The students at our church, Wilkesboro Baptist, are heading out to El Salvador for a mission trip this week. We have an ongoing partnership with La Red ministries and will be working with them. As a missions pastor (in my previous church) and pastor (currently) I’ve witnessed the power of God on numerous mission trips. There can be no doubt that prayer is the primary ingredient for spiritually successful mission trips. Maybe you want to pray for our mission team this week? Or maybe you have a family member or friend who works for Samaritan’s Purse and goes regularly on mission trips.

The following prayers are ways we can participate in the ministry of short-term mission trips:

1. Pray that the mission team will not let the platform take the place of the mission. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissioned us to make disciples. That’s our mission. Oftentimes, compassion ministry, construction, or other need-based ministries are the “platforms” that give opportunity for mission trips. Success in meeting these needs is not our “mission.” Our mission is disciple-making (evangelism, teaching, baptizing) connected to a local church. It is easy to let the need (platform) become the focus. Pray that your mission teams will not forget the “mission” in lieu of meeting the need.
2. Pray for the spiritual preparation and development of the mission team.There’s a reason Paul’s prayer for spiritual boldness in proclaiming the gospel (Ephesians 6:19) followed his treatment of Christian armor and spiritual warfare. Mission trips are not for the spiritually weak—they require recognition of the spiritual war we are facing. Pray that your teams will be spiritually prepared for the work and war they are sure to face.
3. Pray for the flexibility of the mission team. Sometimes our mission plans require revision and flexibility. Acts 16:6-10 records Paul being prevented by the Holy Spirit from going into Asia. Mission teams must learn to trust God’s sovereignty and be spiritually discerning. Pray that your teams will be flexible in their planning and discern what God wants to accomplish on the mission trip.
4. Pray for the financial support of the mission team. When Jesus sent out his witnesses, he told them to trust the provision offered in the villages for their wages and sustenance (Matthew 10:9-10; Luke 10:4-8). International mission trips cost money. We believe in a God who owns everything. Pray that God would meet the financial obligations of each team member and mission trip.
5. Pray for the health, safety, and travel of the mission team. Traveling to mission destinations and encountering new bacteria (internationally) can drastically affect the health and strength of mission team participants. Getting sick can be just a normal part of international travel. However there is precedent for praying for the health and safety of mission teams in in travel. Acts 27 records the storm at sea and shipwreck of Paul and his captors. Yet Paul prayed, and God protected all on the ship (Acts 27:24). Pray that your teams will experience safe travel and health protection while on the mission trip. Pray especially for mission teams in difficult places like the earthquake response in Venezuela or the ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
6. Pray for the spiritual wisdom and loving service of the mission team. One of Paul’s prayers for the Ephesian church was that they would grow in wisdom and love (Ephesians 3:14-20). Mission team members need an abundance of wisdom and love, and God desires to provide it. Pray that your team members will have wisdom and discernment and be filled with love for those whom they will serve.
7. Pray for the Spirit to open blinded eyes and that unbelievers would see Christ in all of his glory. Satan blinds the eyes of unbelievers to the truth of the gospel and the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). It is the Holy Spirit’s role to convict and bring to light the truth and power of the gospel (John 16:8-11). Pray that the Holy Spirit would go ahead of our mission teams and prepare the hearts of the lost to respond to Christ. Pray that the Spirit would draw unbelievers to Christ through the preaching and sharing of the gospel.
8. Pray for the spiritual development, strength, and growth of the mission teams and mission partners. Paul encouraged, commended, challenged, and prayed for the Ephesian church and its elders and before he parted ways with them (Acts 20:17-38). Mission teams are only a part of God’s ongoing work in the world. Churches, organizations, pastors, and believers across the globe will continue God’s work far longer than a mission team serves on a mission trip. Pray for the partner churches, pastors, and organizations to have strength, growth, and success in fulfilling God’s disciple-making mission in their context.

One way you can use these prayers would be to write them down in a journal. Pick one or two of these prayers each day to pray for our team leaving July 9. Pray through this list for friends and family members who serve on mission teams.

This post was originally published here by LifeWay.