One Thursday morning, I woke up early and rushed to the Thanksgiving Church in Pudong New District, Shanghai, to attend a prayer meeting.
Even from downstairs, I could hear believers' singing voice. I chose a seat toward the back and joined in singing. After the hymn, the pastor began leading us in a Bible study, which focused on Psalms 34 and 35 that day. He said that the Word of God is the foundation, and all other ministries are built upon this foundation. "Where God's word is, His power is also present."
Afterwards, attendees were divided into four prayer groups, each consisting of 10 to 15 people. The members of each group sat in a circle, and the group leader held a stack of prayer requests written by believers. After the leader read one paper with explanations, we would pray for the person mentioned, each prayer lasting about three minutes.
Sitting there, I found myself immersed in the atmosphere of intercessory prayer. Although I had personal struggles with a desire to pray for myself, the Holy Spirit worked powerfully, moving me to join in praying for others.
From time to time, I could hear elderly women nearby calling out some names and pleading to the Lord. Then, each of us shared our prayer requests, and everyone of us prayed for the person on our left. An elderly woman beside me pulled out a small notebook and handed me a pen, asking me to write my name on it.
Since it was a weekday, most of the attendees were elderly, and many of their prayer requests were for others. As each person shared their requests, everyone would double-check to make sure they had heard correctly, and some would even write down the prayer topic as they listened. It seemed that outside of church, these elderly believers often pulled out their notebooks at home to pray for each person by name.
A pastor once said that you cannot buy genuine intercession. Through the love of Christ, we have the heart of an intercessor, transcending our limitations. In places unknown to you, many people are praying for you.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
周四早晨，我早早起来乘地铁赶往上海浦东新区感恩教堂参加祷告聚会，在楼下就听到弟兄姐妹赞美的声音。我选一个靠后的位置坐下，一起跟着吟唱。一首诗歌后牧者开始带领大家查经，当天学习的是诗篇34和35篇。牧师带领大家一起诵读后，逐句讲解。牧师解释说圣言是教会的根基，其他的都是在这个事工之下展开的。“上帝的话语在这里，他的能力就在这里。”
牧师讲解近一个小时后，大家分成四个小组开始祷告；每个小组10到15人，我也参与其中一组。
各小组围圈而坐，带领的人手里拿着代祷信，上面有信徒平时写下的代祷请求；带领的人一张张解释。她读一张，我们就为相应的人祷告，每次持续三分钟左右。坐在现场的我，完全融入到代祷氛围里了。虽然我有个人的难处，想为自己祷告；但圣灵强烈地工作，使我情不自禁地加入到代祷的行列。
偶尔听到身边老奶奶喊着名字恳切向主祈求。我们一轮轮地祷告，进行了数次。之后大家分享个人的祷告题目，每个人为自己左手边的人祷。旁边的老奶奶拿出小本，递给我笔让我把名字写在她小本上。
因为是周中，参加祷告会的人多是老年人，他们分享的祷告题目多是关于别人的。有人分享的时候，大家都会确认自己没有听错，也有人边听边记下祷告题目。想必除了在教会，老人们平时在生活中也会常常拿出本子为一个个提名祷告。
曾有一位牧者说你不能用钱买到真心的代祷。因着基督的爱，圣灵把代祷的爱放在我们心里；使我们能超越个人的局限为他人祷告。在不知道的地方有许多人在为你祷告。
作者系云南一名基督徒。
有人在为你祷告——记参加上海感恩教堂祷告会
One Thursday morning, I woke up early and rushed to the Thanksgiving Church in Pudong New District, Shanghai, to attend a prayer meeting.
Even from downstairs, I could hear believers' singing voice. I chose a seat toward the back and joined in singing. After the hymn, the pastor began leading us in a Bible study, which focused on Psalms 34 and 35 that day. He said that the Word of God is the foundation, and all other ministries are built upon this foundation. "Where God's word is, His power is also present."
Afterwards, attendees were divided into four prayer groups, each consisting of 10 to 15 people. The members of each group sat in a circle, and the group leader held a stack of prayer requests written by believers. After the leader read one paper with explanations, we would pray for the person mentioned, each prayer lasting about three minutes.
Sitting there, I found myself immersed in the atmosphere of intercessory prayer. Although I had personal struggles with a desire to pray for myself, the Holy Spirit worked powerfully, moving me to join in praying for others.
From time to time, I could hear elderly women nearby calling out some names and pleading to the Lord. Then, each of us shared our prayer requests, and everyone of us prayed for the person on our left. An elderly woman beside me pulled out a small notebook and handed me a pen, asking me to write my name on it.
Since it was a weekday, most of the attendees were elderly, and many of their prayer requests were for others. As each person shared their requests, everyone would double-check to make sure they had heard correctly, and some would even write down the prayer topic as they listened. It seemed that outside of church, these elderly believers often pulled out their notebooks at home to pray for each person by name.
A pastor once said that you cannot buy genuine intercession. Through the love of Christ, we have the heart of an intercessor, transcending our limitations. In places unknown to you, many people are praying for you.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
Attending Prayer Meeting at Shanghai Thanksgiving Church
