How prayer requests lead to financial support

Did you know that sending prayer requests can result in increased financial support? This article examines the relationship between prayer requests and giving.

Prayer requests overcome roadblocks to giving

One major obstacle to financial support is that prospective donors are busy: mission workers are not typically top-of-mind for most people. Another key challenge occurs when prospective donors don’t understand a mission worker’s activities and impact.

Every invitation to pray helps overcome these roadblocks to giving. God has blessed humans with heightened awareness when someone we care about is in need. As a result, prayer requests are effective at cutting through the noise and capturing people’s attention.

In addition, each prayer request communicates two pieces of information essential for donation decisions. First, prayer requests communicate your ministry vision: what are the life transformation or redemption stories that God is writing through you? Secondly, prayer requests help prospective donors understand your specific ministry role and responsibilities. What do you spend your time doing, and how does investing in your work further God’s kingdom?

Prayer requests result in active participation in your ministry

When someone prays for you, they are investing their attention, time and energy into your ministry. They grow in excitement and expectation for how the Lord will answer their prayers. As their engagement with your ministry deepens, the Holy Spirit may stir their hearts to contribute financially to your ministry.

Even if a prospective donor decides not to donate when you make an ask, offering them the opportunity to pray for God’s will and work is a tremendous blessing. As the apostle John writes, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15). The Lord is eager to hear and respond to the prayers of his children!

Prayer requests can facilitate giving, but you must be bold in asking for financial partnership

Asking for prayer can help motivate and inspire giving. However, making a prayer request is not the same as asking for financial support.

Our personal experience – and the experience of most mission workers – is that the very best way to raise support is by asking in person (or over video chat), one individual at a time. Courage and persistence are required in fundraising, but will bear fruit. As the apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).