“Pray America” Mission Trip Review

We were part of an adult team from a mainline church that spent a week in Guatemala doing mission work with Pray America*. Building the five widows’ home was an extremely positive experience. Working with Pray America was not.

Based on our experience, we would not work with them again. We feel that Pray America was unwelcoming, unprepared, unprofessional and unethical. 

Pray America failed to offer a cultural orientation. Pray America also failed to send a bilingual staff member with either team who would have had the authority and cultural experience to deal with any problems that might arise.

We believe Pray America failed to involve our group in problem solving and made judgments and decisions without seeking the group’s perspective. 

We feel that Pray America demonstrates some cult-like characteristics. We were told that the founder’s ministry includes the ability to heal the blind and deaf and to bring people back from the dead. We were also told that carved masks sold in the marketplace were cursed and would bring illness, chaos or bad luck to anyone who purchased one. It appears that Pray America has incorporated some aspects of the native Mayan idol-worship into their Christian beliefs.

We also feel that Pray America, while claiming to embrace Christian values, operates from a very narrow and judgmental position. We believe their position does not reflect the full scope of God’s love and acceptance of all people as we understand the inclusiveness of Galatians 3:26-28 to affirm: “For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” 

In spite of Pray America’s attitude, behavior and theology, we accomplished the mission that our church sent us to do. We built the five widows’ homes, fulfilling our agreement with them. 

What’s our recommendation to any church group looking to do God’s work in Guatemala? Look for another organization rather than Pray America!

*Pray America         prayamerica.org

PO Box 14070, Lansing, MI 48901-4070

517-622-1085