Model

Jesus’ heart for the Church could not have been any clearer—“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17). It has always been God’s plan for every local church and fellowship in every nation to become houses of prayer. The question is: how do we help churches develop a culture and rhythm of prayer?

Our model of prayer is an expression of the Moravian prayer movement that began in Herrnhut, Germany in 1727 under the leadership of Count Zinzendorf.

That year, a few believers covenanted to start a 24/7 prayer chain with at least two people praying every hour. Little did they know that their prayer watch would last over 100 years. By 1791, the Moravians had prayed non-stop for 65 years and sent over 300 missionaries around the world.

We ask every church to adopt a monthly day of prayer and cover those 12 or 24 hours in prayer.  The goal is for every church to develop a culture and regular rhythm of prayer and one way to do that is to adopt a monthly day of prayer.

Our model is:

Simple

Unifying

Pastor-led

Local-church-based

Strategic

Sustainable

Our model of prayer is simple—every church in America and around the world can adopt a full day of prayer (24 hours) or a half day of prayer (12 hours) every month. Churches with 20 members and 20,0000 members can all participate. The monthly day of prayer is not the end game—it’s the on-ramp. 

Our model of prayer is unifying—Baptist, Reformed, Protestant, Pentecostal, Charismatic, and non-denominational churches can all adopt a day of prayer and do it their way at their church. They lead their own monthly day of prayer, but then they come together to cover their city in prayer in monthly, quarterly and annual gatherings, which produces a greater level of unity and trust between pastors.

Our model of prayer is pastor-led—it empowers the senior pastor to lead his church in prayer. It honors the pastor’s authority as God’s appointed leader for the church.

Our model of prayer is local-church-based—it engages churches in prayer and includes the intercessors, who are already praying, but also church members who may not attend a corporate praying meeting. People can pray from home, school, a college dorm, a coffee shop, or their home. We believe in the local church is at the center of God’s plan for the redemption of the world.

Our model of prayer is strategic—when churches in a city and state start praying for the same things, that targeted and focused prayer is strategic and powerful. This reflects the power of agreement, as Jesus said in Matthew 18:10, “Truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

Our model of prayer is sustainable—since every church is only responsible for one day of prayer a month (or more if they want), it does not burn out any single church. Local churches have been praying 24/7 for 10 years now in Austin and Bellingham. This model has staying power. You can’t fake 24/7 prayer for 10 straight years with churches from across the theological spectrum and still be growing and thriving.

Prayer Focus

Churches can include additional prayer requests, but these are the 7 main areas we are praying for:

1. PRAY FOR UNBELIEVERS TO BE SAVED. Pray that people’s hearts will be opened to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Savior. Pray that every person in the world will be able to hear the Gospel and the Word of God in their native language. (Matthew 9:37-38; 24:14; Romans 10:1; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 26:18)

2. PRAY FOR UNITY AMONG PASTORS AND CHURCHES. Pray that denominational, theological, and ethnic walls will come down so that pastors will love each other, pray together, and serve each other.

3. PRAY FOR RACIAL RECONCILIATION. Pray that God will heal our nation of racism and that God will use the church to stand against racial conflict, violence, and prejudice. The church must lead the way in racial reconciliation by modeling love and respect for every person regardless of the color of their skin or their ethnic background.

4. PRAY FOR LIFE TO BE VALUED AND PROTECTED through all stages of life, beginning at conception.

5. PRAY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS including all mayors, city councilors, school boards and police departments.

Steps to Launch a Day of Prayer

1. ADOPT A DAY OF PRAYER

Sign up for a monthly full day of prayer (24 hours) or half day of prayer (12 hours). Your church will pray the same day of the month (1st, 8th) or day of the week (2nd Wednesday, 4th Friday).

2. APPOINT A PRAYER COORDINATOR

The Prayer Coordinator is a member of the church, who under the leadership of the pastor, can organize, schedule and provide general leadership for the church’s prayer activities (including the day of prayer). This person must have an active and healthy prayer life, a good reputation in and outside of church, and have the ability to lead in prayer and mobilize others to pray.

3. SHARE THE VISION

The Pastor shares the vision with the church during Sunday morning services a few weeks before the first monthly day of prayer. Points to include:

• Share the goals behind the day of prayer

• Affirm the prayer coordinator and his/her role

• Encourage people to sign up for 30 – 60 minute prayer slots

4. RECRUIT  & FOLLOW UP

Using prayer commitment cards or sign up sheets during or after services, have people sign up for a prayer time slot.

Print and distribute simple prayer points to those who sign up (suggestions on how to pray during their committed prayer time including specific and measurable prayer points to pray for the church, city and state).

The Prayer Coordinator follows up with those who sign up (through text, email or the church’s preferred method of communication), with prayer points, scheduled time reminders, encouragement, etc.  and works on getting all the time slots filled by prayer partners.

5. PRAY

Prayer partners pray during their selected times on your monthly day of prayer from home, school, work or church. This will help them make prayer a daily lifestyle.