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Preparing well. Going well. Serving well.

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The journey of IW service is filled with anticipation, questions, decisions, and a thousand practical details. There is much to prepare before departure, much to learn along the way, and new challenges that arise as life and ministry unfold.

 

The Field Guide was created to help you navigate every stage of that journey with greater confidence and clarity. Whether you are preparing to leave, adjusting to a new culture, or have served on the field for years, this resource offers practical guidance, helpful tools, and wisdom for the road ahead.

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Think of it as a companion you can return to—a place to find answers, explore new ideas, and navigate the practical realities of life and ministry overseas.

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No two IW journeys are exactly alike, and there is always more to learn. Our hope is that this guide will equip you for the next step, wherever you are in your journey.

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You don't have to figure it all out on your own. We're glad to be part of your preparation and ongoing service.

Building Your Prayer Team
Posted October 12, 2026

There is no better preparation for serving overseas as an IW than developing a faithful prayer team. From the moment you sense God calling you to serve, begin surrounding yourself with people who will consistently lift you, your ministry, and your needs before Him. These prayer partners can become a tremendous source of spiritual support and encouragement—not only as you prepare to go, but throughout your years of service.

There are several ways to develop and maintain a prayer team. Each serves a different purpose, and you may find that using all five approaches provides the strongest foundation of prayer support.

 

1. Private Prayer Group

Invite approximately eight people- who know you personally and understand your calling to serve- as your dedicated prayer partners.

  • Choose committed prayer partners. Look for people who are willing to pray as needs arise, even when requests come frequently, and who will also offer encouragement along the way.

  • Explain the purpose. Personally invite each individual to participate and also share your vision for the group with the role you hope they will play.

  • Create a private group chat. Establish a dedicated space for communication between you and your prayer partners. Signal is a good option because it offers end-to-end encryption and disappearing messages.

  • Share requests as needed. Because this is a small, trusted group, you may be able to share more personal requests than you would in a public or larger setting. Still, use wisdom when sharing sensitive information, especially when serving in a creative access location.

  • Celebrate answers to prayer. Follow up with updates so your prayer partners can see how God is answering their prayers and remain encouraged in their commitment.

 

2. Social Media Prayer Group

Social media can provide a convenient way to keep a larger group of supporters informed and involved in praying for you.

  • Prioritize security. Use the highest available privacy settings and carefully consider who can access your group and its content. Remember that private groups are not completely secure.

  • Share thoughtfully. Occasionally post a photo, video, or brief update along with a specific prayer request, taking into account the security requirements of your location and ministry.

  • Be mindful of details. Avoid sharing names, locations, travel plans, specific ministry activities, or other information that could put you or others at risk.

  • Provide updates. Share answers to prayer and relevant follow-up information so members remain engaged and encouraged.

 

3. Dedicated Prayer Newsletter

As you begin developing your newsletter subscriber list, consider creating a separate prayer newsletter for those who specifically want to commit to praying for you.

  • Invite subscribers to participate. Give readers the opportunity to sign up for a dedicated prayer team and receive more focused prayer requests.

  • Keep it focused. Send the prayer newsletter exclusively to those who have expressed interest in receiving it.

  • Establish a schedule. Start by sending updates twice a month, then consider moving to a weekly schedule if that is sustainable for you.

Your prayer newsletters should be:

  • Brief: Include three to five specific prayer requests rather than a lengthy list.

  • Printable: Keep the layout simple, with minimal graphics or decorative elements, so supporters can easily print the requests and keep them nearby as they pray.

  • Consistent: Establish a realistic schedule—weekly, twice monthly, or monthly—and do your best to maintain it.

 

4. Prayer Requests in Your Regular Newsletter

Your regular ministry newsletter is another valuable way to keep supporters involved in prayer.

Whenever possible, include a short section with current prayer requests and answers to prayer. This helps all your readers understand how they can participate in your ministry, even if they are not part of a dedicated prayer group.

Be specific enough to give people something meaningful to pray for, while always considering the security and privacy of those involved.

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5. Way to Pray (W2P)

The WGLD District produces a Way to Pray document every other month, providing people with specific requests they can remember and bring before the Lord regularly.

To participate:

  • Know the schedule. W2P documents are prepared by the first of each odd-numbered month.

  • Submit requests on time. Send your requests to the WGLD DMM by the 24th of each even-numbered month: February 24, April 24, June 24, August 24, October 24, and December 24.

  • Keep requests concise and specific. Many people use W2P as part of their daily or weekly prayer routines. Clear, focused requests make it easier for them to know how to pray.

  • Save details for your newsletter. If a request requires a great deal of background information, include that in your personal newsletter instead. A lengthy explanation may cause the main request to be overlooked.

  • Include enough context. Give readers sufficient information to understand the need and pray with purpose, while protecting sensitive details.​

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A Final Encouragement

Building a prayer team is not simply another task to complete before departure. It is an investment in the long-term health of your ministry and your walk with God. Start early, communicate consistently, and help your prayer partners understand that their role matters.

You may be the one serving on the field, but you do not serve alone. Invite others to stand with you in prayer, and give them opportunities to see how God is working throughout your journey.

Ideas from WGLD IWs:

  • our experience is that women are more engaged / communicative on prayer teams than men.  Maybe this is just our experience, but do not be disappointed or give up.  M&L

  • We communicate with prayer supporters through a messaging app called Telegram (similar to WhatsApp, Signal etc.). We generated a QR code for the prayer group in Telegram and put it on a bookmark with general prayer requests and a picture. Jenny Carr from the fundraising department gave us a link to the template in Canva, and we were able to edit it to make it our own.  S&W

Communication: Staying Connected with Your Support Team

Posted  October 12, 2026

 

Consistent communication takes time, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a little planning and a few simple habits, you can develop a sustainable rhythm of communication that keeps your support team (prayer, encouragement and financial support team) informed, encouraged, and connected to your ministry.

Your communication does more than report what you are doing. It helps your supporters understand the uniqueness of the place where you serve, introduces them to the people you meet, shares meaningful prayer requests, and tells stories of what God is doing. It also reminds your prayer and financial supporters that they are active participants in the work, even from a distance.

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The goal is not simply to send updates, but to help your support team feel connected to the ministry they are helping make possible.

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1. Communicate Consistently

Don't wait until you have big news to share. Regular communication builds relationships and helps your supporters remain engaged throughout your ministry.

  • Newsletters: Send a newsletter at least quarterly. Many workers find that monthly updates are even more effective. Consider creating a simple, reusable template that makes regular communication easier and less time-consuming.

  • Private social media groups: A private group can be a quick and convenient way to share brief updates, photos, and prayer requests between newsletters. Always use appropriate security precautions and follow the Alliance’s guidelines for online communication.

  • Thank-you notes: Express appreciation to your financial supporters regularly. You don't need to write an individual note every month, but a consistent pattern of gratitude helps strengthen relationships and reminds supporters that their partnership matters.

  • Plan ahead: Before leaving for the field, decide how often you will communicate and which tools you will use. Establishing a simple system now will make communication easier when life overseas becomes busy.

 

2. Communicate Clearly and Engagingly

Remember that your newsletter is going to a wide variety of people, each with different levels of familiarity with your life and ministry. Write with your readers in mind.

  • Keep it concise. Your supporters may care deeply about you but have limited time to read lengthy updates. Aim for clear, engaging communication that respects their time.

  • Tell specific stories. Rather than simply reporting that you have been busy, share a brief story about a person you met, a conversation you had, or something you learned. Personal stories help supporters connect with the people and places they are helping you serve.

  • Balance words and pictures. Use photographs with short captions to show where you live, what daily life looks like, and whom you spend time with. Pictures can communicate details that paragraphs cannot.

  • Share enough to invite interest. Keep written updates focused and readable. You want supporters to finish feeling informed and encouraged, not overwhelmed by too much information.

  • Explain the unfamiliar. Your supporters may not understand local customs, cultural differences, or the challenges of everyday life overseas. Brief explanations can help them appreciate your experiences and pray more thoughtfully.

 

3. Communicate Honestly

Be honest, always. Ministry does not always produce visible results, and there may be long seasons when progress seems slow or fruit is difficult to see. Resist the temptation to exaggerate results or present a more successful picture than reality warrants.

Your supporters need an accurate understanding of your ministry so they can pray effectively and walk alongside you through both fruitful and difficult seasons.

Remember that ministry is about more than measurable outcomes. Your own growth in Christ, your increasing understanding of the people you serve, and your faithfulness in ordinary responsibilities are also important parts of your journey.

Consider sharing questions such as:

  • What is God teaching me through this season?

  • What challenges am I facing, and how can my team pray?

  • Where have I seen small signs of encouragement or growth?

  • How am I learning to understand and serve people in this culture?

You do not need a dramatic story in every update. Faithfulness in ordinary days is worth sharing, too.

 

Before You Go: Practical Preparation

A little preparation now can make communication much easier once you arrive on the field.

  • Choose a primary way to communicate with your support team.

  • Create a reusable newsletter template.

  • Establish a realistic communication schedule.

  • Prepare a secure way to store photos, stories, and prayer requests throughout the month.

  • Learn your field/team's guidelines for sharing names, photographs, ministry details, and prayer requests.

  • Make a list of the people who need regular communication, including financial supporters and prayer partners.

  • Decide how you will express gratitude to those who support you.

 

Remember: You don't have to be a gifted writer to communicate well. You simply need to be consistent, thoughtful, honest, and willing to let your support team share in your journey.

Ideas from WGLD IWs:

  • We still use MailChimp because we got in on it when it was free. We try to include a lot of pictures. We usually include prayer requests and ways to give with direct giving links. Tip from experts: Do not make it longer than 1-2 scrolls on a computer and 3-4 scrolls on a phone screen. Americans have short attention spans and won’t read dense, long letters. Tip from P Crosby: If you want people to support you, help them feel like they are part of the solution to a problem. Americans want to feel like they are heroes in some way. Their gifts keep you on the field.  S&W

  • Use consistent themes over a long period of time.  For us, we've focused on three:  engage, proclaim, encourage.  M&L

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