The national church

Pray for the pastors and church members in your friends’ country. Pray for spiritual growth, and for their ability to teach, preach, disciple and witness. Pray for vision and for love, and for any resources or literature that’s needed.

Pray for the Christians to be ‘salt and light’ in their neighbourhoods, society or government, and for good relations with those of other faiths.

Praying with others

Most Christian organisations have prayer groups throughout the country. Write or phone, to see if the organisation your friends went out with has a group near you, or check the web.

It helps to pray with Christians who are older in the faith or more knowledgeable. By joining a group you will encourage others, further God’s kingdom and meet those with similar interests to your own.

Pray as Paul prayed

The apostle Paul was a pioneer missionary and a pray-er. He was beaten, imprisoned and shipwrecked, but never lost sight of the goal. He asked his friends to pray:

For boldness

‘Pray… that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel… Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should’ (Ephesians 6:19, 20)

For opportunity and clarity

‘Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ… Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should’ (Colossians 4:3, 4)

For protection

‘Pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one’ (2 Thessalonians 3:2, 3)