Prayer is the backbone of any church community. While collecting prayer requests is a powerful way to show your people that you care for them, for many churchgoers, submitting prayer requests is a lot of work. Why is that? And what can churches do about it?
In reality, the reason is more simple than you might think: the traditional method of submitting prayer requests is too time-consuming and confusing.
Why Prayer Requests Go Unsubmitted
The traditional method of submitting a prayer request at church involves finding a prayer card, writing out the request, and placing it in a designated box or handing it to a church leader. This process presents challenges including:
Inconvenience: People have to find a prayer card and pen and write out their request, which is time consuming.
Privacy Concerns: Fear of exposure stops people from sharing a personal issue in their prayer requests, especially in a close-knit community where everyone knows each other. The fear that their concerns might become a widely known story rather than sincere prayer is a barrier.
Lack of Follow-Up: Once a request is submitted, people often have no idea if or when their prayer will be addressed. This uncertainty can discourage people from submitting requests in the first place.
The Power of Text Messages: Prayer Management
Church texting platforms give churches an easy and seamless way to gather, manage, and respond to prayer requests. Gloo’s Prayer Inbox ensures no prayer request falls through the cracks while allowing anyone to submit a request right from their phones, ensuring a seamless and private submission process
Here’s how it works:
Collect Requests: Gloo automatically flags text messages with certain keywords as prayer requests and will send them directly to your Prayer Inbox. You can also display a QR code during your Sunday service that congregants can scan. This code will provide them with the necessary information to text their prayer request.
Respond Seamlessly: Once the request is texted, it goes directly to the Prayer Inbox, where the prayer team leader can see it immediately, and Gloo will immediately let the congregant know that their request has been received.
Assign and Notify: The prayer team leader can then assign the request to a volunteer or team member, who will pray for the requester and notify them promptly that their prayer has been addressed, so that no one is left wondering if they are being cared for.
The Secret Ingredient: Why the Prayer Inbox Works
The Prayer Inbox removes the barriers associated with traditional prayer request methods and offers several key benefits:
Ease of Use: Congregants can use their phones—the preferred way to communicate—to send in their requests quickly and conveniently.
Timeliness: Churches receive requests instantly, allowing for easier management and faster response time.
Follow-Up: Texting allows the churches to let someone know when they’ve been prayed for, providing reassurance and a personal touch.
The Impact on Your Church: More Prayer Than Ever
With texting and a Prayer Request Inbox, you can ensure that more prayers are being submitted and responded to at your church. People will feel more comfortable and valued, knowing their requests are being handled promptly and with care. By leveraging the Prayer Inbox, you can overcome these barriers and foster a stronger prayer culture at your church. Sign up for your free texting account today to start collecting more requests than ever.