Set Apart Before You're Sent
Prayer, Confession, and Fasting as Mission Preparation
Eli Byrd
NOBTS Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry
Session Overview
In this session Eli Byrd invites students to begin preparing their hearts for mission work long before arriving in New Orleans. He describes the city as both beautiful and broken and reminds us that gospel work in a place like this requires spiritual readiness, not just good intentions. Preparation does not start on the trip itself but in daily obedience right where we are.
The main focus of the session is wholehearted prayer and spiritual preparation. Drawing from the teaching of E.M. Bounds, Eli emphasizes giving our whole selves to God in prayer, including our minds, hearts, and actions. He challenges students to prepare through consecration, confession, and fasting so they can be more sensitive to God and ready to serve faithfully in a city that deeply needs the gospel.
Key Takeaways
- God invites us to prepare for mission work now, not later.
- Consecration means setting ourselves apart for what God has called us to do.
- Fasting helps humble us and trains us to depend on God rather than our own desires.
- Spiritual preparation makes us more attentive to what God wants to do through us.
Discussion Questions
- 01Have you considered preparing for a mission trip before you ever arrive?
- 02Which part of preparation feels most challenging for you right now?
- 03What might fasting look like for you in a realistic and faithful way?
- 04How can these practices shape the way you live out your faith back home, not just on a mission trip?