This one morning in the year, I set aside to refresh your memory on a matter of life and death: prayer for your ministers. I most earnestly implore every Christian household to grant the fervent request first uttered by an apostle and now repeated by us. Brothers and sisters, pray for us!

Our work is solemnly momentous. The eternal destiny of thousands hangs upon it. We deal with souls for God on eternal business, and our word is either a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. A crushing responsibility rests upon us. It will be no small mercy if at the last we are found clear of the blood of all men.

As officers in Christ's army, we are the special target of the hatred of men and devils. They watch for our stumbling. They labor to take us by the heels. Our sacred calling exposes us to temptations from which you are exempt. Above all, it too often drags us away from our personal enjoyment of truth into a mere ministerial and official consideration of it. The living bread becomes professional material.

We face knotty cases that leave our wits at a complete loss. We witness heartbreaking backslidings, and our hearts are wounded. We see millions perishing, and our spirits sink under the weight. We desperately wish to profit you by our preaching! We desire to be a blessing to your children! We long to be useful both to saints and sinners!

Therefore, dear friends, intercede for us with our God. Miserable men are we if we miss the aid of your prayers, but happy are we if we live in your supplications! You do not look to us but to our Master for spiritual blessings—and yet how many times has He given those blessings through His ministers! Ask then, again and again, that we may be the earthen vessels into which the Lord may put the treasure of the gospel.

We—the whole company of missionaries, ministers, city missionaries, and students—do in the name of Jesus beseech you: "Brethren, pray for us!"