Connecting through Prayer Fellowships

By John Maempa

It’s been more than 20 years now—we have actually lost track of the beginning point—since my wife Jan and I began meeting once a month with various members of our home church for a time of prayer and fellowship. This began as a Community Outreach Group (COG) to encourage relationships and reach out to our members’ respective communities.

A number of COGs were formed, and the vision was a good one—to help people who lived relatively close together get to know one another better and to develop strategies to reach out to others. An inherent weakness of the strategy was that the principle criterion for grouping people was zip code. It became apparent before long that sharing a zip code does not guarantee affinity. Eventually, the groups disbanded.

Since our group consisted of some close acquaintances, we continued to meet—but with a different focus. In time, others with whom we shared friendship and a passion for prayer joined us. Our group now draws from two churches. It is not a large group; presently there are 18 of us when all can come.

Deeper Fellowship

As we have come together for prayer each month, a bond of fellowship has grown to the point that our hearts have become deeply attuned to the need and desire for collective communion with God and connection with one another. Thus, the first Friday of the month has become a time that everyone looks forward to.

Our format is very simple. We begin at 7:00 p.m., spend a few minutes chatting with one another, and occasionally open with a worship song. Then we share prayer requests. These relate to personal needs, family concerns, our churches and their leaders and congregations, the mission of the church, our community, our nation, and more.

Once requests have been voiced, I open with a prayer of praise and adoration to our God. It is important to remember that He is enthroned upon the praises of His people (Ps. 22:3). Afterward, various individuals lead in prayer for a particular request that has been voiced, while the others agree in prayer. Often there is a concluding expression of praise and adoration to God—perhaps a song—giving thanks for His faithfulness to answer prayer. Following the prayer time, we gather around the table for refreshment and continued fellowship.  A relational and spiritual dynamic that takes place in this prayer and fellowship time reflects the example in Acts 2:42, a time when members of the early Church devoted themselves “to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Additionally, verses 46–47 state, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”

It is no wonder that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” A magnetic holding power accompanies prayer and fellowship.

Within this close-knit relational environment, needs and concerns can be shared that perhaps could not be shared in another context. There is a level of trust, understanding, and familiarity—a knowledge of the journey—that allows transparency and informs the prayers of the group members.

Safe Havens

Although our group is not an official prayer initiative in our respective churches, we see value in encouraging others to form or participate in such groups. While a number of prayer initiatives can be established within the church setting, such as small groups, Sunday school classes, and prayer teams, a home prayer group can provide a haven, a safe place, for people to “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2, NKJV) and receive a level of help and encouragement that might not be possible in any other way. Home groups function better if they are not legislated or structured according to a particular set of parameters. They are most effectively forged out of established relationships.

Another important advantage of drawing from more than one church, is avoiding even the perception of isolationism. Although the groups may include good friends, their purpose is to pray broadly for all people within the church and for many different concerns and issues—not to become cliques.

Jan and I have continuously hosted the group in our home over the years, but that privilege certainly could be shared. Admittedly, our purpose in welcoming the group into our home is somewhat selfish: we so enjoy the “afterglow.” After our prayer time there is a lingering peace, a presence that is so real. We treasure that.

Our group has seen many answers to prayers through more than 20 years of praying together, and that is another gift from God. Prayer is no idle task and there is power in agreement!

JOHN MAEMPA recently retired from his position as director of the Office of Prayer and Spiritual Care for the General Council of the Assemblies of God, Springfield, Missouri