An Illawarrra prayer group that began as a single-room affair is preparing to celebrate 21 years of sending financial and spiritual support to missionaries.

Six Church Missionary Society supporters formed the core of the group in the early 1980s, starting their meeting in the Bishop of Wollongong's offices.

The group has now grown to almost 60 people traveling from as far afield as Woonona in the north, to Gerringong in the south.

Having outgrown facilities at St. Michael's, the Illawarra Support Group has recently "moved house" to St Mark's West Wollongong.

Original members Phyllis Parfitt and Joan Gelding say the group has always made a point of backing up their prayer for missionaries with practical support.

In 1984 the prayer group became affiliated with MAG (Mission Aid Group) and began sending container loads of goods to missionaries serving in Africa.

Members raise collect contributions and raise much needed funds through the group's bi-monthly "trading table'.

A team of sewing ladies at Warrawong regularly send truck loads of new clothing and blankets to MAG's Kingsgrove Depot, while Bomaderry Christians collect huge quantities of exercise books and stationary items.

And what can't be made or bought is donated.

Efforts have included persuading one local hospital to give six obstetric beds to a third-world facility in Kilimanjaro.

The Illawarra Missionary Support Group meets every on the first Thursday of every second month, beginning at 12:30 and finishing at 2:00 PM.