How Kids at Home Can Pray for Missionaries

My daughter-in-law asked me how her homebound sons can pray for missionaries and missions during this time of lockdown due to COVID-19. Her question was a great one, and I thought perhaps there were other parents who would like to lead their children to pray for missionaries as well.

All around the world there are children who are doing their school work and worshiping with their families at home due to this virus. Their families are isolated at home just like many of you. It’s good to know that we are all going through this time together. So, how can we pray for our world and, in particular, for missionaries around the world right now?

Pray for people all over the world to trust God.

There have been times in the history of the world and of the church when people have spent more time praying and seeking God. Some of those times have been during sickness. We can all pray for people worldwide to look to God and trust Him more during this time. Pray for missionaries to find ways to share about God’s plan to save us through Jesus and that people will have hearts open to receive God’s good news.

Pray for children and their parents to not be afraid.

It is easy to be afraid during times like these. Children sometimes feel insecure or afraid. Sometimes their parents feel afraid. The Bible tells us that God is not the source or cause of our fear. We know that God loves us and the people of the world. He wants to calm our fears. When we put our faith in Jesus to bring us into a relationship with God, He then helps us not to be afraid. He has overcome all things that we fear! There are things we do not know as human beings, but God knows all things and we can trust Him to care for us. 

Pray for churches to grow and do God’s will.

God will use the church wherever it is in the world to reach people with the good news about Jesus dying for our sins. There are churches all over the world. There are more in some places than others. Pray for churches to be able to minister to people who are afraid all over the world. Pray that people come to faith in Christ during this time of fear and for churches to bring the comfort of God’s Word to the hurting people of the world. Pray for churches to reach more people and start more churches everywhere.

Pray for missionary families all over the world.

Missionaries are people just like your parents and missionary kids are just like you. Many missionary kids cannot go to school right now just like you cannot. Missionary kids cannot play with their friends now. Missionary families cannot meet with their churches just like you cannot. Missionary moms and dads cannot do the work they were doing in the same way as they were. Pray for missionary families to trust God and love each other during this time at home. Pray that soon they will be able to go back to church and school and work to do what God has called them to do. 

Pray for God to heal our world physically and spiritually.

God is able to help our world defeat the disease we are facing. He is able to help us overcome our fear. He is able to help the world overcome the effects of sin through Jesus, His Son. Pray for God to help the world be healed in all of these ways during this time. Most of all, pray for people to be saved during this time of fear. We need to learn that when we cannot trust ourselves and what we think we know, we can trust God. God is good and God is kind. He loves boys and girls and dads and moms all over the world. Pray that more of them will trust God.

I hope these suggestions are helpful as you teach your children at home about how to pray for missions, missionaries, and missionary kids. The wonderful news is that there is a good God who hears our prayers, including the prayers of children who are trusting in Him.