fasting for mission? If you have, discuss what has happened as a result, including any challenges. If not, what barriers do you foresee?
Have you ever mentioned conversion of hearts and spiritual growth as intentions at Mass? Discuss how you do this or why you do not do this.