At the conclusion of the 2014 North American Christian Convention,  Matt Proctor, President of Ozark Christian College, offered the following commissioning prayer for dozens of recent Bible College graduates.  It’s a very moving, inspirational prayer that needs to be read and prayed again on behalf of all those enlisting in the Lord’s service.  That’s why I’ve chosen to reprint it here.

via Matt Proctor, President Ozark Christian College:

Dear Lord, 

After watching the video, we thank you for those who have fought the good fight, who have finished the race, who have kept the faith.  Now, Lord, my heart is full as I see on this stage those who have stepped forward to say, “We will take their place.”  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So thank you for answering our prayers to raise up more laborers for the harvest field.

We ask, Lord, that You give them everything they need for what lies ahead.  When they are called to step out of their comfort zone, give them the faith of Abraham.  When they face temptation, give them the integrity of Joseph. When they face hard decisions, give them the wisdom of Solomon. When their hearts are filled with fear, give them the courage of Esther.

Lord, they will face trials, so give them the perseverance of Job. When life gets busy and they are surrounded by distractions, sit them at your feet and give them the listening ears of Mary. Wake them up every morning with the missionary urgency of Paul, and through it all, above all, give them the heart of Christ.

And now, oh Lord, send them out. Go with them, we ask, as they go to Kansas and Kentucky, to Kenya and Cambodia, to the four corners of the earth. May they go with a Bible in one hand and a basin and towel in the other, with your grace and truth. May they go with the gospel on their lips, the church at their side, and the power of the Holy Spirit coursing through their veins.

Go with them because we know there are evil forces arrayed against them.  March them into the very heart of Satan’s territory. Use them as the tip of your spear, to pierce the darkness until it bleeds light. May the gates of hell crumble before them.  

And Lord, may the gospel be preached and sin confronted and sinners loved and souls saved and marriages mended and children taught and the grieving comforted and the lonely welcomed and the hungry fed and the wounded healed and communities transformed and the nations reached with the good news of Jesus Christ. Use them mightily for Your glory and for the world’s good, and keep them faithful until the day they hear You say, “Well done.”

We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.