
Prayer is a powerful tool that God has given us. We can use it to further our relationship with God, discern his will for the future, present our petitions, lament and confess our transgressions, and praise him for all that he does for us.
The CRCNA has several resources to help you in your prayer life, the ministries of the CRCNA also covet your prayers in support of ongoing work.
Join others in praying for synod each year. There is a 40 days of prayer guide in the lead up to synod, as well as opportunities to pray during the event itself.
The CRC Prayer Guide offers another way to pray for our shared ministry as a denomination, with specific prayer requests for each day of the year. View these prayer requests below, download printer-friendly versions, or get them delivered to your email inbox (choose to receive them daily, weekly, or once a month).
You may also be interested in the prayer section of The Network and the CRC News weekly email.
Monday May 1
from: Safe Church: Staff transitions
Please pray for staff transitions in Safe Church and Congregational Ministries. Eric Kas, a Safe Church consultant, moved to a position at Living Stones Academy, Grand Rapids, Mich., in April. Please pray for him in his new endeavors and for guidance as we discern a path forward for equipping congregations in abuse prevention, awareness, and response.
Tuesday May 2
from: Resonate Global Mission: Michigan
Hesed Community Church, a Resonate partner in Detroit, Mich., is showing up weekly at a local liquor store to meet and pray with people. “We’ve developed a few consistent relationships and are thankful for the open doors we have seen there for Christ-centered ministry,” share the pastors. Please pray for this ministry!
Wednesday May 3
from: ReFrame Ministries: Indonesia
Along with her recently formed small group at school, a teenager named Teresia watches and discusses videos produced by our partners in Indonesia. They also discuss ReFrame’s daily devotions for teenagers. Please pray that Teresia may continue to grow in faith and be an example for her peers.
Thursday May 4
from: CRC Communications: National Day of Prayer (U.S.)
Join Christians across the United States today in praying for God’s healing and guidance for the nation and the world. May God’s will, love, and wisdom guide leaders at all levels for the good of all communities, families, and individuals.
Friday May 5
from: World Renew: International Disaster Response (IDR)
Our IDR team is at “full capacity” for the first time in years and were able to meet with International Relief Managers (IRMs) this spring, in their first in-person gathering since 2018. We praise God for their time together, and we’re humbled by and grateful to support partners and colleagues navigating disasters in many different contexts.
Saturday May 6
from: Resonate: Sierra Leone
Our partner ministry leaders working with the Christian Reformed Church in Sierra Leone give thanks for three new believers from the Krim community who were recently baptized. Please ask the Holy Spirit to continue working in this community.
Sunday May 7
from: Diaconal Ministries Canada: NewGround Sunday
Please pray for our NewGround Program, which helps churches love their communities with grants and coaching support. NewGround also includes a youth justice initiative and deacon scholarships to build into diaconal leaders. On this NewGround Sunday, pray for generous hearts, that even more churches may be a healing presence and a doorway of hope in their communities.
Monday May 8
from: ReFrame: Japan
Pray for a radio listener in Japan who has been feeling depressed. “I had a really hard time yesterday, and I wished I didn’t wake up today,” the listener wrote. “Today I woke up earlier than usual and listened to your radio program.” Pray that this listener will continue to find ways to grow in his spiritual and mental health.
Tuesday May 9
from: World Renew: Zambia
Since 1990, World Renew has been working alongside Zambian churches and organizations to help improve agricultural and health skills as well as literacy, maternal health, income generation, and diaconal development. Please pray for us and our partner organizations as they continue in this work.
Wednesday May 10
from: Resonate: Ontario
Resonate missionary Greg Sinclair asks you to pray for the Farsi Fellowship at Willowdale CRC in Toronto. Many Farsi speakers who have come to Toronto as refugees have found a faith community through this ministry. Ask the Holy Spirit to continue drawing people into a relationship with Christ.
Thursday May 11
from: Cadets: Season wrap-up
As our Cadet season draws to a close, our theme “AMAZING,” based on Joshua 3:5, continues to remind cadets, counselors, and the rest of us to strive to be holy and recognize the many ways God blesses us. Pray that the boys we have worked with will look for, find, and share the amazing things God is doing as they live for Jesus.
Friday May 12
from: ReFrame: North America
Pray with Joy, who recently shared this request with our prayer team: “My husband and my son are not speaking. My husband has made a decision to move out of our home, and he does not want my son to move with us. I’m suffering, and I’m in agony.” Pray for peace and reconciliation in Joy’s home.
Saturday May 13
from: Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations: Unity
In a world that is increasingly polarized, we pray for unity among all Christ-followers. May we be imagebearers in this unity as we connect with each other over denominational divides. May we also reflect the Father's love across religious differences as we seek to dialogue with people of other faiths. And may unity begin here "at home" as we prepare for Synod 2023.
Sunday May 14
from: World Renew: Mother's Day
Around the world, women are often denied basic human rights and opportunities. Genesis 1:26-27 teaches that men and women are created equally in the image of God. World Renew sees women as capable and strong, resilient and essential to God’s plan to restore creation. This Mother’s Day, pray with us for women’s rights around the world so that they can make positive changes for their families and communities.
Monday May 15
from: Resonate: Nicaragua
“Many of our students and their families have experienced deep pain and brokenness,” said missionaries Liam and Jessica Starkenburg, who serve with Nicaragua Christian Academy International. “Ask God to redeem, heal, restore, and uphold this amazing community.”
Tuesday May 16
from: Raise Up: Timothy Leadership Training: Videos
Timothy Leadership Training is working with DECIBEL, a ministry organization in Europe, to format materials into micro-videos for distribution on smartphones. Pray that these videos will open up opportunities for leadership training in some of the most difficult-to-reach places in the world.
Wednesday May 17
from: Calvin Theological Seminary: Graduates
Nearly 50 students will be graduating this month. Rejoice with our graduates and their families and the churches and others who have supported them. Pray for them as they transition to ministry positions, further studies, or other places where God may lead them.
Thursday May 18
from: Faith Formation: Ascension Day
On this day we reflect on our risen and ascended Lord, and we give thanks that he lives to intercede for us and will return one day to make all things new.
Friday May 19
from: Resonate: Germany
The Berliner Stadtmission (Berlin City Mission) is a Resonate partner in Berlin, Germany, where missionaries David Kromminga and Mary Buteyn serve. This ministry hosts language cafes where immigrants and refugees can learn German and make friends. David and Mary give thanks for the many people coming to these language cafes! Pray for opportunities to share the gospel.
Saturday May 20
from: World Renew: Disaster Response Services (DRS)
This past year 133 young people, ages 19-30, volunteered with our DRS program. DRS has been steadily working to grow this volunteer base by attending conferences alongside college program administrators and through direct connections with student ministry leaders to explain and encourage student engagement. Pray that these recruitment efforts continue to be fruitful.
Sunday May 21
from: ReFrame: India
ReFrame’s partners in India recently hosted an event for seekers in a remote village of northern India. Pray that the 70 attendees will continue to use the devotions and audio programs they used and discussed at the event. Pray also for their safety, since many people in their region are opposed to the Christian faith.
Monday May 22
from: Pastor Church Resources: Fellowship
Thank God for the pastors currently participating in 17 mentoring groups. Pray that fruits of well-being and resilience may grow as these pastors learn about and support one another in ministry. Ask God to provide connection opportunities for pastors who are geographically or relationally isolated from their peers.
Tuesday May 23
from: Redeemer University: Guidance and provision
Ask God to continue to lead and provide (faculty, staff, students, and finances) for Redeemer University to advance the mission and vision of preparing students to reflect a distinctive Christian worldview in any vocation and place to which they are called.
Wednesday May 24
from: Resonate: Michigan
“Pray for students who are moving on from Western Michigan University, bringing all they’ve experienced here back to their homes around the world,” ask campus ministers at International Campus Ministry. Pray especially for graduates who are returning as Christians to countries that are not traditionally open to Christianity.
Thursday May 25
from: Canadian Indigenous Ministry Committee: Canadian National Gathering
Church members from across Canada are gathering in Ottawa, Ont., this weekend for the Canadian National Gathering. A key area of emphasis will be Indigenous reconciliation. Pray that participants will be inspired and equipped to bring their experiences back to their regions. Pray that CRC churches will be places of rich welcome for people of all backgrounds.
Friday May 26
from: World Renew: Uganda
Our Uganda team is rejoicing and celebrating God’s provision through a grant from MCIC that will help continue the work of value addition programming with our partners, Pentecostal Assemblies of God. Pray for successful management of this grant to inspire more institutions to support World Renew programming in communities facing food insecurity, injustice, and poverty.
Saturday May 27
from: Disability Concerns: Staffing changes
Rev. Terry DeYoung recently retired as coordinator for the Reformed Church in America’s Disability Concerns ministry. In this shared ministry of the CRCNA and RCA, we thank God for the impact that Terry has made since 2009 in helping churches become places where everybody belongs and everybody serves. Pray that Disability Concerns will remain vibrant in its ongoing work.
Sunday May 28
from: Resonate: Pentecost
Give thanks that God is always with us, guides us, and leads us through the Holy Spirit. Pray that we will be more attuned to how the Holy Spirit is working. Ask for wisdom, courage, and kindness as we follow the Spirit’s leading and share the love of Christ with our family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.
Monday May 29
from: Chaplaincy and Care: Memorial Day (U.S.)
On this day in the United States we remember men and women who gave up their lives in service to their country. We pray for those who have been left behind—friends and family who grieve and may feel abandoned in their grief. We live in the hope that one day all wars will cease when Christ comes again.
Tuesday May 30
from: ReFrame: Burkina Faso
Hortense, a ReFrame radio listener in Burkina Faso, asks for prayers because she is tempted to commit suicide after her husband recently left her and their child. Pray for ReFrame’s partners as they guide her and find resources for her.
Wednesday May 31
from: Resonate: Neighborhoods
Pray for members of our churches who are part of Go Local, a Resonate ministry that equips people to join God at work in their neighborhoods. Pray for relationships among neighbors that are forming, and ask the Holy Spirit for opportunities to share the gospel.