Acts20.com

do you require all staff and volunteers to attend?If they don't attend at all or just once a month, do you release them from their position?

At my current church we don't have weekly structured prayer meetings, but I have at previous churches. I never felt the need to make it mandatory for anyone - leadership or otherwise. This is only my opinion, so please don't take it as anything more....but... I have found that the heavy-handed style of leadership only leads to frustration for all parties. You'll be frustrated at those who are absent, and the parishioners will be frustrated by the feeling they are being controlled. My advice: If you choose to have weekly prayer meetings, then be thankful for those who come and pray with you. I'm not talking down to you because

Thanks for your reply, I have never thought you have ever talked down to anyone in any of your replies. My intention wasn't to sound heavy-handed in my question. We have had prayer meetings in the past at our church and it was as you said, at times it was only my family plus one and then it was only my family.Have corporate prayer meetings became a thing of the past?We have a prayer room or a room that is available for people to use to pray in. It is open daily from 7am to approximately 3 pm and before service on Sunday mornings. It is only used on Sunday mornings when the worship team gathers to pray before service. I think this is more of the norm in most churches, than coming to church for a corporate time of prayer for the whole church.The reason we have a prayer room is people have approached me and said they wanted to prayer before service, but they didn't feel comfortable praying at the altar before service. So, I cleaned out a room that wasn't being used, sat chairs around the walls, have music playing softly and have a light air freshener to set the atmosphere for praying and it still stays empty.

Can effective prayer only be done in a group setting

I believe we all know the answer to your question and that isn't the question I'm asking.I'm wondering why corporate prayer has fallen to the wayside.It has never failed in the times that I have announced a time of corporate prayer that someone has approached me and tell me they pray at home and see no need to come to church to pray... their lives prove their prayer life or lack of one.

I believe we all know the answer to your question and that isn't the question I'm asking.I'm wondering why corporate prayer has fallen to the wayside.It has never failed in the times that I have announced a time of corporate prayer that someone has approached me and tell me they pray at home and see no need to come to church to pray... their lives prove their prayer life or lack of one. I agree.However, work schedules are not 9 - 5 for anyone anymore.Lots of people care for elderly parents...which takes forever to get them ready to take with them Sunday - much less another service.The world has changed - perhaps someone could come up with a prayer that people can sign into online and pray together.I just feel bad judging folks - staff members or not - for not coming to every meeting called at church.There are other explanations other than lack of prayer

We do have a weekly prayer meeting and also have prayer one hour before our Sunday am service. I agree that we should never make people feel guilty about attending every church meeting and be understanding concerning work schedules, care for elderly parents etc. However, from the time I accepted the pastorate until now we made it clear that prayer was a priority for the church. When I was a missionary-evangelist I spent a lot of time helping churches start and develop prayer meetings.I only interviewed for 2 churches in my life and am at the one that wanted me for almost 9 years. During the first interview the Board jokingly but somewhat seriously asked me if I would be willing to practice and play on the church softball team. I answered that I have no problem with softball but really would like to pastor at a church where the Board and I could pray together on a regular basis (such as an hour a week). I know myself well enough to realize that I cannot be content with a Board than spends 20 hours a week playing and watching sports but can't find an hour to pray with me. They sent me a nice rejection thanks for your time letter. When I met with the church I pastor now during the question and answer time I shared my heart about wanting to pastor a praying church. Due to work schedules and wanting to make sure Board members (I was fortunate that as a small church there were only 3 people on the Board) were able to prioritize games and school events for their families I let them know that I would meet early morning, late night or whatever time worked for the 3 of them. They responded that the church needed more prayer and we worked it out.We never force anybody to attend a prayer meeting or guilt them into it. Actually we encourage people to avoid legalism, excuses about being late or leaving early. We let people know that if they make it 10 minutes early for prayer before service that is great as it is fine and it is also fine to pass by for 15 or 20 minutes without guilt over making the whole hour on Tuesday nights. I believe that teaching about prayer on a regular basis both publicly and house to house along with my wife, I and others being excited about doing it is the answer to building prayer meetings. I did see a big difference in the anointing when ministering in churches that had pastors/leaders who were excited about getting together for prayer. Most rational people agree with the reality that most people DO NOT have the personal discipline to pray for 30-60 minutes at home. I regularly share that many other programs and things are more popular than prayer with the American culture we live in today but we need to be leaders not followers of trends.

We have had a weekly prayer meeting on Monday night from 5-6pm for 20+ years & it is scarcely attended, maybe 9 to 15 or so give or take. We have very good Sunday morning altar services where we teach folks to tarry in prayer to spend time with God.Even the disciples had a hard time attending a prayer meeting on the last night of Jesus's life on earth, just a human thing i guess.My friend who pastors a pentecostal church nearby has his every week & half the church shows up & they have to keep a reminder before the people that it's only prayer & it's not a full blown worship service.I tease my people & tell them if I were handing out $100 bills they would all show up lol.At the end of the day I do not make it a mandatory event for attendance, it's all voluntary. I'm very grateful that we have nearly 100% employment & God has been good to us all these years in giving us a people who are generous & obedient. Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

As always I enjoy your comments. I did smile at the I remember the days of prayer meetings where only a faithful few (sometimes family ) showed up to participate.I think every pastor of the small churches has been there.I also appreciated Ernie's reply to this. I do think the 'scheduled weekly corporate prayer meetings' as seen in the past are becoming, if not already, a thing of the past.NBF has covered a reason or two that has contributed to this Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/