Praying for others
How to pray for your church, with a weekly plan and Scripture
· 2 min read
How to pray for your church, with what to ask for your pastors, members, and mission, Bible verses to pray, and a weekly plan to keep it going.
To pray for your church, pray for its leaders, its members, and its mission, using Scripture as your guide. The early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Praying for your church is part of belonging to it.
How do you pray for your church?
Praying for your church is a practice of bringing its leaders, its members, and its mission to God each week. Pray for your pastors and elders to preach and lead faithfully, for members by name, especially those who are sick, grieving, or new, and for the gospel to go out through your church into your city and the world. A simple weekly plan keeps it going.
Pray for your pastors and elders
- That they would preach the Word faithfully (2 Timothy 4:2)
- That they would shepherd with humility and care (1 Peter 5:2-3)
- For boldness and clear words (Ephesians 6:19)
- For rest, health, and their families
For a weekly plan and prayers to pray before he preaches, see how to pray for your pastor. For urgent needs, many churches keep a prayer chain.
Pray for your members
- For those who are sick, grieving, or caring for someone (James 5:14-16)
- For new believers to grow (Colossians 2:6-7)
- For love and unity (John 13:34-35, Ephesians 4:3)
- For families, singles, children, and older members by name
Pray for your church’s mission
- That the gospel would spread in your city (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
- For missionaries your church supports
- For neighbors near your building
Write a prayer card for each church need, and give it a category.
A weekly plan for praying for your church
- Monday: pastors and elders
- Tuesday: members who are sick or grieving
- Wednesday: missions and missionaries
- Thursday: children and youth
- Friday: your city and neighbors
- Saturday: Sunday’s worship and preaching
For a list you can copy, see this prayer list for church.
Pray for your church in The Pray App
Make a prayer card for each part of your church and set each one to weekly on its day. Home shows the right cards each day, and you pray through them one at a time.
The Pray App is free on the App Store. See how to choose how often a prayer comes up.
Questions people ask
What should I pray for my church?
Pray for faithful preaching, wise leaders, love among members, care for the sick and grieving, growth in new believers, and the gospel to spread in your city.
How do I pray for my pastor?
Pray that your pastor would preach the Word faithfully, lead with humility, stay close to God, and have rest. Paul asked churches to pray for his boldness (Ephesians 6:19).
How often should I pray for my church?
Pray for your church every week. Spread it across days, such as leaders on Monday and members on Tuesday, so each day's prayer stays focused.
Related guides
- How to lead a prayer group or prayer meetingHow to lead a prayer group or prayer meeting, a simple plan for the time, how to help quiet people pray, and short opening and closing prayers you can use.
- How to pray for your pastor, with ScriptureHow to pray for your pastor, what to pray before he preaches, how to pray for his family, Bible verses to pray, and a simple weekly plan you can keep.
- How to start a prayer group at church, home or onlineHow to start a prayer group at church, at home, at work or online, who to invite, what to do the first time, and how to keep praying between meetings.
- What is a prayer chain, and how to start oneWhat a prayer chain is, how a church prayer chain passes requests along, how to write a prayer chain request, and how to start one for your church or group.