Prayer for Protection for Missionaries and Their Families

“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8, NIV)

The Call and the Cost

Missionaries have always faced danger as they carry the Gospel to unreached places. From the early apostles who were beaten, imprisoned, and killed for preaching Christ, to modern servants who work in hostile territories, the cost of obedience has been high. Throughout church history, missionaries and their families have confronted disease, violence, isolation, and persecution. Many have been expelled from countries, kidnapped by militant groups, or martyred for their faith. Their children have grown up between cultures, often separated from extended family and familiar comforts. The risks are real and the sacrifices are deep.

Today, thousands of missionary families serve in regions where Christians face severe restrictions, threats, and brutality. Some work among unreached tribes in jungles where medical care is scarce. Others minister in cities controlled by governments that monitor and punish religious activity. Families live under constant surveillance, and children attend schools where their beliefs make them targets. Christians pray for their protection because these servants have left safety behind to obey the Great Commission. They need divine covering over their bodies, minds, marriages, and children as they labor in places where darkness fights against the light.

Prayer for the Missionary Family in a Hostile Nation

Father in heaven, we bring before You the missionary families who live and serve in nations that hate the name of Jesus. They wake each morning not knowing if authorities will raid their homes or if neighbors will betray them. Their children hear threats at school and learn to hide their Bibles. These families have chosen obedience over comfort, and they need Your shield around them. Cover them with Your presence as they walk streets where danger waits.

You are the God who protected Daniel in the lions’ den and Paul in the storm. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Surround these families with angels who guard their steps and confuse the plans of those who seek to harm them. Give them wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent. Let their love for the lost be greater than their fear of suffering.

Protect their hearts from bitterness when persecution comes. Strengthen their marriages when stress and fear press in on every side. Give their children courage and faith that will not break under pressure. Let this family be a light that cannot be extinguished, no matter how fierce the wind. We trust You to keep them, for You are faithful to those who are faithful to You.

Amen.

Prayer for Missionaries Facing Physical Danger

Lord God, we cry out for the missionaries who serve in war zones, tribal areas, and regions controlled by violent groups. They hear gunfire in the distance and see the aftermath of attacks on innocent people. Some have been threatened directly by armed militants who demand they leave or die. Others travel dangerous roads where bandits wait to rob and kill. Their lives hang by a thread, yet they stay because souls are at stake. They preach the Gospel knowing that each sermon could be their last. They baptize new believers in secret places, always watching for informants. We ask You to be their refuge and fortress in the midst of this chaos.

You have promised to watch over the coming and going of Your servants. You see every road they travel and every door they enter. Send Your angels ahead of them to clear the path and turn away those who plot evil. Blind the eyes of their enemies as You blinded the soldiers who came for Elisha. Confuse the plans of the wicked so their schemes collapse before they take shape. Give these missionaries supernatural discernment to sense danger before it strikes. Let them feel Your peace even when threats surround them. Protect their vehicles from breakdowns in remote areas where help cannot reach them.

We pray especially for those who have already been kidnapped, beaten, or imprisoned for preaching Christ. Comfort them in their suffering and remind them that You are near to the brokenhearted. Strengthen their bodies to endure pain and their spirits to resist despair. Let their captors see something in them that cannot be explained by human courage alone. Use their witness in chains to convict hardened hearts and bring the lost to repentance. Work miracles of escape or release according to Your perfect will. If You choose to take them home through martyrdom, receive them into glory and let their blood become seed for a great harvest. Do not let their sacrifice be in vain.

Guard the missionary families who remain behind when one member is taken. Protect the wives who wait for news of missing husbands and the husbands who weep for wives held captive. Comfort the children who do not understand why their parent has not come home. Provide for their physical needs when income stops and supporters grow weary. Send believers to stand with them and share their burdens. Do not let them feel forgotten or abandoned in their darkest hours. Remind them that You are the God who sees, the God who hears, and the God who acts on behalf of the oppressed.

We declare that no weapon formed against Your servants will prosper. We claim Your promise that You will never leave them or forsake them. We ask for divine protection over every missionary who faces violence, kidnapping, or death. Keep them safe under the shadow of Your wings. Let them finish the race You have set before them and hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We trust You to guard what they have entrusted to You. You are mighty to save and strong to deliver.

Amen.

Prayer for Missionary Children Growing Up in Hard Places

Heavenly Father, we lift up the children of missionaries who are growing up far from the places their parents call home. These kids learn languages their grandparents cannot speak and eat foods their cousins have never tasted. They make friends only to say goodbye when furlough comes or when danger forces their family to relocate. Some of them witness poverty, disease, and violence that children in safe countries never see. They carry heavy questions about identity and belonging. We ask You to place Your hand of protection over their young hearts and minds.

Guard them from the trauma that comes from living in broken places. Shield their innocence without making them naive to the realities around them. Give them friends who will be loyal and kind, whether from the local community or from other missionary families. Protect them from illness and accidents in places where hospitals are far away or poorly equipped. Watch over them in schools where they may be mocked or bullied because of their faith or their foreignness. Let them grow strong in character and deep in their own relationship with You, not just living off their parents’ faith.

Help them to see the privilege and purpose in their unique upbringing. Let them understand that they are not missing out on a normal childhood but are gaining treasures that others will never know. Give them compassion for the suffering they witness and courage to stand up for justice. Protect them from bitterness toward their parents for the sacrifices required of the whole family. Fill the gaps left by absent grandparents, cousins, and childhood friends. Let them know that they belong to a global family of believers who pray for them and honor their sacrifice.

When these children grow up, use their experiences to shape them into mighty warriors for Your kingdom. Let them become bridges between cultures and voices for the voiceless. Heal any wounds they carry from their years on the mission field. Give them clarity about their calling and confidence in their identity as children of God. Protect their faith through the transitions and challenges of returning to their passport countries. Keep them close to Your heart, for they are precious in Your sight.

Amen.

Prayer for Marriages Under the Strain of Mission Work

Lord, we pray for the missionary couples whose marriages are stretched thin by the demands of ministry. They face pressures that most couples never encounter, from cultural stress to constant financial uncertainty. They work long hours with little rest, pouring themselves out for others while their own relationship suffers from neglect. Some serve in isolation without other believers to encourage them or hold them accountable. The enemy attacks their unity, whispering lies and stirring up conflict when they are already exhausted. We ask You to protect their covenant and renew their love for one another. Do not let the mission destroy the marriage You brought together.

Give them time and space to reconnect as husband and wife, not just as ministry partners. Help them to communicate honestly about their struggles without shame or fear of judgment. Provide mentors and counselors who understand the unique pressures of missionary life. Heal past wounds and misunderstandings that have festered because there was no time to address them. Remind them why they fell in love and why they said yes to this calling together. Let their marriage be a testimony of Your faithfulness and grace. Protect them from the isolation and temptation that lead so many missionaries into moral failure and broken vows.

Amen.

Prayer for Protection from Spiritual Attack

Father, we recognize that missionaries stand on the front lines of a spiritual war. They invade territories long held by darkness and demonic forces. The enemy does not surrender ground without a fight. We ask You to cover these servants with the full armor of God. Let them stand firm against every scheme and assault of the evil one.

Protect their minds from lies, doubt, and despair. The accuser whispers that their work is pointless and their sacrifices are foolish. He magnifies their failures and hides the fruit of their labor. Silence his voice with the truth of Your Word. Fill their thoughts with hope, faith, and the knowledge of Your unfailing love.

Guard their families from division and discord sown by demonic influence. The enemy targets missionary homes, seeking to destroy what God has built. He stirs up jealousy, resentment, and misunderstanding between spouses and between parents and children. Bind his power and break his assignments against these households. Let Your peace rule in their homes no matter what chaos rages outside.

We pray against witchcraft, curses, and occult practices directed at missionaries. In many places, shamans and sorcerers call on dark powers to oppose the Gospel. We declare that no curse spoken against Your servants will take root. We break every demonic covenant and cancel every assignment of hell. Greater is He who is in them than he who is in the world.

Give these missionaries discernment to recognize spiritual attack when it comes. Teach them to fight with prayer, fasting, and the authority of Jesus’ name. Surround them with intercessors who will stand in the gap when they are too weary to fight. Let them see breakthroughs and victories that can only be explained by Your power. Do not let them grow discouraged or lose heart.

Amen.

Prayer for Provision and Safety During Travel

Lord, we ask for Your protection over missionaries as they travel to and from the field. Some journey through unstable regions where borders close without warning and armed groups control the roads. Others fly on small planes over jungles and mountains with no place to land in an emergency. They board buses that are overcrowded and poorly maintained, trusting You to keep them safe. Their children ride in vehicles on roads with no traffic laws and drivers who do not value life. We ask You to command Your angels to guard them in all their ways. Let not one of them dash their foot against a stone. Keep them safe in the air, on land, and on water.

Provide for their financial needs when support drops or when currency devaluation makes their income worthless. Many missionaries trust You for their daily bread, living month to month without savings or security. They watch other families enjoy comforts they cannot afford and wrestle with feelings of inadequacy. Their children wear hand-me-downs and do without things their peers take for granted. Yet they do not turn back because they know You are their provider. We ask You to supply all their needs according to Your riches in glory. Send unexpected gifts and provisions that remind them You see and You care. Open doors for additional support from churches and individuals who catch the vision for their work.

Protect them from corrupt officials who demand bribes at checkpoints and borders. Give them favor with immigration officers and government bureaucrats who have the power to make their lives difficult. Let them pass through inspections and interrogations without harm or unreasonable delay. Protect their documents from being lost, stolen, or confiscated by those who want to hinder the Gospel. Grant them the visas and permits they need to remain in the countries where You have called them. When laws change and religious workers are no longer welcome, show them creative ways to stay or give them clear direction about when to leave. Do not let administrative barriers stop the advance of Your kingdom.

We pray for safe housing in places where buildings are not up to code and natural disasters strike without warning. Protect missionary families from fires, floods, earthquakes, and storms. Keep their homes from being invaded by thieves or attacked by mobs. Give them secure places to sleep and clean water to drink. Protect them from food poisoning, parasites, and diseases that are common in the regions where they serve. Strengthen their immune systems and heal them quickly when sickness comes. Provide good doctors and medicine when they need medical care. Let them live long and healthy lives so they can finish the work You have given them. We trust You to be their shelter and their shield.

Amen.

Prayer for Missionaries Returning Home After Trauma

Father, we pray for the missionaries who have been forced to leave the field because of violence, political upheaval, or personal crisis. They grieve the people they left behind and the work that remains unfinished. Some carry physical scars from attacks they barely survived. Others bear invisible wounds in their minds and hearts. They replay traumatic events over and over, unable to sleep or find peace. They struggle with guilt for leaving when so many remain in danger. We ask You to bind up their wounds and heal the broken places inside them. Do not let trauma steal their hope or their calling.

Surround them with people who will listen without judgment and support without pity. Connect them with counselors who understand both trauma and missionary life. Give them safe spaces to process their pain and time to rest before they are expected to jump back into normal life. Protect them from well-meaning friends who minimize their suffering or pressure them to move on quickly. Let them grieve what they have lost without shame. Show them that returning home wounded is not the same as failing. Remind them that even Jesus withdrew to rest and heal after seasons of intense ministry. Their worth is not measured by how much they endure.

Restore their faith in Your goodness and Your sovereignty. They have seen evil triumph and prayers go unanswered in ways that shake their theology. They question why You allowed such suffering and whether their sacrifice made any difference. Gently lead them back to trust. Show them the fruit of their labor in Your time. Let them hear testimonies of changed lives and growing churches in the places they served. Give them a new assignment when they are ready, whether on the field or supporting others from home. Do not let the enemy steal their calling because of what they have endured.

Amen.

Prayer for Local Believers Who Support and Protect Missionaries

Lord, we thank You for the local believers who risk their lives to shelter and support missionaries. They open their homes knowing that associating with foreigners can bring suspicion and persecution. They translate languages, explain customs, and warn of dangers the missionaries cannot see. They introduce the Gospel workers to their families and vouch for them in communities that distrust outsiders. Many have been arrested, beaten, or killed because they stood with missionaries. We ask You to protect and bless these faithful brothers and sisters.

Guard their families from retaliation when authorities discover their connection to foreign workers. Hide them in the shadow of Your wings when the secret police come looking. Provide for their needs when they lose jobs or business because of their faith. Heal their bodies when they are tortured for refusing to betray their friends. Comfort their loved ones when they are imprisoned or killed. Let their courage inspire others to stand firm in the face of persecution.

Give missionaries deep respect and gratitude for the local believers who serve alongside them. Help the foreigners to honor the wisdom and leadership of those who know the culture and the cost. Prevent the arrogance that sometimes comes when missionaries see themselves as the heroes of the story. Remind them that the church belongs to the local people, not to the outsiders who planted seeds. Let partnerships be built on mutual respect and genuine friendship. May there be unity in the Spirit and humility in service.

Raise up local leaders who will carry the work forward when missionaries leave. Equip them with boldness, wisdom, and discernment. Protect them from false teaching and from the pride that divides churches. Give them resources to train others and to care for the poor. Let the Gospel take deep root in the culture and transform communities from the inside out. May the church in hard places grow strong and resilient, not dependent on foreign support.

We declare that the gates of hell will not prevail against Your church. The blood of the martyrs is seed for a great harvest. What the enemy means for evil, You will turn for good. Protect and multiply the fruit of every sacrifice made by missionaries and local believers. Let the kingdom of God advance in every nation, tribe, and tongue.

Amen.

Prayer for Wisdom in Dangerous Decisions

Heavenly Father, we pray for missionaries who must make life-and-death decisions with incomplete information. They weigh the risk of staying against the possibility of abandoning new believers who need them. They decide whether to evacuate their children or keep the family together in a dangerous place. They calculate whether a trip to a remote village is worth the threat of ambush or kidnapping. These choices are heavy, and the consequences are severe. We ask You to give them wisdom that comes from above, wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, and full of mercy. Let them hear Your voice clearly when they must choose between safety and obedience.

Protect them from the guilt that comes when they make the best decision they can and it still goes wrong. Remind them that You are sovereign over outcomes and that You do not condemn Your children for being human. Give them peace about the choices they make, even when others criticize or question them. Let them trust that You will work all things together for good, even the decisions that look like mistakes. Do not let fear paralyze them or recklessness endanger them. Give them courage that is tempered with wisdom and faith that is grounded in reality.

When they must choose to stay, give them supernatural peace and protection. When they must choose to leave, do not let them carry shame or regret. Remind them that there is a time for everything, a season for advancing and a season for retreating. Moses fled Egypt before returning to set his people free. David hid in caves before becoming king. Jesus withdrew to the wilderness when crowds pressed too close. Strategic retreat is not cowardice. It is wisdom.

Surround them with mature advisors who will help them think through hard decisions. Connect them with experienced missionaries who have faced similar dilemmas. Give them access to accurate information about security conditions and political developments. Protect them from pride that refuses to listen and from fear that refuses to act. Let them walk in step with Your Spirit, neither running ahead nor lagging behind. Guide their steps and guard their hearts.

Amen.

Prayer for the Next Generation of Missionaries

Lord, we pray for the young men and women You are calling to carry the Gospel to the nations. They hear Your voice and feel the pull toward unreached places and forgotten people. They wrestle with the cost and wonder if they have what it takes to follow through. Some face opposition from family members who want them to choose safer, more respectable paths. Others struggle with debt, health issues, or relational complications that make missions seem impossible. We ask You to protect and nurture these tender callings. Do not let the enemy steal what You have planted in their hearts.

Give them courage to say yes even when the future is uncertain. Surround them with mentors who will train them well and send them out wisely. Protect them from agencies and organizations that will exploit their zeal without caring for their souls. Connect them with churches that will support them faithfully and pray for them fervently. Provide the funds they need for training, travel, and living expenses. Remove obstacles that are not from You and give them endurance to push through the challenges that are part of the refining process. Confirm their calling through Scripture, circumstances, and the counsel of mature believers.

Protect their families from fear and misunderstanding. Help parents to release their children into Your hands and trust You to keep them safe. Give siblings and friends grace to celebrate the calling even when it means long separations. Let these young missionaries know they are not walking away from family but expanding it to include the global church. Heal any relational wounds caused by the decision to go. Build bridges of communication and mutual respect. Let the sacrifice of distance produce deeper love and stronger faith in everyone involved.

Prepare them for the reality of missionary life, not just the romance of it. Teach them that the work is hard, the results are slow, and the suffering is real. Show them that obedience does not guarantee safety or success by worldly standards. Ground them in the truth that following Jesus means taking up a cross. But also fill them with joy and hope. Let them taste the pleasure of being exactly where You want them to be. Give them stories to tell of Your faithfulness and power. Let them see fruit that will last for eternity.

Send them out with joy and bring them back with rejoicing. Protect their bodies, minds, and spirits as they serve. Keep them faithful to You and to the people You send them to love. Let this generation of missionaries be bold, humble, wise, and full of the Holy Spirit. May they see the Gospel take root in places where it has never been heard. May they witness the fulfillment of Your promise that every tribe and tongue will worship before Your throne. Use them to hasten the day when the task is finished and You return.

Amen.