The Lord Jesus Christ, before He ascended into heaven, gave His disciples the commandment: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”(Matthew 28:18-20). This is now known as the Great Commission.
Christ has given the mandate to go and spread the Gospel messages of forgiveness, love, justice, peace, and salvation. He assured His disciples that, as they go on their way to fulfill this commission, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Becoming a missionary is truly a noble responsibility. But it also entails a lot of sacrifices and challenges. Therefore, let us pray for more missions in the Church. Let us implore the Lord to send more committed, zealous, and selfless missionaries to tell the world of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Prayer for missions and missionaries
Lord God, almighty and compassionate, You will that we live in righteousness and holiness before Your sight. You sent into the world Jesus Christ, Your Son, to redeem us from the clutches of sin and death. We thank You for such unimaginable love and forgiveness through Christ the Lord.
We come before You today filled with gratitude for all the gifts You have bestowed upon us. We are grateful for the salvation we have received through the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, as well as the chance to spread the Good News of salvation to others through missions.
Lord, we thank You for everyone who is now engaged in missionary work. We humbly beseech You to keep them safe, to provide all of their needs, and to give them the courage to spread Your message of love, forgiveness, and salvation to others.
We also pray to You, O Lord, for their physical, emotional, and spiritual health. We know how selflessly and generously they serve the people entrusted to their care. We ask that You help them by giving them strength, consolation, and perseverance in their task. May they always rely on You and Your providence. May they find renewal and motivation in You.
We beg You, Lord, to continue using our missionaries to spread Your love and light worldwide. We ask that many people will encounter Your grace and come to know You through their efforts.
Lord, we pray that You would use missions to effect global change. We ask that people see Your love in how we serve others and that they come to know You and feel Your grace through our deeds.
We pray for all the people who cannot now hear the Gospel or have no access to it. We pray that You will open doors for spreading Your word and change the hearts of those who do not yet know the Good News of salvation.
Lord God, we pray to You to continue directing us as we work to carry out the Great Commission. We pray for wisdom, discernment, compassion, and fortitude as we communicate Your word with others. We also ask that You continue to use us to advance Your kingdom of justice, peace, love, and forgiveness here on earth.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Saviour. Amen.
Short prayer for missions
Lord of the harvest, we ask that You lead and bless everyone currently involved in missions around the world. May their efforts help many others understand Your grace and love. We pray that You will continue using the missions to alter lives and bring about positive change worldwide. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Word of God
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 9:36-38 NRSVUE
Prayer to Saint Francis Xavier for missions
Saint Francis Xavier, zealous and committed patron saint of missions, we come to you today to seek your intercession and prayer. First, we thank you for your unselfish commitment to sharing our Lord Jesus Christ’s Good News with the world. Many generations of Christians have been motivated to respond to the call to take the Good News to every corner of the world by your persistent dedication to missions and evangelization.
We humbly pray for your intercession and direction for everyone currently working in missions worldwide. May they have the same zeal and enthusiasm for spreading the Gospel as you did as a missionary. Please encourage them to persevere through all challenges and never waver in their commitment to their calling.
We also offer prayers for those who have still to hear the Gospel of salvation. May the power of the Holy Spirit bring them to the faith and open their hearts to the grace and love of Jesus Christ. And may the efforts of missionaries in every country continue to yield rich rewards in the form of communities and lives that have been transformed.
Saint Francis Xavier, we beg your unceasing intercession for the Church and all believers so that we may always be true to the Gospel and a genuine example of the mercy and love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Saint Francis Xavier, pray for us. Amen.
Further reflection
The Church is still on a mission to communicate the good news of salvation to people who have not heard it before. To reach those unfamiliar with Christianity frequently entails sending missionaries to different parts of the world. Christians can deepen their personal faith by participating in missions. Christians can better grasp God’s love for the world and how they fit into His mission by moving outside their comfort zones and interacting with individuals from all countries and backgrounds.
We must pray for missions in the Church and our missionaries. This enables us to participate in God’s plan to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ worldwide. Christ, Himself told us to “ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38). Let us pray for our missionaries that God may protect and provide for them. May their selfless efforts bring glory to God and salvation to all people to whom they minister.
