When we broach the subject of prayer, we hear people who are not yet active in it "qualify," making statements such as, "I know I should pray more." If we speak of prayer ministry, we often sense in the other the same desire to define, so we hear something like, "What do you mean? Prayer ministry is, a little, well, ... vague." So, here it is: God ministers to us in prayer. Prayer ministry is helping to facilitate that: on the phone, before or after activities, but for our purpose as church, we are mainly thinking about having a set time to meet each week for prayer, or attaching a time of prayer to worship services, retreats, and workshops.

 It is helpful to acknowledge that we are all afraid at first that when we pray aloud that our words might be judged as somehow inadequate once made known. It is best for all of us, especially we Lutherans who never show our hearts? fears to anyone, to own up to this. As a rookie pastor, I was told that a few of the women wanted to have a prayer meeting, and I immediately wondered how my prayers would be judged, and I even thought of it competitively, "How would it look if someone prayed better than me?"

This brings up the subject of gifts and fruit. After some experience and reflection, hopefully there will be someone better at making intercession to God in a prayer meeting than the pastor. Having a praying spirit is a gift, and different people have different gifts and different callings. This is related to how there are people in each congregation who a greater gift of evangelism than the pastor. Clearly, the pastor is blessed when he or she has intercessors and evangelists who can be identified, commissioned, and leaned upon to carry on a congregation?s mission. Pastors are called away, but praying people stay! Intercessors do invaluable service. Mine hold up my arms when I am weary in battle like Aaron and Hur did for Moses. Exodus 17:8-16 illustrates ministry is ongoing, it often is a battle, and it is best done as a team. Our enemy is not flesh and blood. We need spiritual discernment in all we do. If you are uneasy about having someone coming to you for prayer, good: just be humble and wait for the Lord, but be aware that while different gifts are given by the Spirit, all Christians grow all the fruit, so we can all pray, witness, evangelize, shepherd, disciple and serve unashamedly.

The following are some helpful prayer ministry basics, and as you see, they are for the most part very mundane. Remember, God takes a basic thing like water, bread, grape juice, and turns them into means of grace. Many Lutherans focus for how God meets them is in Word and Sacrament and do not expect prayer to be on the same order as a means of grace, but it is a fact that Martin Luther understood the fundamental form of the means of grace to be the spoken word by which the forgiveness of sin is preached to the whole world. Luther did not confine that to pulpit and altar.[1] The same office is exercised in when we pray for another aloud, and that is the definition of prayer ministry! You be the plain element, the Holy Spirit takes plain words and supernaturally gives new life to the one being prayed over. Both have only to receive.

Prayer Ministry Helps: Recently an interviewer asked a producer why a singer could be heard saying "Get off the stage!" before the song began. He wanted the song to sound more intimate, and the veteran performer knew that he had been singing like he was on tour, so before he could be personal, he told himself, "Get off the stage!" If you ever feel like you are on stage when praying, ask God to remove you. Also:

• Be wary of giving unintentional gifts, (play it safe, have a breath mints handy!)
• Ask the individuals name, tell them yours, and ask what they desire. If standing, ask if it is okay to place your hand on their shoulders, and keep your eyes open: be aware of the slight possibility of fainting. Of course, if this is in the sanctuary, the person can kneel at the altar
• Tell them you want to begin in silence and wait upon the Lord, then do it.
• Slowly add to the prayer as God leads to make the prayer holistic. We can never know what healing God wants to do. A pattern would be to prayer for body, mind, spirit, emotions, family, and friends.
• We can keep in mind the prayers in the Service of Anointing for Healing which always ask for God to give us more faith. People should know a connection to a community of faith through this.