Starting the year in prayer for mission

By Phil Bauman 

As a new year begins, many of us pause to reflect and recommit ourselves to what God is calling us to. This year, we invite you to journey with SIM International, following our stories online and joining us in prayer for God’s work across the world, and for the people faithfully serving in mission. 

As we pray, we’re reminded that this work is never done in isolation. One of the great joys of Phil’s role as SIM International Director is seeing the intricate web of connections that truly makes our organisation global.  

There are connections between our people, between our offices, between our ministries and to the communities we serve. 

Of course, the most important connection we all have is our connection to Christ – and the true value of that is shown in John 15, when Jesus says: 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” 

Jesus didn’t say ‘I am the vine and you are the branch’ in the singular; no, He said ‘I am the vine and you are the branches’ in the plural. We are all branches who stem from our connection to Christ at the centre. We are all connected, both as the body of Christ and as SIM globally. 

Connected in community 

The body of Christ cannot help but be a community of people. That is how God intended it. The kingdom of God is bigger than SIM but we are nevertheless part of the kingdom and we are a community of people that must be connected together. 

Our shared Purpose, Mission and Vision draws us together, as do our commitment to our Statement of Faith and our Core Values. We share the same Jesus, we share the same gospel values and we share our need to be connected. 

It is only as we are connected to Christ that we can bear any fruit of value. We bear fruit by showing ourselves to be His disciples and one of the key ways we do that is by working together in connected ministries and entities. 

Connected to communities 

We must be very closely connected to the communities we seek to engage. Our whole reason for existence is to make disciples in communities where Christ is least known and we cannot do that without being connected to those very communities, even if they are in some of the more challenging parts of the world. We should constantly be asking questions of ourselves to ensure we build and maintain that connectedness. 

Are we connected well to those communities, in ways that are relevant and contextual? 

We are all branches who stem from our connection to Christ at the centre.

Are we connected well to the churches we work with to fulfil God’s mission across cultures local and globally? 

Are we connecting well with inquirers and candidates, so that, with them, we can determine whether they are right for SIM and SIM is right for them? We also need to be connected so they can be better equipped to make disciples of the Lord Jesus in communities where He is least known. 

Connected in action
Our 2026 Prayer Guide for the year ahead is now available, inviting you to join us in praying for God’s work around the world. 

As you read and pray through this year’s Prayer Guide, I hope you will see some of those connections in action. 

This year, make a commitment to pray for mission with intentionality. Let’s step into 2026 together, connected to Christ, connected to each other, and connected to the communities where He is least known.