Laying Hands on the Missionaries

Church leaders lay their hands in prayer on kneeling servants being set apart for gospel mission. The gathered men press close around the candidates, a visible act of blessing, commissioning, and spiritual recognition. The scene reflects Acts 13, when the church at Antioch fasted, prayed, laid hands on Barnabas and Saul, and sent them out under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The gesture is not mere ceremony; it shows the church discerning God’s call and participating in the sending of workers for the spread of the gospel. This artwork serves well for themes of ordination, missions, pastoral commissioning, church leadership, discipleship, and prayerful obedience. by Jeff Preston