The foundation for a fruitful 2026? More prayer.

The start of the year is a busy time for mission workers. Calendars are full of travel, meetings and ministry. However, one of the most critical priorities right now is to ask for prayer for the year ahead.

Here are three reasons why you should make prayer support a top priority in this moment:

1. Prayer support is vital to fruitful ministry.

Here’s a challenging question. Which do you think would impact your ministry more in the coming year: more prayer, more funding or more ministry effort? This question is hard, because it’s easy to see a low bank balance or feel the need for more ministry hours. It can require more discernment to understand how a lack of prayer support is affecting your work.

Scripture makes clear the primacy of prayer in bearing spiritual fruit: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (John 15:16).

If you believe that prayer support is essential, set a strong pattern for the year by asking for prayer now.

2. Asking for prayer honors your ministry’s donors, especially after the year-end fundraising season.

Many mission workers asked for or received extra financial support at the end of 2025. One of the best ways to honor your financial partners is to communicate right away about how you are stewarding their generosity.

You can do this immediately by asking for prayer, and then following up with how you’ve seen God answer. As a result, your ministry partners will understand that their year-end support is already making a kingdom impact.

3. Asking for prayer doesn’t require a lot of time.

Compared to other ministry activities, asking for prayer requires very little time. It does not require writing and formatting a long newsletter. It does not require extended travel to meet with partners face-to-face.

What it does require is a simple willingness to share vulnerably, and the faith that God will answer your ministry partners’ prayers. So whether it’s through Prayvine or another communication channel, start the year by asking your ministry partners for prayer.