What Is An Intercessory Missionary?

The Call to be a Full-Time Intercessory Missionary

The Lord is calling people to a full-time ministry occupation of an intercessory missionary. An intercessory missionary is one who does the work of the kingdom from the place of prayer and worship, while embracing a missionary lifestyle and focus. At IHOPKC, as a rule, we ask those who embrace this full-time occupation of “intercessory missionary” to commit to fifty hours per week, including being in the prayer room for at least four hours a day, six days a week.

The Anna Calling

Anna was a “watchman” who was set upon the wall in Jerusalem. We see an expression of Isaiah’s prophecy in Anna, who prayed in the temple night and day (Isa. 62:6; Lk. 2:36–38). She was a token of what will happen across the nations during the generation in which the Lord returns.

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess . . . She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day . . . she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of [Jesus] to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Lk 2:36–38)

Notice that Anna was a prophetess (v. 36), intercessor (v. 37), and evangelist (v. 38). The grace for prophetic ministry, intercession, and evangelism came together in one woman. Anna was widowed after living with her husband for seven years (v. 36), probably when she was in her mid-twenties, and that is when she began giving herself to prayer day and night. At eighty-four years old—approximately sixty years later—she was still ministering to the Lord in much prayer with fasting. Anna stayed faithful in her calling to long hours of prayer! What a remarkable woman! Anna represents those with the grace to sustain long hours of prayer for many years. Anna’s calling transcends gender and age—this calling is for male and female, young and old. I refer to some intercessory missionaries as having a specific “Anna calling,” by which I mean they have grace for much prayer and fasting.

In this very hour, the Lord is wooing those with a heart and calling like Anna to the full-time occupation of worship and prayer. He is personally appointing and setting them into their places. The Lord is calling forth modern-day “Annas” in churches and prayer rooms around the world.

What do Intercessory Missionaries do in Prayer Rooms?

What do intercessory missionaries do in a prayer sanctuary?

1. We minister to God by declaring His worth unceasingly, reflecting the way He receives worship continually in heaven (Mt. 6:10). We magnify the supremacy of Jesus, spreading His fame by declaring His worth, beauty, and riches, calling others to love and obey Him and give their allegiance to Him. Millions of people across the nations join the choirs of heaven by ministering to God in this way. He is worthy.
2. We labor in intercession for the release of God’s power to win the lost, revive the Church, and impact society, while also engaging in works of justice and compassion.
3. We grow in intimacy with God by personally encountering Him through His indwelling Spirit, receiving greater grace (Jas. 4:6) to love, obey, and partner with Him, as we are fascinated by who He is.
4. We grow in the understanding of God’s Word, gaining insight into His will, ways, and salvation and learning about the unique dynamics of His end-time plan to transition the earth to the age to come. We serve others in an important way by taking the time and effort to grow in our understanding of the Word, that we may help others understand God’s heart and will for this hour of history.

Still want to know more? Check out this wonderful article:

http://www.ihopkc.org/intercessorymissionaries/