5 Steps to Starting a Prayer Ministry in Your Church

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What if the very discipline Scripture commands us to practice “without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17) is the one many Christians find hardest to sustain?

Prayer is an integral part of Christian life and ministry. Yet, especially for new believers, it is often accompanied with awkwardness: “What words do I use? Is there a formula? Am I doing this right?” Even seasoned believers often struggle to prioritize it, and some are plagued by disappointment from the many prayers that seem to go unanswered.

While churches focus on various ministries to fulfill their mission, one that often needs bolstering is prayer. So how can we lead our congregations in a more habitual and effective prayer life? How can we better support this vital lifeline?

What is a prayer ministry?

Prayer ministries can be multifaceted. They may look different across church contexts, denominations, and cultures. Yet at their core, all prayer ministries mobilize the church to confidently accept the Bible’s invitation to “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). Prayer ministries seek to cultivate deep communication with God where we offer submissive hearts, confess sin, exercise confident faith in his sovereign power, and respond with thankful service and worship.

Structurally, a prayer ministry involves a committed group of individuals who intercede for the church’s various ministries while equipping and mobilizing the broader congregation to do the same. The goal is that the church should grow in the fullness of God to the glory of God (Eph 3:14–21).

What is the basis for a prayer ministry?

The heart of prayer is God’s desire to have a personal relationship with his people. We see this in the beginning—with God “walking in the garden,” seeking Adam and Eve (Gen 3:8–9)—and its end: a majestic vision of God once again dwelling in unbroken relationship with his people in a new creation (Rev 21–22).

Throughout the Old Testament, we see that prayer primarily involves petition.¹ As E. M. Bounds explains, prayer is faith directed at God:

In any study of the principles, and procedure of prayer, of its activities and enterprises, first place, must, of necessity, be given to faith. … [P]rayer is simply faith, claiming its natural yet marvelous prerogatives—faith taking possession of its illimitable inheritance. … [W]hen faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live.²

In the New Testament, Jesus modeled this dependence on the Father throughout his earthly ministry, displaying fellowship with God as essential to his ministry and mission (Mark 1:35). He interceded specifically for his disciples (Luke 22:32), establishing a pattern for his church.

Following Jesus’s example, prayer empowered and multiplied the early church (Acts 2:42). Paul constantly affirmed the necessity of prayer, relying on the intercession of others to fuel his gospel ministry (2 Cor 1:11; Eph 6:18–20) and requesting deliverance from evil (2 Thess 3:1–2). In turn, Paul faithfully interceded for those to whom he ministered (1 Thess 1:2), demonstrating the reciprocal nature of prayer within the body of Christ.

This biblical material testifies to the centrality of prayer, both in our communion with God and ministry as his people, providing a theological basis for prayer ministries today.

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What should a prayer ministry pray for?

The scope of prayer ministry should be comprehensive. For instance, a thriving prayer ministry would likely pray for:

Spiritual growth: Pray that fellow believers would experience encouragement and growth in the Lord (Col 1:9–12).
Spiritual warfare: Pray that believers would experience freedom from spiritual bondage leading to fuller fellowship with the Father (Jas 4:7–8).
Healing: Pray for physical healing, remembering that God’s eternal healing comes through Christ (Matt 9:2–6).
Children: Pray that they would know the Father’s love and remain in it throughout their lives (Mark 10:13–16).
Local evangelism: Pray that God’s love would extend to neighbors and spark revival (Acts 1:8).
Pastor(s) and church staff: Pray regularly for their needs, their calling, and their walk with God (1 Thess 5:12–13).
Church growth: Pray that God would grow your local church by saving souls (Matt 9:37–38).
Global missions: Pray for missionaries and that those in distant places would see the Light and walk in its fullness (Matt 5:16).

Nonetheless, the ultimate aim of prayer is deepened intimacy with the Lord, both as we pray for others and in what we pray for others, that they would be drawn into deeper faith, worship, and union with Christ (John 17:3; Eph 3:14–21).

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How can one start a prayer ministry? 5 steps

With these foundations in place, it’s now time to consider how we can practically implement and conduct prayer ministries in our own local churches.

Keep in mind that the structure of your prayer ministry will likely depend to some extent on the denomination or traditions held by your specific church. In some settings, a more formal or liturgical approach might suit. In others, your prayer team may desire more spontaneity, sensing for the movement of the Spirit. Meet people where they are, then expand beyond their comfort zones with guidance and training, as needed.

1. Begin with prayer

Hopefully it’s obvious, but we ought not to overlook it: Developing a prayer ministry should begin with prayer. In a culture that is fast-paced and where strategy seems to be the best tool, leaders can forget that a church’s prayer life must begin with them. E. M. Bounds reminds us, “Study how to pray, O preacher, but not by studying the forms of prayer, but by attending the school of prayer on your knees before God.”³

If you decide that developing an organized prayer ministry is needed for your congregation, start with your own prayer life, and then the prayer lives of other leaders in your church. Ask that a culture of prayer would flourish into a powerful ministry throughout the body. Pray that members would grow in their hunger and thirst for God, and that this would unleash a movement of the Spirit across the church.

2. Prepare the church with teaching

Because prayer remains elusive for both new and seasoned Christians, consider providing teaching on prayer. Scripture provides ample passages:

Acts provides examples of the early church coming together in prayer for God to expand his kingdom (e.g., Acts 4:23–31).
In the Psalms, human frailty meets divine sovereignty as heartfelt pleas rise to a God whose power and love know no end.
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reveals communion with the Father (Matt 7:7–11) and offers the Lord’s Prayer as an enduring model of prayer for his people (Matt 6:5–15).
In his epistles, Paul offers examples of Christ-centered prayer, characterized by gratitude, reliance on God, intercession, and a sustained pursuit of spiritual insight, maturing faith, and increasing love (e.g., Phil 1:9–11; Eph 1:15–23; 3:16–19; Col 1:3–14; 2 Thess 1:3–5).

Whether you take a topical or expository approach, aim for your sermons to cultivate an exalted view of God and deeper faith. Seek to draw believers into worship and humble submission to God, as these serve as fundamental postures in prayer. In prayer, we offer our deepest gratitude and make confident appeals. Further, the more worship and submission define our prayers, the more our prayers will align with God’s will.

3. Form a team and provide training

Begin identifying potential leaders who already demonstrate a fruitful prayer life, a passion for intercession, and leadership abilities. Your teaching series on prayer may naturally surface individuals eager to serve in this way. Use pulpit time to raise awareness of the developing prayer ministry. Invite congregants to prayerfully consider getting involved. Meet with prospective leaders to gauge their interest and ability to participate.

From these prospective leaders, assign a prayer ministry director. This person will be responsible for developing a plan, advocating for the priority of prayer, casting a vision for the ministry, and forming a team. Developing the remaining team will become the primary responsibility of the prayer ministry director. Yet it will be important to come alongside this person to help identify other known intercessors.

Once the prayer team is formed, provide them any needed teaching or instructions on the emerging prayer ministry, including clear guidelines on confidentiality for prayer requests.

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4. Explore different ministry formats

Encourage the ministry team to discern between different forms of prayer ministry and where they will focus their attention. Start with one or two areas, depending on the size of your church and team. Expand as the ministry grows.

Teams should consider the following options:

Prayer request submissions: Create a way for congregants to submit prayer requests and form a group committed to praying faithfully over each one.
Prayer chains: Establish a network for circulating urgent prayer requests quickly among committed intercessors.
“Boiler room” prayer:⁴ Create a rotation of volunteers to pray while the service is happening for the church’s various ministries (e.g., nursery workers, children’s classes). Have them pray for the Holy Spirit to speak through the preaching, to encourage believers, and to draw unbelievers to salvation.
Bible studies on prayer: Offer an in-depth study on prayer. See the resources at the end of this article for specific resource recommendations.
Prayer rooms: If your facility allows, a dedicated, quiet, secluded space can encourage more intimate prayer, meditation, and worship.
Deliverance ministry: Many believers are walking in bondage to sin, addiction, and past wounds. Consider teaching on the topic of spiritual warfare (e.g., the reality of demons, powers, and principalities; what we can learn from Jesus’s exorcisms) followed by intensive training for those called to serve in this area.
Prayer retreats: Retreats offer a concentrated opportunity for spiritual formation. Begin by exploring how silence and solitude deepen prayer and communion with God, ideally through getaways of a day or longer, free from everyday distractions.
Prayer conferences: Consider inviting a keynote speaker to your church or registering for an off-campus conference such as the Evangelical Institute’s annual prayer conference.

5. Equip and empower

Intercessors give a great deal of themselves. For this reason, be deliberate about investing in them through ongoing teaching, resources, and training. Find ways to encourage their personal communion with God and their growth as intercessors for others.

Draw on the recommended resources at the end of this article. Stay attentive to relevant seminars and conferences. Above all, cultivate a community in which Christ’s love and power undergirds every aspect of your ministry.

Conclusion

Whether you are building a prayer ministry from the ground up or seeking to strengthen one already underway, may you see your congregation’s faith flourish as it is directed to God in prayer!

Jeanette Hagen Pifer’s suggested resources on prayer

“John Wesley’s Spirituality: A Collection Of Forms Of Prayer For Every Day In The Week” in John Wesley and Charles Wesley, John and Charles Wesley: Selected Prayers, Hymns, Journal Notes, Sermons, Letters and Treatises, ed. Richard J. Payne and Frank Whaling, The Classics of Western Spirituality (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1981), 78.
John Wesley and Charles Wesley, John and Charles Wesley: Selected Prayers, Hymns, Journal Notes, Sermons, Letters and Treatises, ed. Richard J. Payne and Frank Whaling, The Classics of Western Spirituality (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1981), 77.