Dear Lord,
We thank you
for those who have fought the good fight,
who have finished the race,
who have kept the faith.
Now, Lord, my heart is full
as I see those who have stepped forward to say,
“We will take their place.”
The harvest is plentiful,
but the workers are few.
So thank you for answering our prayers
to raise up more laborers for the harvest field.
We ask, Lord,
that You give them everything they need for what lies ahead.
When they are called to step out of their comfort zone, give them the faith of Abraham.
When they face temptation, give them the integrity of Joseph.
When they face hard decisions, give them the wisdom of Solomon.
When their hearts are filled with fear, give them the courage of Esther.
Lord, they will face trials, so give them the perseverance of Job.
When life gets busy and they are surrounded by distractions,
sit them at your feet and give them the listening ears of Mary.
Wake them up every morning with the missionary urgency of Paul,
and through it all, above all, give them the heart of Christ.
And now, oh Lord, send them out.
Go with them, we ask,
as they go to Kansas and Kentucky,
to Kenya and Cambodia,
to the four corners of the earth.
May they go with a Bible in one hand
and a basin and towel in the other,
with your grace and truth.
May they go with the gospel on their lips,
the church at their side,
and the power of the Holy Spirit coursing through their veins.
Go with them
because we know there are evil forces arrayed against them.
March them into the very heart of Satan’s territory.
Use them as the tip of your spear,
to pierce the darkness until it bleeds light.
May the gates of hell crumble before them.
And Lord,
may the gospel be preached
and sin confronted
and sinners loved
and souls saved
and marriages mended
and children taught
and the grieving comforted
and the lonely welcomed
and the hungry fed
and the wounded healed
and communities transformed
and the nations reached with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Use them mightily for Your glory
and for the world’s good,
and keep them faithful until the day they hear You say, “Well done.”
We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
- Mike Proctor (HT)
