If prayer is to be the defining ministry of the Church. If it is to be the engine which drives everything else. If the Church is to be characterized by and saturated with prayer at every level, for all things, and at all times, then what might that look like in terms of day to day ministry? While we may be familiar with prayer being offered in its traditionally expected places - at the opening and closing of church meetings, or during the designated "pastoral prayer" slot in the Sunday morning service - we might not see how it is to be integrated into a church's ministry life so that it in fact characterizes and saturates that ministry.
This dynamic will then characterize how other leadership bodies in an HP church such as boards and ministry teams approach their work. Pastor Duke says, "In prayer we have found God's purpose for our church and an expanding region around our church." Someone may object that God has already revealed the purpose of the church in the scriptures. Which is true. But the assumption is that the specific ways and means of accomplishing that purpose are up to us or are also revealed in scripture, neither of which is true. God may have in mind a specific shape a ministry is to take which is unique for a given church in its own area. These specifics are revealed in the context of prayer when God's servants seek Him. Jesus Himself knew this specific guidance. God didn't just say to Him, "Reveal my glory." On the contrary Jesus testifies, "For I did not speak of my own accord, bu the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it," John 12:49. That's pretty specific!
An HP church also realizes the relationship between prayer and power in ministry. As prayer brings down the power of God for effective service, any service rendered without prayer will be powerless and ineffective. Therefore, in an HP church each service is preceded, accompanied, and followed by prayer for its impact. Major ministry thrusts, like an Easter outreach, may be preceded by several days, perhaps weeks, of prayer seeking the mobilization of the church and targeting unsaved people (preferably by name). Each pastor and staff worker may have their own special prayer team whose task it is to intercede for them and their ministry area throughout the year.
Ultimately the life of prayer in an HP church will span the entire congregation. Pastor Duke says, "Prayer has taken every conceivable form in our congregation. We pray in homes and in the streets, with believers from other churches, and over the lost." His church has over 40 prayer meetings per week, some for general needs, some for specific prayer.
Additionally, an HP church experiences truly corporate prayer. Pastor Duke says, "Our monthly Friday night concert of prayer serves as a good introduction to the prayer ministry for new members. This well organized service includes a lot of worship music, prayer by appointed leaders, and a little prayer in small groups. It allows people who haven't prayed in public to grow comfortable with the idea." (Quotations from Leadership, summer 2000).
