alpha conference prayer ministry guidelines
(Note: These are the prayer guidelines for ministry time at an Alpha conference, however, you may find them equally helpful in training your team for ministry times on Alpha weekends and healing nights.)
During the course of an Alpha Conference, there are typically a number of opportunities to minister to the delegates personally. These guidelines have been prepared for those who are part of the Prayer Ministry Team, which is authorised to minister to delegates in this way.
The purpose of the Prayer Ministry Team is to facilitate and co-operate with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those delegates who indicate that they are willing to receive such ministry.
The Prayer Ministry Team operates under the immediate authority of the leadership of the conference. This enables the leadership to maintain an appropriate degree of accountability from team members. In turn this allows delegates to be assured of the leadership’s confidence in those authorised to pray.
A. Prayer Ministry Values
The purposes of prayer ministry and the practice by which we seek to fulfil those purposes are shaped by a series of Biblical foundations or values.
1. Mission
God the Father in his love for the world is for us. He is committed to the salvation of the world and has sent his Son and his Spirit to effect that salvation and to draw us into his saving work. We seek to minister in obedience to the Father in agreement with his loving purposes.
2. Model
God the Son, in his life, death on the cross, resurrection and ascension is the foundation and model for all ministry. We have a ministry because of Christ and we seek to minister in a Christ-like manner and in such a way as to point to him.
3. Means
God the Spirit is the personal empowering presence of God and is the means by which the lordship of Christ is evidenced and implemented. We seek to minister in the power of the Spirit.
4. Ministry
God in his purposes has chosen to work through the church, Christ’s body, to implement his plan of salvation. We seek to be his instruments, conscious that we are but one member of the body.
5. Motive
Love is our motive. We seek the very highest for those we minister to, respecting their dignity and freedom at all times.
6. Measure
The Bible is the ultimate measure of our Christian faith and conduct. We seek to ensure that our ministry is always consistent with God’s word.
B. Prayer Ministry in Practice
1. Preparation
Be personally prepared. Give attention to: -
(a) Personal relationship with God. Stir up faith, hope and love through prayer and reflection on the Bible. Ensure that you are right with God (“Confess your sins...” James 5:14-16)
(b) Personal details. Check that breath, body odour, attire, cleanliness of hands and fingernails are acceptable.
(c) Personal style. Be aware of the style of ministry favoured by the leadership responsible for the direction of the meeting or conference and any specific instructions.
2. Preliminaries
a) Establish contact. Men pray with men and women with women. When praying in pairs married couples and single sex pairs only. It is vital that any misunderstandings are avoided.
(b) Establish relationship. Be warm and affirming. Introduce yourself.
(c) Establish environment. Sitting down or standing up? In the main conference hall or a side room? Generally, the context demands standing up and this in practice is the ideal. You may need however to help someone sit or kneel, or even lie down on the floor. Only move to a side room with the agreement of the team leader. Before the conference starts, be aware of the conference hall and what space there will be to minister in.
(d) Establish issue. Ask questions in a non-confrontational manner (“what can I pray for?”, “how would you like me to pray?” &c.). Please note there is limited time. Accordingly, this is not the place to listen to a life history or to engage in deep counselling.
(e) Facilitating Ministry. You may need to prepare a delegate to receive prayer. Offer a word of scripture or encouragement to raise faith. You may need to address fear or rationalism. Encourage the delegate to be expectant and perhaps to hold out their hands as if to receive something. Invite them to focus as best they know how on Jesus and not to pray themselves.
(f) Listening. Listen carefully to the person, “listen” to their body language, and be praying constantly, seeking wisdom, knowledge and discernment.
3. Prayer
(a) Permission to pray
Say how you propose to pray - asking permission to lay your hands on the delegate as part of the ministry. Do not touch or be in danger of being seen to touch inappropriate areas. Be gentle - do not lean on people!
(b) Praying
(i) Ask the Holy Spirit to come and lay your hand(s) gently on a shoulder or the head.
(ii) Use Biblical prayers and language. Remember ministry must be edifying. We seek to affirm, encourage, empower and exhort. In this context we do not rebuke or direct.
(iii) Avoid eccentricities. Be natural not intense. There is no need to shake or shout or use “religious” language. When praying “in tongues” do so silently. Never push, pull or apply physical pressure.
(iv) Watch. Pray with eyes open watching the delegate and endeavouring to discern what the Holy Spirit is doing. Bless what you discern to be God’s work.
(v)Swaying / falling. Occasionally people receiving prayer fall to the ground. If a delegate appears to be about to fall, help them to sit or lie down. If a delegate does fall, remain with them. Keep praying for them as long as you believe it to be appropriate and maintain a point of physical contact. If eventually you decide to leave to pray with someone else, tell them and pray God’s blessing and protection on them.
(vi) Prophetic revelation. You may come to believe that God has given you a prophetic revelation, which is relevant to the delegate you are praying with. In the first instance use it to inform your prayer. If you decide to speak it out “offer it” in such a manner that the delegate can weigh it and reject it without embarrassment. Remember “no dates, mates or directive prophecies”.
(vii) Uncertainty. If you are uncertain as to how to pray effectively for a delegate, or if you become ill at ease with what appears to happen as you pray, do not hesitate to seek advice from a team leader. If you do break off from praying let the delegate know you propose to speak to a team leader.
Review
Speak to the delegate. Never be afraid to ask common sense questions. (“Do you understand God to be saying anything?”; “Are you aware of God doing anything?”) Continue or adjust your prayer accordingly.
Concluding the Prayer
Assure the delegate of God the Father’s love for them regardless of any apparent outcome. It is the Holy Spirit’s ministry, therefore there is no need to be disappointed if our desired outcome is not immediately apparent. Answers to prayer can appear to be gradual as opposed to immediate.
Encourage them to receive more prayer. Give them Scriptures to read.
Remember the corporate context. Direct them back into the fellowship of the local church.
Never advise, suggest, hint or imply discontinuation of any course of treatment or medicine.
Love demands that we maintain confidentiality at all times. If you want to share what has gone on in the ministry time (e.g. a healing) in a wider context you must ask permission.
Team Members:
Conduct any necessary debriefing with the Prayer Leader (ie. discussion of difficult issues / sharing of testimonies etc) and then receive prayer, if desired, before you leave.
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