Resources for Fostering Prayer as a Church

by Valerie M. Grissom

As you focus on the practice of prayer together as a church this month, consider implementing one or more of these communal prayer practices:

Communal Prayer Tree

Put up a Prayer Tree, where people of all ages might place their prayer requests on the tree. Children can see that elder people have something to pray for, and elders can find out what children are praying for. Designate time during the week where people pray together for these requests. Include an area where answered prayers might be posted, to show children that God answers our prayers.

Communal Prayer Wall

Hand out sticky notes and Sharpies, and institute a Prayer Wall at the back or side of your Corporate Worship gathering where all ages can post their prayers/prayer requests throughout the service. And hand each household a sticky note and Sharpie as they leave the first week, challenging them to put up a prayer wall at home, too (this works great on the refrigerator!).

Paper Cut Prayers of the People

Cut thin 2-inch pieces of paper lengthwise on an 8.5×11 piece of paper. Pass these out each week. Have people of all ages write or dictate their prayers to an adult. At the end of each week, as a response to the sermon, invite people to place their prayers in a basket up front on the altar. During Prayers of the People, pray for every single prayer request, reading them aloud, and then invite the congregation to pray along: “In your mercy…(all – “Hear our Prayer”). Taking time for this in worship models to kids that we prioritize prayer.

“Prayer Stories” in Worship

Throughout this series on prayer, invite people of all ages to share “prayer stories” in worship. Prompt questions might be: When have you listened to God? How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life?
Pointers for successful testimony in worship:
Have the person or people write our their response on a four-by-six card and read it to you ahead of time. This prevents people from over-sharing or getting nervous and not knowing what to say.
If the person is a child, offer to write the story down for them word by word, and offer to read it aloud to the congregation. They might also offer a picture or drawing to tell their story.

Variation: “Prayer Story” Church Scrapbook

Consider inviting the entire church to share a “prayer story” by writing them on 4×6 cards, and compile these together to make a “Prayer Story” Church Scrapbook. A great way to do this is to ask everyone, during dinner time or after worship, to take 30 minutes and write their prayer stories all together or in small groups. Stories can be drawn or colored, without words. Young children can dictate their story to an adult to write down. Encourage people with a heart language other than English to write their story in their own heart language first, and translate it later. Before people write, invite them to go back to a specific time, describing what they see and feel, using all their senses. Remind them it’s perfectly fine to have sentence fragments. No more than 4-6 sentences! End by writing their first name and age or how old they were in this story (e.g., Valerie, 49 years old.) Having children share in the testimonies of elder adults is one of the most powerful ways that we can encourage children to pray. (For an example and more details about church story scrapbooks, see “Facilitate a Brief Story-Sharing Event,” All Ages Becoming, Valerie M. Grissom.)

World Map Prayer Station

Place a large world map on the floor or wall somewhere in or near your sanctuary. Place a container of large pins. Post these Instructions: Take a pin and post it on a place where you are praying for someone today. Look at the world, and pray for other pins you see posted.