Praying with our missionaries

At camp, as I said, the focus was on mission. Our speaker was Bruce Dipple, who lectures at SMBC, and was also a missionary in Niger for a number of years.

He spoke of quite a few things, but something that struck me especially about how we at 'home' are partners in the work that missionaries are doing around the world (be it church planting in Western Sydney, translating the Bible in Asia, or teaching in a Bible college in the Pacific).

There was of course the encouraging that we can do for our missionaries; by sending letters or emails, visiting if able, sending care packages to show you are thinking of them.

Bruce talked about how when we send missionaries out, our missionaries are an extension of our church's ministry. It's not something separate that they do over there, but something we are all a part of as Gods people reaching out to the world.

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30

Bruce pointed out the part of joining with Paul by praying for him. The Roman church was a part of Paul's ministry, a vital one which. Praying with our missionaries is missionary work - we are all of one body and prayer can travel the space and time between our home church and our missionary.

Can I encourage you to find out about a missionary you have a connection with, learn about their ministry in detail so that you can be a partner in their work. God does amazing things when we pray.

(photo courtesy of sxc)