Key Takeaways
1. Embrace the Vision of a Prayer-Saturated Church
“For my house will be called a house of prayer” (Isaiah 56:7).
God's blueprint. A prayer-saturated church is not merely one with a prayer ministry, but a congregation where prayer permeates every aspect of individual and corporate life. It's a dwelling place for God, characterized by constant communion and intimacy with Him, leading to strategies, plans, and power for the church's mission.
Beyond programs. Many churches operate as "prayer-lite" (nominal recognition of prayer) or "prayer ministry" churches (prayer as a separate program). God desires a "house of prayer" where communication with Him is the lifeblood, an indispensable pillar without which God-given dreams and spiritual power lie dormant.
Marks of success. A truly praying church exhibits:
- Strong devotional lives among members.
- Leaders who model and prioritize prayer.
- Prayer integrated into every ministry.
- High priority on corporate prayer meetings.
- Humility, purity, unity, and Christlikeness.
- The tangible presence of God, transforming spiritual hunger into spiritual fulfillment.
2. Appoint an Indispensable Church Prayer Coordinator
Just as every other ministry in the church has a leader, so the prayer ministry needs a designated person to coordinate prayer.
Intentional mobilization. Prayer doesn't happen on its own; it requires intentional mobilization. A designated prayer coordinator signals prayer's importance, brings attention to the ministry, ensures its continuity, and facilitates recruitment and participation. This role can be full-time, part-time, or volunteer.
Key characteristics. The ideal prayer coordinator is:
- Called by God: This provides resilience against challenges and burnout.
- Spiritually mature: Grounded in God's Word and possessing discernment.
- A team player: Able to develop and work with a prayer leadership team.
- A good reputation: Influences others through integrity and trustworthiness.
- Possesses leadership gifts: Beyond just a passion for prayer, they can organize, mobilize, and lead.
Dispelling myths. The coordinator is not solely responsible for all prayer requests, nor for "getting" people to meetings (that's the Holy Spirit's work). The church should also budget for their training and resources, recognizing prayer ministry as a vital, funded endeavor.
3. Cultivate a Strong Pastor-Prayer Leader Partnership
The success of any church ministry is dependent upon the positive working relationship between the pastor and the ministry leader.
Mutual dependence. Pastors need prayer leaders to organize vision, research prayer movements, and provide personal intercession. Prayer leaders need pastors to cast the vision to the entire congregation, stir hunger for prayer, and secure resources and facilities.
Defining roles. An initial meeting is crucial to:
- Communicate support and understand the pastor's vision.
- Define roles, expectations, and reporting structures.
- Agree on immediate priorities, like building a team and securing budget.
- Set a regular meeting schedule for ongoing communication and prayer.
Pastor's ownership. Pastors must develop an authentic prayer life, take ownership of the prayer ministry, mentor prayer leaders, and build rapport. They cannot delegate the core responsibility of inspiring the church to pray. Publicly affirming and commissioning the prayer team is vital for congregational support.
4. Build a Diverse and Gifted Prayer Action Team
No truly effective ministry can live on the talents of only one person.
Beyond solo leadership. A prayer action team (or council/committee) is essential for a thriving prayer ministry, distributing responsibilities and leveraging diverse gifts. This team's primary role is to call the church to prayer and equip them, not solely to pray themselves.
Team composition. An ideal team of 4-6 leaders should possess a balanced mix of spiritual gifts and skills, committed to mutual growth and accountability. They often lead specific prayer ministries, acting as "prayer captains" for areas like corporate prayer, prayer rooms, or pastor prayer shields.
Qualities for team members:
- Character: Honesty, integrity, dependability.
- Influence: Ability to persuade others.
- Positive attitude: Draws the best from others.
- Excellent people skills: Genuine concern for others.
- Evident gifts: Matching gifting with job opportunity.
- Confidentiality: Critical for handling sensitive requests.
5. Design a Strategic Blueprint for Church Prayer
Just as you wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint, so you cannot build a house of prayer without a plan.
Essential for growth. A written prayer strategy is vital for:
- Vision casting: Unifying people around a clear purpose.
- Clarity: Defining expectations and minimizing conflict.
- Mobilization: Outlining steps for involvement.
- Sustainability: Setting long-range goals and enabling evaluation.
- Leadership support: Keeping prayer a priority for the pastor and leaders.
Phases of development:
- Prayer and Preparation: Seek God's guidance and allow Him to knit the team together.
- Defining Your Vision: Articulate a clear, God-given picture of the future prayer ministry.
- Involvement of Church Leadership: Ensure all leaders feel part of the process and provide input.
- Drafting a Written Document: Include a mission statement, short/long-range goals, measurable objectives, specific action plans (including crisis response), job descriptions, an organizational chart, and a budget.
6. Break Through Barriers to God's Presence
If God is not present, why not? The Holy Spirit comes where He is invited, where He feels welcomed.
Identifying hindrances. Many churches tolerate corporate sins (busyness, gossip, division, pride) that hinder God's presence. Unconfessed sin, past or present, takes a toll. Leaders must identify and repent of these, personally and corporately, to invite God's cleansing.
Offensive and defensive prayer. Churches often focus on aggressive evangelism (offensive prayer) without adequate personal prayer shields for leaders, leaving them vulnerable to attack. Conversely, some churches only pray for internal needs (defensive prayer), neglecting the mission to impact the world. A balance is crucial.
Concentration of force. Like military strategy, prayer needs focus. Spreading resources too thin can prevent breakthrough. There are times the Holy Spirit directs the whole church to concentrate prayer and fasting on a single, strategic target, ensuring unity and power.
7. Mobilize Diverse Intercessors for Kingdom Impact
True intercession is not just something you engage in one hour a week; it’s a way of life.
The power of intercession. Intercession is petitioning God for others, often with boldness, fervency, and persistence. It reminds God of His promises, builds hedges of protection, and cries out for mercy, changing history. Intercessors are vital for a church's health and mission.
Understanding intercessors. Not all intercessors pray the same way. Recognizing diverse types helps effective mobilization:
- Personal: Pray for specific individuals.
- Mercy: Weep over situations, feeling God's heart.
- Crisis: Respond urgently to emergencies.
- List: Systematically pray through detailed requests.
- Financial: Have faith for large sums for God's kingdom.
- Global: Pray for nations and people groups.
- Worship: Sing their prayers.
- Salvation: Fervently pray for the lost.
- Government: Intercede for leaders and laws.
Networking strategies. Intercessors thrive on current information and feedback. Systems like prayer captains, prayer rooms as communication hubs, and specialized prayer teams ensure efficient communication, focused prayer, and ongoing training.
8. Lead Powerful Corporate Prayer Gatherings
The prayer gathering enlarges the channel through which God will bless and give victory to His people; it actually moves us into an entirely different realm of power.
Symphony of agreement. Corporate prayer is more than individual prayers in a group; it's a unified purpose, "the uniting of many hearts with the Spirit of God to pray the mind and will of the Father." This agreement unleashes unique power, fulfilling kingdom promises.
Preparation and leadership. Effective meetings require:
- Spiritual preparation: Seek God's heart for the meeting and participants.
- Room preparation: Create an inviting, distraction-free, spiritually prepared space.
- Resource preparation: Gather requests, Scriptures, and an agenda.
- Leadership tips: Start on time, set a unified tone, establish a prayer mindset, listen for God's direction, keep the group on track, and model faith-filled prayers.
Dealing with distractions. Leaders must address "ball hogs," personal agendas, "praying around the world," rushing into petitions, and lack of eternal perspective. Tactful redirection and clear guidelines (like the "3 Bs": bless, biblical, brief) maintain unity and focus.
9. Engage the Next Generation in Prayer
No church can truly become “prayer saturated” without the participation of the emerging generations.
Addressing the challenge. Many young adults disengage from active faith after their teens. Churches that buck this trend:
- Create welcoming environments for encountering God.
- Challenge youth to bold faith.
- Provide leadership and service opportunities.
- Offer safe spaces for sharing and listening.
- Foster community and connection.
- Love, pray for, and care about their future.
Starting young. The foundations of belief are set early. Children's ministries should prioritize imparting spiritual life and training children as praying disciples. Children can hear God's voice, pray for healing, and engage in spiritual warfare.
Equipping families. Churches can empower parents to invite God's presence into their homes through family prayer and worship. This ensures the knowledge of God is passed down, building a legacy of faith.
- Encourage family prayer campaigns.
- Host workshops on equipping children in prayer.
- Provide resources for couples' prayer.
- Involve children in corporate prayer and "mission trips" to pray for community leaders.
10. Pray Beyond Church Walls for Community Transformation
Revival will come when we get the walls down between the church and the community.
Community destiny. A church's destiny is intertwined with its community's. When Christians pray for their cities, the spiritual atmosphere shifts, making it conducive for unbelievers to receive the gospel and fostering safety, peace, and prosperity.
Sphere of influence. God places individuals in specific neighborhoods and workplaces for a purpose. Churches can catalyze change by helping members understand their spiritual authority and responsibility for their assigned territories.
- "Miracle Mile": Map and pray for every home and business within a one-mile radius.
- Prayerwalking: Pray on-site in neighborhoods, schools, or government buildings.
Informed intercession. Statistical data, historical research, and personal interviews provide vital information (crime rates, occult activity, specific needs) that makes prayers more specific and fervent, like X-rays for physicians.
United prayer. The multifaceted needs of communities are overwhelming for one church. When prayer-saturated churches unite, the task becomes manageable, and the visible unity of Christ's body unleashes powerful transformation, as seen in cities like Cali, Colombia, and Almolonga, Guatemala.
11. Seek God's Tangible Presence as the Ultimate Goal
If you will build an altar, I will come!
The distinguishing mark. God's tangible presence is the ultimate characteristic distinguishing His house. Like the miraculous fire on the tabernacle altar, His presence is a sign of His residence and acceptance, to be perpetually preserved through unceasing prayer.
Beyond programs to altars. The blueprint for a house of prayer moves beyond mere programs to creating living altars where individuals and the corporate body consecrate themselves as living sacrifices. This attracts God's glorious presence, which is incomparably better than any human-devised program.
Encountering His fire. The disciples in the Upper Room built an altar of prayer and waited until they were "clothed with power from on high." This intimate encounter with God's fire brought new power. Today, God calls us to remain in prayer until we encounter His fire upon our lives and churches.
His urgent call. God promises, "If you will build an altar, I will come!" This is an invitation to build a house worthy of His presence, not with earthly stones, but with living stones—His people—committed to seeking Him day and night. When prayer is absent, heavens are closed; when Christians pray, a canopy of God's presence is raised, thwarting evil and releasing blessings.
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