"We serve a living God of love and power who has the desire to not only touch us at our point of need, but to transform our lives, to turn our world upside down, so that He can use us poor earthen vessels to the glory of His Name."
If you would like to meet with a team for prayer ministry, please contact Terry Riggins at [email protected] or 703-224-1631.
If you would like to meet with a team for prayer ministry, please contact Terry Riggins at [email protected] or 703-224-1631.
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When to Pray, How to Pray, and What to Say
Opportunities to bring the Gospel to others happen every day: while having coffee with a friend, on the metro, in the store, on campus, or at the gym. When we ask to pray with people, the Holy Spirit equips us to help them encounter His love and power in their lives. In this talk, learn how to pray with others, how to recognize when you are being called to pray, and what to say. |
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How we Pray with People
"We're relying not on our talents or our knowledge but on the Spirit and the gifts that He distributes as He will. We expect the Lord to work through His People." |
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How we Pray with People
"We're relying not on our talents or our knowledge but on the Spirit and the gifts that He distributes as He will. We expect the Lord to work through His People." |
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Prayer Ministry Guidelines
When someone contacts us and asks to meet and pray with someone, they can trust that the people on the prayer team we connect them to are mature Christians who can keep confidentiality. |
Guidelines for Prayer Teams - Catholic Diocese of Arlington
Compiled by Terry Riggins, Parish Liaison to the Charismatic Renewal
All prayer ministry teams that are functioning as part of a Charismatic prayer group in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington are asked to follow these guidelines in order to assure the best prayer experience to all who come seeking the will of God for their lives.
Prayer ministers shall minister in teams of 2 or 3. There should always be a male on the team praying with a male and a female on a team praying with a female if they are in a room alone.
Ask the person their name, and always ask permission before laying hands on the individual. We see this in the bible as a way of being a vessel communicating God’s love and showing our care for the person. If given permission, lay hands on the head or shoulders. You do not have to touch the area of the sickness. Stand or sit in front of them or just to the side, never behind. Do not massage.
No blessed oil in a Church setting such as before or after Mass, so people will not confuse your prayers with the sacramental anointing of the sick.
Prayer team members should control their own shaking or trembling under the anointing so as to not cause distress to the person for whom you are praying.
One person should take the lead each session. After the leader finishes praying, if the Lord has given the intercessor something additional, then say it, but please do not repeat the same prayer over again.
Also, prayers session such as this should be short in length, no more than 5-15 minutes.
Pray with your eyes open, although you may suggest that the prayee close their eyes to minimize distractions.
Be gentle, loving and sensitive to other people’s needs. Listen to their request. Listening with compassion and not showing judgment can be a great source of healing in and of itself.
Direct their attention to Jesus as the one who heals.
Do not use too many words. Here are some examples where we may be tempted to “talk” to people rather than pray with them.
a) Wanting others to feel our immediate love and concern leads to praying too quickly.
b) Wanting people to see us as “capable.” (Why are they taking so long to pray for me?)
c) Wanting to get an inspired “word” for someone so much that you share something that is not inspired.
d) Liking the attention we are getting from the person we are praying with.
If you do not have a catcher, the prayee should be seated.
If you do have a catcher, do not push people down. If the Lord wants them to rest in the Spirit, He can do it. Do not disturb people resting in the Spirit, except when they are on the ground a long time and it is necessary to clear the area. A sheet or some other covering should be on hand to keep the person modestly covered, particularly with women in skirts or dresses.
Be prudent in sharing discerning of spirits and words of knowledge as you minister. Some words are only for the minister and not for the one being prayed for. Always phrase things in a positive rather than negative way. Example: If you feel Jesus is telling them that they have unforgiveness, ask them instead if there is anyone in their lives they might be struggling to forgive. Never tell anyone that they have a spirit or demon or are cursed. Also, never mention vocational calling in a definitive way, such as “God is calling you into the priesthood: say instead, “Have you ever thought of becoming a priest”, etc. Please also stay away from “foretelling” future events such as marriage, deaths and births. PLEASE. Forth-telling, prophesying God’s good intentions for them, is more spiritually edifying.
You have a responsibility to keep confidential anything that you learn in the course of praying with someone. But if a person discloses anything that may involve abuse of a minor, we do have the obligation to report this within 24 hours to the Fairfax County Child Protective Services hotline 703-324-7400 with any details you may have gotten. You do not have to tell the individual that you are doing this.
Do not give advice, only appropriate, prudent spiritual encouragement. You may encourage them to go to Confessions, to forgive someone, and to avoid the occasions of sin or occult practices. Do not suggest names of doctors, lawyers, counselors, helpful herbal supplements, etc.
General and deprecatory prayers of deliverance from evil can be prayed, such as “May the Lord surround you with His angels, protect and bless you” or “May no weapon formed against you prosper.”
When ministering with individuals, if the source of the problem is suspected to be of the evil one, or if they begin to manifest with distracting behavior, you may say a deprecatory binding prayer (not addressing evil spirits by name but asking the Lord to do it) silently in your mind such as “Lord Jesus Christ, may You bind all manifestations of any evil spirit present here and bring (person’s name) your peace and comfort.” Do not address any evil spirits by name either out loud or in your thoughts. Due to the uncertainty in discernment and the possible psychological damage to a person, the possibility of diabolical oppression, obsession or possession as the source of the problem will NOT be mentioned to the individual. Outwardly, just calmly speak the name of the person you are praying with, telling them they have the ability to regain control, assuring them they are loved by God. When they are in control, say a prayer of blessing over them and gently suggest they may want to consult with their pastor. The Diocese has procedures in place to address those in need of greater spiritual care, and the pastors know the guidelines.
A couple of members of the prayer group leadership team should also be chosen to oversee prayer ministry services to keep order and deal with any problems that may arise. Then, if someone being prayed with is becoming a distraction, these people can intervene and take them to a private place.
Every prayer need is an opportunity for evangelizing people to come to a greater yielding of their lives to Christ as Lord. After prayer for their needs, ask the person if they have ever made a personal commitment to Jesus asking Him to be at the center of their life.
Example: Have you made a conscious decision to surrender every area of your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, telling Jesus that you want to honor Him first in your life as your Lord and Savior? Would you like me to pray with you to welcome Jesus into your heart? You can repeat after me: “Father God, I am sorry for all of my sins. I ask for the grace of a deeply repentant heart. Thank you for loving me and sending your Son, Jesus Christ to pay the price for all my sins and the sins of others that have hurt me. I make a choice today to surrender to you with all my heart and soul. Please come into my heart in a deeper way, forgive me, and heal my hurts. I forgive those who have hurt me. I want to follow you all the days of my life and rejoice in your love for all eternity.”
If they do this, and there is time, you may then explain that Jesus told us to pray for the Holy Spirit. Ask them if you can pray with them to be open to stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit they received at their Baptism. You may use such as these:
“Jesus, I know that that I am yours and you are mine forever. Please stir of the gift of your Spirit in me that I might have the power to live this new life with you. Release your Spirit in me, that I may experience you presence and power in my life, that I may find new meaning in your Scriptures, that I may find new meaning in the Sacraments, that I may find delight and comfort in prayer, that I may be able to love as you love and forgive as you forgive, that I may discover and use the gifts you give me to bring glory to your name and build up your body on earth. May I experience the abundant life that you promise to all who follow you. Fill me your Spirit, Jesus. I wish to receive all that you have to give me.”
When people feel burdened or persecuted, pray for renewed strength and boldness through the Holy Spirit (see Acts 4:23-31).Help people not to focus on just getting rid of their problems, but seeking God’s will in every area of their lives. End with a blessing!
Sources: CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL RESOURCES, Fr. Bob Hogan, BBD http://cccrsa.net/charismaticcenter/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Charismatic-PG-Resources.pdf
RENEWAL AND THE POWER OF DARKNESS, Cardinal Suenens http://webmedia.jcu.edu.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/Suenens%20Writings/Renewal%20%26%20the%20Powers%20of%20Darkness%20by%20Leon%20Joseph%20Suenens.pdf
GUIDELINES ON PRAYERS FOR HEALING, International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services Doctrinal Commission 5th edition revised (April 2012), Vera Cruz Communications, Inc.
All prayer ministry teams that are functioning as part of a Charismatic prayer group in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington are asked to follow these guidelines in order to assure the best prayer experience to all who come seeking the will of God for their lives.
Prayer ministers shall minister in teams of 2 or 3. There should always be a male on the team praying with a male and a female on a team praying with a female if they are in a room alone.
Ask the person their name, and always ask permission before laying hands on the individual. We see this in the bible as a way of being a vessel communicating God’s love and showing our care for the person. If given permission, lay hands on the head or shoulders. You do not have to touch the area of the sickness. Stand or sit in front of them or just to the side, never behind. Do not massage.
No blessed oil in a Church setting such as before or after Mass, so people will not confuse your prayers with the sacramental anointing of the sick.
Prayer team members should control their own shaking or trembling under the anointing so as to not cause distress to the person for whom you are praying.
One person should take the lead each session. After the leader finishes praying, if the Lord has given the intercessor something additional, then say it, but please do not repeat the same prayer over again.
Also, prayers session such as this should be short in length, no more than 5-15 minutes.
Pray with your eyes open, although you may suggest that the prayee close their eyes to minimize distractions.
Be gentle, loving and sensitive to other people’s needs. Listen to their request. Listening with compassion and not showing judgment can be a great source of healing in and of itself.
Direct their attention to Jesus as the one who heals.
Do not use too many words. Here are some examples where we may be tempted to “talk” to people rather than pray with them.
a) Wanting others to feel our immediate love and concern leads to praying too quickly.
b) Wanting people to see us as “capable.” (Why are they taking so long to pray for me?)
c) Wanting to get an inspired “word” for someone so much that you share something that is not inspired.
d) Liking the attention we are getting from the person we are praying with.
If you do not have a catcher, the prayee should be seated.
If you do have a catcher, do not push people down. If the Lord wants them to rest in the Spirit, He can do it. Do not disturb people resting in the Spirit, except when they are on the ground a long time and it is necessary to clear the area. A sheet or some other covering should be on hand to keep the person modestly covered, particularly with women in skirts or dresses.
Be prudent in sharing discerning of spirits and words of knowledge as you minister. Some words are only for the minister and not for the one being prayed for. Always phrase things in a positive rather than negative way. Example: If you feel Jesus is telling them that they have unforgiveness, ask them instead if there is anyone in their lives they might be struggling to forgive. Never tell anyone that they have a spirit or demon or are cursed. Also, never mention vocational calling in a definitive way, such as “God is calling you into the priesthood: say instead, “Have you ever thought of becoming a priest”, etc. Please also stay away from “foretelling” future events such as marriage, deaths and births. PLEASE. Forth-telling, prophesying God’s good intentions for them, is more spiritually edifying.
You have a responsibility to keep confidential anything that you learn in the course of praying with someone. But if a person discloses anything that may involve abuse of a minor, we do have the obligation to report this within 24 hours to the Fairfax County Child Protective Services hotline 703-324-7400 with any details you may have gotten. You do not have to tell the individual that you are doing this.
Do not give advice, only appropriate, prudent spiritual encouragement. You may encourage them to go to Confessions, to forgive someone, and to avoid the occasions of sin or occult practices. Do not suggest names of doctors, lawyers, counselors, helpful herbal supplements, etc.
General and deprecatory prayers of deliverance from evil can be prayed, such as “May the Lord surround you with His angels, protect and bless you” or “May no weapon formed against you prosper.”
When ministering with individuals, if the source of the problem is suspected to be of the evil one, or if they begin to manifest with distracting behavior, you may say a deprecatory binding prayer (not addressing evil spirits by name but asking the Lord to do it) silently in your mind such as “Lord Jesus Christ, may You bind all manifestations of any evil spirit present here and bring (person’s name) your peace and comfort.” Do not address any evil spirits by name either out loud or in your thoughts. Due to the uncertainty in discernment and the possible psychological damage to a person, the possibility of diabolical oppression, obsession or possession as the source of the problem will NOT be mentioned to the individual. Outwardly, just calmly speak the name of the person you are praying with, telling them they have the ability to regain control, assuring them they are loved by God. When they are in control, say a prayer of blessing over them and gently suggest they may want to consult with their pastor. The Diocese has procedures in place to address those in need of greater spiritual care, and the pastors know the guidelines.
A couple of members of the prayer group leadership team should also be chosen to oversee prayer ministry services to keep order and deal with any problems that may arise. Then, if someone being prayed with is becoming a distraction, these people can intervene and take them to a private place.
Every prayer need is an opportunity for evangelizing people to come to a greater yielding of their lives to Christ as Lord. After prayer for their needs, ask the person if they have ever made a personal commitment to Jesus asking Him to be at the center of their life.
Example: Have you made a conscious decision to surrender every area of your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, telling Jesus that you want to honor Him first in your life as your Lord and Savior? Would you like me to pray with you to welcome Jesus into your heart? You can repeat after me: “Father God, I am sorry for all of my sins. I ask for the grace of a deeply repentant heart. Thank you for loving me and sending your Son, Jesus Christ to pay the price for all my sins and the sins of others that have hurt me. I make a choice today to surrender to you with all my heart and soul. Please come into my heart in a deeper way, forgive me, and heal my hurts. I forgive those who have hurt me. I want to follow you all the days of my life and rejoice in your love for all eternity.”
If they do this, and there is time, you may then explain that Jesus told us to pray for the Holy Spirit. Ask them if you can pray with them to be open to stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit they received at their Baptism. You may use such as these:
“Jesus, I know that that I am yours and you are mine forever. Please stir of the gift of your Spirit in me that I might have the power to live this new life with you. Release your Spirit in me, that I may experience you presence and power in my life, that I may find new meaning in your Scriptures, that I may find new meaning in the Sacraments, that I may find delight and comfort in prayer, that I may be able to love as you love and forgive as you forgive, that I may discover and use the gifts you give me to bring glory to your name and build up your body on earth. May I experience the abundant life that you promise to all who follow you. Fill me your Spirit, Jesus. I wish to receive all that you have to give me.”
When people feel burdened or persecuted, pray for renewed strength and boldness through the Holy Spirit (see Acts 4:23-31).Help people not to focus on just getting rid of their problems, but seeking God’s will in every area of their lives. End with a blessing!
Sources: CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL RESOURCES, Fr. Bob Hogan, BBD http://cccrsa.net/charismaticcenter/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Charismatic-PG-Resources.pdf
RENEWAL AND THE POWER OF DARKNESS, Cardinal Suenens http://webmedia.jcu.edu.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/Suenens%20Writings/Renewal%20%26%20the%20Powers%20of%20Darkness%20by%20Leon%20Joseph%20Suenens.pdf
GUIDELINES ON PRAYERS FOR HEALING, International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services Doctrinal Commission 5th edition revised (April 2012), Vera Cruz Communications, Inc.