“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer … 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 favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42, 46-47)
Greetings everyone
Recently, the Prayer Ministries Oversight Team (PMOT) conducted a survey to help us better understand the experiences, questions, and potential obstacles our congregation may face in participating in regular corporate prayer gatherings. We are deeply grateful to all who took the time to share their thoughts. Your feedback has been invaluable in guiding the ongoing development of our prayer ministries.
Survey Participation
Response Rate: 17 out of 130 church members participated, representing 13% of the congregation.
Survey Format: Half of the responses were submitted via hard copy, while the other half were completed online. However, some participants noted that the online tool was not entirely user-friendly, resulting in a few responses being cut off towards the end.
Willingness and Barriers to Participation
Willingness to Attend: 13 respondents expressed a desire to attend corporate prayer meetings, 2 were uncertain, and 1 indicated no intention to attend.
Key Barriers Identified:
Time Constraints: 12 respondents cited this as a significant challenge.
Discomfort with Praying Aloud: 2 respondents mentioned this as a barrier.
Preferred Times for Prayer Meetings
Sunday after church services (4 respondents)
Weekday evenings (3 respondents)
Saturday mornings (3 respondents)
Saturday afternoons (3 respondents)
Weekday mornings and afternoons received fewer responses (2 each)
Suggestions from Respondents
Organise prayer in smaller, more intimate groups.
Create a more informal and relaxed atmosphere.
Consider all-age, inclusive sessions to encourage broader participation.
Provide teaching on effective prayer.
Offer an online prayer option for those unable to join in person.
Reintroduce a time for silent prayer before services, recalling a meaningful past tradition.
Address concerns about the term "corporate," which one respondent felt sounded overly business-oriented.
Prayer Committee Conclusions
While all respondents agreed that corporate prayer is essential, the relatively low response rate suggests that more work is needed to cultivate a deeper commitment to this vital aspect of our shared spiritual life. It also highlights a need for clearer communication and teaching on the purpose, value, and practice of corporate prayer. Nevertheless, those who regularly participate in these gatherings continue to find them deeply encouraging, spiritually enriching, and meaningful.
What’s Next
Renewing Our Commitment to Prayer: We remain firmly convinced that prayer is vital to the life and mission of our church. We give thanks for the growth in our prayer life over the past few years and are committed to building on this foundation, believing that only through prayer can we become the people God calls us to be and accomplish the work He has entrusted to us.
Celebrating Our Prayer Ministries: We give thanks for the four main prayer ministries within our church and for the leaders and members dedicated to them:
Intercessors Group: Meets every 1st and 3rd Monday at 10:30am in the church lounge. This is an open group, facilitated by Jackie Hall.
Prayer Chain: Coordinated by Ellen Anderson and supported by around 30 dedicated prayer warriors who intercede for any prayer requests submitted to the chain.
Prayer Alcove: This is our prayer ministry during worship services, where a couple of prayer leaders are available to pray with anyone seeking support or encouragement.
Monthly Corporate Prayer Gathering: Facilitated by our vicar, this group meets on the 4th Saturday of each month, from 3pm to 4pm in the church.
Gratitude for the PMOT Team: We are grateful for the dedicated work of our Prayer Ministries Oversight Team, led by Jackie Hall, with members Ellen Anderson, Steve Quarles, Donna Wahrlich, and Vicar Deo. Their leadership and commitment have been instrumental in the growth and vitality of our church’s prayer life.
Upcoming Corporate Prayer Gathering: Our next monthly Corporate Prayer Gathering is scheduled for Saturday, 25th May, from 3pm to 4pm in the church. We warmly invite as many people as possible to join us for this time of collective prayer. We also welcome your feedback on how this ministry can be strengthened, including possible adjustments to its schedule and format.
Communicating the Importance of Corporate Prayer: The survey has highlighted the need for clearer communication about the biblical purposes and benefits of corporate prayer. In the coming months, we will seek to address this through sermons, newsletters, and testimonies from regular participants.
Exploring New Possibilities: The PMOT will also consider the following ideas suggested in the survey:
Holding occasional all-age prayer sessions to foster whole-family and intergenerational participation.
Providing support and training on how to pray effectively, helping to build confidence among participants.
Exploring the feasibility of a regular online prayer meeting, increasing accessibility for those unable to attend in person.
As we move forward, we invite you to reflect prayerfully on these findings and to consider how you can personally engage with our prayer ministries, joining us in strengthening our church’s prayer life as we seek to grow together in faith and fellowship.
Thank you once again for your participation and for your continued prayers for the life and mission of our church.
