First Focus Prayer Meeting

As perhaps the most important ministry undertaking at First Baptist, First Focus Prayer Meeting occurs each Wednesday evening at 6:30pm. Our goal is to follow the example of the early church, who regularly met together for the purpose of prayer, as Acts 2:42ff, 4:23ff, 12:5ff, and many others clearly demonstrate. Despite the imperfections that often plagued the early church, their corporate prayer model represents a dependency upon God that we at First Baptist so desperately desire for our nation, our community, our church, and our individual families.

In each meeting, we have a clear desire to maintain a God-centered focus. Unlike some prayer meetings of yesterday, we do not follow the "take and make requests" approach that is too horizontal (and potentially stale/demoralizing) in its scope. Our goal is to maintain a clear God-focus that orients our perspective vertically. To this end, we follow this basic outline at each First Focus Prayer Meeting:

1. Focus on God (10-15 minutes) - We begin each meeting with a clear focus on God, looking to his activity or his character
2. Respond from the Heart (5-10 minutes) - After focusing on God, we allow time for personal or corporate response
3. Seek First the Kingdom (15-20 minutes) - Prior to beginning seeking our own requests, we first focus upon God's desires and will, which helps to situate all other requests
4. Present Our Requests (10-15 minutes) - After prioritizing God's will, we now present our own requests to the One who truly cares for what is best for us
5. Close in Celebration (5 minutes) - Having confidence that we have encountered the Living God in prayer, we close in celebration

Rather than creating a stale or stagnant approach to corporate prayer, the above outline - when performed with various activities and approaches to prayer - helps to create a God-focus, quick-paced, and uplifting time of prayer. We hope that you will join us each Wednesday evening at 6:30pm

Note: First Focus Prayer Meeting meet every Wednesday evening that AWANA also meets. Check the online event calendar for more information.