This Community Prayer Walk is a great way to intentionally pray for your local area as a church or group. It’s an opportunity to take notice of the people and places that surround you, and to understand and pray for their needs. By walking with others, you will also be able to share stories, thoughts and prayer styles.
How to participate
In groups, walk around your local community praying for the people and places you come across. Stop at different locations and pray as a group, using the Bible readings below as inspiration. Pray for all that God is doing and will do in each space.
- Split participants into groups of 4-6. If you can, have a range of ages and try to mix groups outside of natural family or friendship networks.
- Gather all groups together out the front of your church building (or home) and pray for the congregation. Following this, participants can begin walking to their first prayer location.
- Direct groups to each start at a different prayer location. Groups can then move from location to location praying as they feel led and using the Bible verses and prayer prompts below to guide their time together.
- Let participants know when they should return to the church or meeting place. And then enjoy a time of connection and sharing over morning tea or lunch. Invite people to share any insights or reflections they had from the prayer walk.
Optional: Side quests
For some additional elements to the prayer walk, invite participants to pay attention to signs and billboards and pray for the businesses who put them there and the intercultural team members who serve there.
And/or try different types of prayer at each location:
- Silent prayer
- Praying out loud all at once
- One person leading the prayer
- Incorporating the senses
- Praying while moving
Suggested locations for community prayer walk
1. School
1 Timothy 4:12 ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.’
- Pray that school will be a place where young people feel accepted and empowered to learn. Pray that they will form healthy relationships with one another.
- Pray for the teachers and staff at the school. Pray that God will give them wisdom, strength and patience as they guide their students.
2. Neighbouring church
1 Corinthians 12:27 ‘Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.’
- Give thanks for the faithfulness of believers in your area and that many are able to openly live out their faith.
- Pray for unity and understanding between followers of Jesus. Pray that the love and passion of the church will spread into the wider community.
3. City Council building
Galatians 6:9 ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’
- Pray that the leaders in your area will be wise in their decision making.
- Pray that God will bless your community with just and creative leaders who act in the best interest of the community. Pray that people can thrive in your community.
4. Shopping centre or main street
Hebrews 13:1-3 ‘Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.’
- Pray for those who work in this space. Pray that they won’t get caught up in the busyness of life and will instead find joy in the everyday. Pray that God’s Spirit will grow Gospel curiosity in people’s hearts.
- Thank God for the diverse group of people He has placed in your area. Pray that newcomers will feel welcomed.
5. Park
John 1: 1-5 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’
- Thank God for His beautiful creation. Pray that as we enjoy it, we are reminded of Him and His love for us.
- Pray for families and friends that visit the park, may they find peace and joy in each other’s company. Pray for families to be a loving and safe place for all.
