Missions Prayer Day - December 31

Review Progress In Missions, Make Plans For Next Year, Commit Self, Consider Next Generation, Pray For Unreached Nations

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Last Updated: 2008 June 16.

The Purpose - A Shift Of Focus From Our Education, Career, Houses, Health, And Cars To The Perishing Millions

Jonah 4:10,11 'The Lord said, "You were upset about this little plant, something for which you have not worked nor did you do anything to make it grow. It grew up overnight and died the next day. Should I not be even more concerned about Nineveh this enormous city? There are more than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong, as well as many animals!"' (NET)

Many brethren all over the world gather together in their respective places in the evening of December 31 every year. This day marks the end of the Gregorian calendar year. They spend this time for reflection, repentance, and thanksgiving for the year that has passed by. They also re-dedicate themselves to better serve the Lord during the coming year. The meetings, called in some places as the Watch Night Services, often start in the night and extends till the break of the new year.

In this context, it may be worthwhile to consider a few questions. Is the stock taking of any value if we do not evaluate ourselves with respect to our primary mission and the very reason for which the Lord has kept the Church on earth last year? Is the rededication complete if it does not include the primary earthly responsibility of every believer? Is God more concerned about our houses, cars, jobs, health, or educational qualification than the millions that perished without hearing the gospel? Are we faithful, and have we been really blessed during the year, if our concern has always been on peripheral matters?

We have been fooling ourselves, at least to some extent, for a whole lifetime. Let it not happen any more!

The Role Of Ministries And Churches In Missions Prayer Day

All participating ministries and local churches will evangelize and announce the Missions Prayer Day well in advance, and particularly in December. They will include this as part of the Watch Night Services. Churches will pray for at least some unreached nations, and also review themselves in connection with the different aspects of missions discussed below. In subsequent years, testimonies on how the mission focus has helped can be made publicly available.

It may be noted that the Lord does not expect our concern for missions to be limited to one day every year. Instead, the Missions Prayer day is expected to instil and renew in us a constant concern for missions on all days of the year on a high note.

#1. Review Of Progress In Missions And Evangelism

How many new souls, and families has our Church added last year other than our own children?
How many new Churches have we planted last year?
In how many unreached places or nations did we start pioneering work?
How many new evangelists and missionaries did we send out?
How much has been our concern for missions and evangelism?
Did we get sidetracked with the less important things and fail in our primary mission?
Did we evade our own responsibilities by supporting others to do it for us?

#2. Make Evangelistic Plans For Next Year

After worship and glorifying God, the salvation of the lost will be the most important thing in the life of myself, my family, and my Church.
I will strive to bring at least one soul or family to Christ next year.
As a Church, we will try to start pioneering work in one new place next year.
As a Church leader, I will try to implant a vision and concern for the lost in every believer.
As a Church leader, I will try to implant a evangelistic direction for the Church.
As a Church, we will pray and equip our believers so as to see missionaries going out every year.
Our Church will be an example to other Churches for missions and evangelism.
Our Church will get involved in Bible translation and Christian literature efforts to those who do not have them.

3#. Dedicate Self And Family

After worship and glorifying God, the salvation of the lost will be the most important thing in the life of myself, my family, and my Church.
I will strive to bring at least one soul or family to Christ next year.
I will try to introduce Jesus to my immediate friends and neighbours next year. I will show them Jesus through my exemplary life.
I will generously support missionaries and evangelists by setting apart at least a fixed first portion of my income every month.
My home will be abode to the Servants of the Lord.
I will pray for at least one unreached nation or place every day.
I will try to pray for all known evangelists and missionaries every day.
My house will be more equipped with literature and media on the Bible and evangelism compared to secular literature and media.
I will spend more time agonizing for the lost and equipping myself to reach them rather than having worldly entertainment and reading.
I will live for the very cause that Jesus lived so that I can be successful and face Him without shame at His coming.
My heart will be broken over what breaks the heart of Jesus rather than over worldly concerns.
I will give the best of my life, and the best time of my life to Jesus. I will not plan to serve him with left over things, and only at my old age.

#3. Consider The State Of The Next Generation

Are we sufficiently equipping our next generation to uphold our faith and keep us ahead in missions?
Will they impact their generation during their times and change the course of nations? Will they turn the world upside down?
Will the New Testament pattern assemblies grow or diminish because of them?
Will they accuse us of having left a bad legacy, or for apathy towards evangelism in our generation?
Will we see a golden era of Church growth and missionary expansion during their times?
Are we guiding our young ones at home to put Jesus ahead of everything else in life including their career?
Do we teach them to give importance to spirituality above their career and secular pursuits?
Will they be known as men of courage and faith, or as bureaucrats, diplomats, professionals, and businessmen?
Are we equipping them to serve God and at Church much more than we equip them to gather food and clothing?
If God gave His son for me, am I willing to give my son or daughter for the service of God? Will I be most delighted in that?

#5. Pray For The Unreached Places And Nations

Close to hundred unreached nations are waiting for a missionary to tell them about the true gospel and plant New Testament Pattern Churches.
In the reached nations, there are hundreds of unreached tribes and places, and millions of people that do not have a Church or missionary.
Thousands of languages still do not have a Bible, even 2000 years after Christ. Millions are illiterate, even if they had a Bible to read.
If me and my Church do not take pity on the perishing, what answer will I give to Jesus who died for them, when I meet Him?