Prayer isn’t just an essential key in the life of the church — it’s also a huge part of the mission of God. It changes our hearts and helps us to accomplish His mission. It’s also a tool that can initiate spiritual awakening in our lives, individually and collectively.

Perhaps the most encouraging thing about prayer, is knowing it can do the same in the lives of unbelievers when we pray for them.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-6, Scripture teaches us that we are to pray for all peoples.

Never has that passage been more relevant to the church than it is today. Even though it’s been more than 2000 years since Jesus came, lived, died and rose again, the sad reality remains that 2.8 billion people still have little or no access to the gospel. There has never been a more urgent time to pray for peoples around the world.

In the article, “When We Pray, God Works” that International Mission Board President David Platt wrote for the 2017 week of prayer for international missions, he advises that prayer isn’t just a rushed or mechanical exercise.

“God has ordained our prayer as a means to accomplish His purpose in the world,” Platt wrote. “We’ve got to be aware that our praying for boldness for missionaries is actually going to affect whether or not they have boldness. God ordained it that way. When we pray, God works.”

When we pray, God does indeed work. Praying is a way that every single Christian can be involved in missions. Here are a few ways your church can pray for the nations right here in North America and around the world.

1. Discover people groups. 

There are many resources available to help you not just learn about people groups, but offer brief overviews and the progress of the gospel among their people. People Groups, People Groups Info, Operation World and the Peoples Next Door N.C. Prayer Map are among the helpful websites that provide information on people groups and prayer points to help you pray specifically for each group.

2. Discern how to pray with focus.

Your whole church can become involved in praying for the nations. Promote a prayer emphasis through small groups, Sunday School classes and members in corporate worship. You can even ask families to become involved by praying at home for people groups.

Here is a list of prayer requests that can be used with any people group.

• Pray that unreached peoples will hear and accept the gospel.
• Pray for protection for those who accept Christ.
• Pray for freedom from persecution.
• Pray for Scriptures to be translated into their heart language.
• Pray for their physical and spiritual needs.
• Pray for new ways to see and hear the gospel .
• Pray for government leaders involved with your people group.

While it’s great to have as many church members involved in praying for the nations as possible, you can help them pray by providing specific requests.

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