4 Ways To Pray in Community

There are many different ways Christians around the world pray in community. Try these new ways of praying in groups and explore how these deepen your relationship with God and the body of Christ.

1. Praying in Groups — Simultaneously

“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God…” Acts 4:24 (NIV).

In the Bible, we see God’s people praying simultaneously. This type of prayer involves praying out loud at the same time. Sometimes the prayer is focused on a specific topic, but other times it’s more open-ended. This type of prayer has been called “Prayers in Concert” in African and Latino cultures, but it is also known as Tongsung Kido in Korean.

Praying out loud simultaneously can be a beautiful and freeing experience for your prayers. You don’t have to worry about “messing up” because everyone is focused on pouring their hearts out to God. God experiences “prayers in concert” all the time and from people all across the world. He hears each one and knows exactly how to respond — that’s powerful!

2. Praying With Your Body 

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” Psalm 95:6 (NIV).

The Bible encourages us to use our bodies as expressions of what is going on in our souls. There isn’t one specific posture for prayer, even when you’re praying in groups. Praying with your body could mean kneeling, lying face down, lifting your arms, or praying while walking.

In many cultures around the world, there is an emphasis on praying and worshiping with your entire body, which could include bowing your head in prayer, holding hands together in a circle, or dancing in praise.

3. Waiting in Prayer Together

“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield” Psalm 33:20 (NIV).

Sometimes we don’t always know what to pray, and as we join together with others, it may be best to wait together.

However, sometimes as you wait together for the Lord, He will lead your group to certain Scriptures, possibly images, and even specific ways to pray. Various Christians who come from Latino cultures commonly pray and seek God together in large groups. This can be a way to reflect deep faith in waiting and watching for God to powerfully move.

4. Praying Scripture in Community

“Give us today our daily bread” Matthew 6:11 (NIV).

What better way is there to pray in groups and connect with God than praying His Word? In this type of prayer, there may be spontaneous readings of Scriptures out loud, using them as a foundation for prayer.

The beauty of speaking God’s Word doesn’t have to be in community. It can be done around your home, in your car, or on a walk. Speaking truth is very powerful, especially when you pray for those in your life. 

In other parts of the world, Christians will use other words for “bread” in the Lord’s Prayer to contextualize Jesus’ words. As you pray Scripture, think about how you can apply the Word of God in the context of your community.