Lurgan High Street

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Our church (High Street Methodist Lurgan) has been involved in a number of 24-7 prayer weeks. On separate occasions we have conducted a Prayer Week at the beginning of a new year. On 2 other occasions we have joined with other churches in the town to have a month of prayer focusing on the needs of the church, town, nation and world. During this time High Street hosted one of the four 24-7 weeks.

Tell us about how your church got involved in 24-7 prayer?

24-7 Prayer had been taking place in Lurgan for a few years, mostly involving young people and leaders from various churches in the town. As a result he young people and some adults were familiar with the vision of 24-7 Prayer. When the Methodist Church decided to set aside a year to pray, it was agreed that we would have 2 separate weeks to pray as a church.

Why did you decide to pray in this way?

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The Church had seen the benefits to praying in this way as the young people from the town had gathered together. Many people felt uncomfortable praying out loud or were intimidated by a normal prayer meeting. The prayer room provided a place where people of all ages could come and pray as they liked- quietly, writing, painting, dancing, in groups, reading prayers etc.

How did your church respond?

People of all ages in the church joined together and there was an amazing sense of unity and blessing. People who signed up for one hour quickly took the remaining hours that were free.
Most people said they found it so easy to pray and that there was a real sense of God's presence in the room. Others said what a blessing it was to just read and join with other prayers written. Some of the youngest children in church painted their prayers to God. One of the eldest members said it was a blessing to have lived to be part of this.

Any practical advice for a church thinking of trying this model out?

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Pray! Try it! Get a team together. Even a small team of creatives (to help set up the room) and volunteers (to help staff the room) will take pressure off one person. Make sure it is well promoted throughout the church and get input from all ages. Start off with a prayer day or a prayer weekend to give people a taster.

Tell us about the challenges and the blessings

Often the second or third time you do it can be challenging as the initial 'buzz' has worn off.
It also does involve a degree of sacrifice - usually sleep!
The blessings way outweigh the challenges - seeing people of all ages join in prayer together; To see a number of people in at the same time; to see people 'get' prayer for the first time; to see people come back day after day; to sense God doing a new work; to see that blessing spread to other churches in the town; to be in the presence of Almighty God - that is enough!