One of the goals that Porirua Gospel Chapel (PGC) has set for 2025 is to encourage the church toward more prayer awareness as to what God is doing both in them and outside their walls.
This goal hasn’t come through big campaigns, but through steady, simple practices: prayer in twos or threes during services, structured and responsive prayers, and a prayer space available at the end of each service.
Elder Mark Broadbent shares:
“Our intention is to encourage prayer as ‘the way we do things around here!’ When we catch up with anyone formally or informally, we look for opportunities to pray together. ‘Can I pray for you?’”
This year, PGC journeyed through a five-week teaching series on prayer, not only focused on the theology of prayer but also very practical. During school holidays, they used their all-age services to showcase alternative ways to pray that meet the diversity of styles inherent in their fellowship.
Prayer apps such as Lectio 365 and YouVersion were encouraged, and paper-based and online resources were made available to take home.
Beyond the walls of the church building, people have been engaging with their communities through prayer walks, supported by the Holy Here app. The app prompts believers to walk their streets while praying “Thy Kingdom Come” in every place.
Mark writes:
“We have learnt that many of our people carry very miraculous stories about the ways that Cannons Creek and Waitangirua have changed for the better. When our people got out to pray, and walk these streets, their eyes were opened to the people and places that surrounded us.
“We still have much to learn in the prayer space, but we are greatly encouraged by greater awareness of what God is doing ‘in us’ and ‘outside our walls’!”
