Virtual Prayer Groups

The radio station I listen to via the internet (WGTS) has this prayer group that meets once per week and prays for the petitions that people send in. Since I live and work a 7-hour drive from the station (one-way!), I contacted the radio station and asked if I could join them "virtually."

The response was, "That is so interesting, to have a virtual prayer team as well with those who join us!! We have just started this ministry and would love to do this in the future. Please check back with us in a few months and this is something we'll be working towards in the future. Thank you so much for your willingness to help!"

While I wait, planning to follow up later, I thought to post something here and maybe encourage others as well.

It may seem that virtual prayer groups are something new, but there were many times in this world’s history where families, friends or even whole communities would pray together when they were apart. For example, in a time before cell phones or even landline phones, when people crossed the ocean on ships instead of planes, they would still unite in virtual prayer. They would pick a certain time of day when the people who stayed home would pray or read from the bible, and those traveling would do so at the same time. In this way the family / friends / community would still pray together, even though they were physically apart.

During Lent, my husband requested that we read the New Testament together every night. However, when I travel on business, I'm not home every night. Some nights we read together using my cell phone. But on two separate occasions, the only time I had available to read was while I was flying; cell phones aren't permitted. So we chose a time and both read during that designated half hour – together, even though we were physically apart.

When Christ told us that when two or more get together in His name, there He would be in our midst, He did not specify that we needed to be in the same room or even the same building, town, state or country. That stipulation was only added by our interpretation / understanding of what "together" means. As God is Omnipresent, when people gather together virtually, there is no question that He can still be in our midst when we are together, even though we are physically apart.

So if you believe that you can not join a prayer group – any type of prayer group – because you cannot be there physically, think again. You do not need to be physically present, connected by phone or internet (though that's getting easier with technology), but only need to be there in Spirit and intent. Our only limitation is what we place on our belief and faith. We can truly be together in heart, even though we are physically apart.

Believe.

- ESA