by Dawn Lewis

Created on: May 12, 2011

Prayer is an important part of a Christian’s life.  It’s especially important in a church setting because there are lots of needs both within the walls of the church and within the community the church is affiliated.  It’s also important to have a prayer ministry, because as it turns out, there are lots of Christians who don’t know how to pray and ask for the things that they need.  A good prayer ministry in any congregation can help lead all in the family of faith toward a healthy prayer life.

When starting a prayer ministry, it is important to put together guidelines for what the prayer ministry will be and help all who want to be part of it to understand that this isn’t a time for members of the faith community to come together and “talk” about others in the church.  Rather, the mission of a good prayer ministry is to pray for the congregation, the pastor(s), the activities of all ages, and the community the church serves.  It is also a safe haven for those seeking individual prayer and help.

To begin your prayer ministry, you must start with the pastor(s) of the church and help them to understand what it is you are trying to do.  A clear mission statement and well thought out guiding principles can greatly help you to explain the function of the prayer ministry.  You should incorporate your vision of this prayer ministry and how it will add to the current prayer life of the church and how you will lead the prayer team to start or enhance your current prayer chain, add individual prayers for members and visitors after each service, offer weekly prayers for the church and the pastors, etc.  Also, you’ll want to include in this discussion how your members will be trained for prayer and confidentiality.

Once your prayer ministry is established, you will need to find locations in your church for meetings and a small space that can be turned into a prayer “chapel” where your ministry members can meet with congregation members who need individual prayer.  You’ll also want to incorporate prayer into the worship service and ask for space near the communion rail where your team members can provide individual prayer during worship.  Another part of the prayer ministry is to meet with the worship committee and schedule a monthly prayer and healing service where the service is engaged totally around prayer and healing, while offering prayer teams to pray with members throughout the service.

Prayer is an important component of church life and Christianity.  Churches need a prayer ministry to support the life and function of the church and to help teach its members to pray.  Prayer ministry is very rewarding and following these steps can help you be successful in your own church.

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