Many pastors want their churches to pray more. Yet few know how to cultivate a genuine culture of prayer.

One of the central convictions of Strategic Renewal is the example set by the Apostles in Acts 6. Rather than succumbing to the distractions of the urgent, the Apostles committed to prayer and ministry of the Word. This simple determination is a cornerstone for the 6:4 Fellowship and has shaped the Church for millennia.

This example also provides the first of three clarifying shifts for any pastor who longs to see his congregation transformed through prayer.

The Movement of Prayer Down from Shepherd to Flock

We notice and celebrate that a culture of prayer in the early church was first transmitted  from Jesus, who routinely set off alone to pray (Luke 5:16), directly to His disciples, who asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1).  

Here is the first shift to note: a downward movement from Rabbi to disciples and from Apostles to the church.  A transforming culture of prayer flows down from the pastor to the congregation. It does not flow up from the sanctuary into the pastoral office. If a pastor desires to see his church transformed by a culture of prayer, it must begin with his own visible example in  prayer. 

But the Pastor is not confined to an office, nor to a pulpit. 

The Movement of Prayer Through a Church

This second shift takes hold when the pastor leaves his office, and the pulpit, and meets directly with the congregants who fill the sanctuary. One pastor recalls how he spent an entire year preaching about prayer, and yet did not see a prayer culture emerging as a result. What he did next is perhaps the most important excerpt from this reflection: 

“This same pastor later explained that he started calling his people to join him in specific gatherings in which he would show his people how to pray by praying with them.  He noted that this approach ignited a fresh passion and increase in the prayer commitment of the congregation.”

A prayer culture shifts through the church when the pastor goes beyond teaching and modeling and moves to inviting others in. . Others catch the vision through inspiration, but they begin to carry the culture forward through participation. Prayer begins with the pastor, but it is not confined to the pastor. 

The Movement of Prayer Out to those Empowered to Participate

A culture of prayer that has taken hold of a church will not be contained to the pastor. 

In fact, even churches who have not experienced the transforming power of prayer wish to incorporate greater participation in prayer. In our article “9 Reasons to Change the Way You Pray,” we highlight how pastors often invite people to pray to their needs, or pray as they feel led, or to even pray around the circle. 

While this is prayer that incorporates, it is not prayer that transforms. To experience that, we must pray as Jesus prayed.  Our congregants must pray biblically and worshipfully. 

If you have congregants who love the Lord, wish to support their pastor, and have a desire to learn to pray in a deeper way, there are two resources that will prompt this movement out to those empowered to participate. 

First, encourage such congregants to join 6:3 Discipleship. This network of disciples equips everyday Christians to better support their pastor and cultivate renewal in their churches.

Second, invite church members to utilize the Prayer Activation Guide.

This valuable resource is designed specifically to help church members activate a culture of prayer in their churches through practical and sustainable habits. 

See Your Church Come to Life 

A culture of prayer at your church is possible. It begins with the pastor, flows through the congregation, and out to empowered members of the church with a heart for renewal.

If you desire to see your church transformed through prayer, a great first step is to begin with our activation guide.

Download the Prayer Activation Guide