Prayer ministry development was the central focus during a weekend seminar at the Maranatha Church in Seattle.

Four churches—Seattle Central Korean, North Hill, Federal Way and Maranatha—joined together for the “How to Make Your Church a House of Prayer” training event with Ed and Virginia Collins, prayer ministry trainers.

The Collins began their prayer training ministry in the mid-1990s in the Southeastern California Conference. Since then, they’ve trained many churches in how to become a house of prayer. Their ministry is now based in Florida Conference.

The concept for a “house of prayer” comes from Isaiah 56:7 where it reads: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” According to Virginia Collins, it takes three to five years for a church to go from one that prays to a “house of prayer.”

House of Prayer activities include a prayer list, small group prayer ministry, prayer breakfasts, prayer vigils, prayer seminars, a weekly prayer-related Bible verse in the bulletin, and hemming every church meeting with prayer.

During the Maranatha Church training event, John Freedman, Washington Conference president, also shared some thoughts on prayer ministry and the need for leaders and members to be consistent in spiritual walks with God.

“Prayer is the foundation of every ministry,” he said. “We need to have steady hands [lifted in prayer] until the Lord returns.”