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Just curious - if you're a pastor do you make altar calls at each service?If you're not a pastor does your church offer altar calls?Just curious & no ill motivation for the querry.We have an altar call at virtually every service here at FCC & I don't think we would ever want to get away from them.They're precious to me & our FCC families & to those who seek God.After reading statistics over the last few days about church issues it seems I hear a re-occurring comment that goes like this, 'we used to have altar calls but now we have a special room for people who want to pray before or after church.'I like prayer in the altars down front where everybody can see it.I don't want to change the culture of FCC to accomodate the trends.I see results in the altars all the time.Some of my best memories & ministry experiences have happened in the altar.It doesn't have to be a long wooden piece of furniture; maybe it's simply the area up in the front near the pulpit, but it's a place where we come foreard to seek fellowship with God collectively & corporately.God has spoken to my heart for months about illustrating, offering, teaching & preaching about prayer.We have prayer all the time & we pray about everything.Our altars areas at FCC are known to be a place to seek God in prayer & it's amazing how many visitors make positive comments about our altar calls & invitations to pray.I really hope you use your altars as often as possible so another generation gets used to the idea of seeking God at the altar Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

If you put an altar in, should it be as large as the one in Solomon's temple? Do you have to burn animals in it?How about a tall RCC style table

Dean, i appreciate your intention behind this post and fully understand where you are coming from... but...Show me in the New Testament church where Paul or any other minister gave an altar call. Show me any scripture in any letters written to the churches of the mention of an altar in the church. I am not trying to be belligerent. I just think we have instituted things into the church that were not a part of the NT church. I have seen altars in some churches so large and so padded you could sleep on them.In the older Baptist churches the front pew was called the moaner's bench. It was their version of the altar. Altar time or opportunity for people to spend time before the Lord reflecting on what they received in a sermon is wonderful. I love your devotion to that.

We have a time during worship where people who need prayer are invited to come to the front and be prayed for. We don't have an altar or do what I would call an altar call I'm not saved because I'm good. I'm saved because He's good!My website: www.bradfreeman.comMy blog: http://bradcfreeman.tumblr.com/

Our church refers to the edge of the platform as the altar. An invitation is given every week to come to the altar and pray.The pastor calls the praise team to come to the front as he begins the final points to his message. Usually the pianist begins playing while he is still speaking. After the invitation to come to the altar and pray, the pastor gives a prayer. Just as soon as his prayer is done, he goes down from the platform to pray with people at the altar. That's when the singers on the praise team begin singing and the drums, bass, and guitar all join in. It drives me bonkers. I don't know how one could hear another person if they were to say what they would like to have someone pray for.

Yes and yes.The altar is simply a meeting place.One can create an altar anywhere at anytime.At the end of my message I say It's time to respond to the Word of God in prayer.After everyone has finished praying, we shift into intercessory prayer for those with specific needs.We use the altar a lot Charles A. HutchinsSenior Pastor SPWCCongregational Church of Godwww.spwc.church

Growing up I was familiar with the Alter calls most every 'night' service. Most folks came forward to pray. Many time to 'pray someone thru'.In the past 10-15 years we have attended many denominational services. I was honestly surprised at the Baptist churches we attended, most gave an 'alter call' EVERY SERVICE. Not so in the Pentecostal Churches we visited.Now our local E. Belmont COG the pastor does 'open the alter' every Sunday morning. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/

JD is dead on here. It was ole Charles Grandison Finney who commenced usin the altar an makin public appeals, an the ole boy was severely criticized by the established churches fer doin so.Pews/Seats? They set on the ground when Jesus taught tem.Offices? They had one behind a tree.Sunday School? Robert Raikes hadn't even been born when Jesus ministered.Fellowship Halls/Starbucks/Cafés? Paul said to eat at home.Preachin usin a little bitty table an bottle a water? Three a them disciples was called Sons of Thunder. John the Baptist railed agin sin.If some you fellers is gonna pull the New Testament card here, hey, lets do it right:Skinny Jeans an shirt hangin out? No Way, buy ya a robe an sandels to wear Sunday.Git rid a the microphone.Third Day/Toby Mac/Hillsong? No Way, grab a lyre/harp/flute an pull out a Vestal Goodman song.Cussin in the pulpit? Fergit it.Goin back home to bury ya dead? Let the dead do that, you better be follerin Jesus.

And which three was them? Peter, James & John. And Simon he surnamed Peter; And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.

Yep, I'm amongst them some. Well, it shore wasn't Paul & Mary.