by Kari Stewart on February 15, 2024
Are you a label reader? Sometimes I look at the label to know how many calories I am about to consume, or how much protein it will offer. Then I look at the list of ingredients, knowing that the first item listed is the key ingredient used to make the product.
When I read the Bible, a missionary newsletter, or a book written by a Christian Leader – the key ingredient I have noticed in their spiritual rhythms is prayer.
Prayer = Conversation with God
In Mark 1 we find John the Baptist preaching about the One yet to come that is mightier than he and the One that he is unfit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals (vs. 7). John the Baptist baptizes Jesus, Jesus begins preaching and healing people. What stood out to me so profoundly as I read this portion of scripture is in verse 35 “And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place and was praying there.”
Time and time again we see where Jesus makes a priority to pray individually and corporately.
Roger Huang, founder of City Impact in San Francisco testifies to the fact that prayer and fasting were vital to starting and sustaining ministry in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District.
From one of the missionaries that we support:
“Thank you for praying for us this past year. Your prayers helped us stand and keep taking the next step in a very difficult season.”
Prayer can be challenging because we don’t always get to see the fruit of our prayers. I want to encourage you, that God hears your prayer, and He is moving on behalf of your request.
I firmly believe that if our missionary blog came with an ingredient label it might read like this:
Prayer, Trust, Prayer, Crying, Prayer, Joy, Prayer, Fear, Prayer, Fun, Prayer, Sickness, Prayer, Contentment, Prayer, Exhaustion, Prayer, Provision, Prayer, Tears, Prayer, Hope, Prayer.
Prayer is the thread through our missionaries’ stories, it is the thread that strengthens them when they are ready to buy a plane ticket home, it is the thread that breathes hope into their heart and stills their mind. We get to be part of that “sustaining thread” as we unite our voices and hearts to pray for them. 
I would like to invite you to join us in praying for our missionaries, email
to sign-up. Your obedient engagement in prayer for the requests that they share with us will open doors to share the gospel in ways that we cannot even fathom. Let’s unite our voices in prayer to support and encourage our missionaries and for the work that God has called them to do!!!
