Growing in Prayer Together

Week of Prayer

 Looking back at this year’s Week of Prayer, I can't help but feel grateful for how our church has embraced it. Many churches have tried similar things, but I’ve never seen a congregation take it to heart as much as ours. Prayer can be a challenge—committing to an hour in the prayer room is a stretch for many—but time and again, I’ve heard people say how surprised they were by how quickly the time passed and how meaningful it was.

 The goal of the Week of Prayer isn’t just about coming together as a church; it’s about each of us personally deepening our prayer life. When the whole church is praying day and night, there’s an undeniable sense of God’s presence. That experience isn’t meant to end after one week—we pray that the time spent in that room lifts our ongoing prayer life, even if only by a few more minutes every day.

 There’s something special about the prayer room itself. Sure, you can pray anywhere, but being in that space, surrounded by prayer requests, praises, and reminders of how God has worked all taped to the walls, helps keep us focused. Moving from station to station, writing down prayers, lifting up the needs of our church family—it’s a place designed to teach us to pray more deeply.

 This year, our Week of Prayer followed a sermon series on prayer, focusing on Jesus’ teaching on the Lord's Prayer. One thing that resonated with many was using it as a guide in personal prayer. Prayer isn’t just talking to God—it’s communing with Him, and that takes practice. Many of us were never really taught how to pray. But as a church, we can grow together, learning step by step how to draw closer to God through prayer.

Mike Rybka
Lead Pastor