One core value that is foundational to SIM is that every worker and ministry operates “By Prayer.” 

The pioneers of SIM understood that they could only share the Gospel with the least reached by relying on God’s faithfulness and power. As the face of missions continues to change in our world today, we are dependent on God to soften hearts to the message of the Gospel, cover us with protection and direct our ministries. We come before Him regularly to ask for His help where SIM workers serve.   

Stanley serves as the Prayer Coordinator for SIM Australia. In this role, Stanley connects with the various SIM prayer groups across the country and considers ways of promoting prayer for our workers and ministries. All our mission workers send out a prayer newsletter that highlights points for prayer and praise to their prayer supporters. 

We all have a part to play in God’s global mission and prayer supporters are just as essential as those who are sent cross-culturally and those who partner financially. In Romans 15:30, it says, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.” Stanley said, “Paul asks for you to join him in his struggle, not to be onlookers, but involved in his discharge of sharing the Good News to those who have not heard it before.” 

Having served in Asia with SIM, Stanley recognises the encouragement it was to know that people were praying for his family’s ministry while they served in a country closed to the Gospel. “It was very encouraging to know that many were praying through our newsletters,” he explained. “Each time we sent a newsletter out, invariably a couple would write back they had prayed for some specific item we had wrote about. We knew we were being heard, and we knew that we were being prayed for.”  

One privilege of the prayer groups is having visits from our mission workers who are preparing to go and our workers on Home Assignment. This allows our faithful prayers to hear stories and information that the mission worker might not be able to share in their newsletter due to security. “The mission worker also feels appreciated that there are others who are willing to join them in their cross-cultural journey,” said Stanley.  

As the world continues to change, SIM prayerfully considers how we might be responsive to our times in engaging people through prayer in God’s global mission. We are pleased to share that our bi-monthly online SIMConnect meetings will be transitioning to a national prayer group in 2025.  

Stanley shared, “Changing times means adapting to those changes on how we meet for prayer. Technology has made the world smaller and more accessible. Since COVID, SIM has had prayer groups adapting to meet online.” 

“This year, SIMConnect Prayer will now morph into an online prayer group mid-morning on Saturday each quarter. For about 60 minutes, we will be joining together to pray for our mission workers and their work.” 

PRAY: Do you want to become a prayer supporter of SIM Australia? Visit sim.org.au/pray to sign up to receive our ‘Praying Together’ prayer notes or subscribe to a mission worker’s prayer newsletters. 

JOIN A PRAYER GROUP: Join our national online prayer group ‘SIMConnect Prayer’ or a local prayer group in your area. Find out more by emailing stanley@sim.org.au.