HOUSE OF PRAYER

Prayer At Full Gospel Central Church

By Karen Hurston Vivid in the memory of every adult who grew up in Sunday school is the story of Christ cleansing the temple. He drove out all who bought and sold, overturning the tables of money-changers and pigeon-sellers. Jesus wanted the temple clean of those corrupt with greed, firmly declaring His Father's house a "house of prayer" (Matthew 21:13). House of prayer. A place of divine solace where the weary and worried enter, and the refreshed and confident depart. A place of divine encounter that those searching and hurting cling to, and those found and restored burst forth. A place like Full Gospel Central Church. Prayer is alive in many channels at Central Church: in the church itself, in the home cell unit, and in the life of the individual. Important to remember is the crucial role of leadership. Pastors and lay leaders serve as striking examples in the realm of prayer, frequently fasting and praying for those in their care.

IN THE CHURCH

A climate of worship and reverence is cultivated in the church, an atmosphere conducive to spontaneous prayer and praise.

Worship Services. Prayer precedes, interweaves, and follows every Sunday and Wednesday service. Prayer, in some form, collectively occupies one-fifth of the total service time. Fascinating to foreigners is the bell that sits to the right of the pulpit; the ringing of this bell signals the end to fervent prayer, and the continuation of an orderly service. Near the closing of the service prayer is made for those desiring salvation, and those in need of healing or solution. Services conclude when all stand to sing the Lord's Prayer, a fitting climax to these times of worship.

Friday Night. Since September, 1973, a service is held every Friday evening at 10:30 until 4:30 Saturday morning. A current average of 8,000 gather for this night of prayer and teaching. Focus is on the meeting of individual need - physical, spiritual, mental, or material.

District Office. Central Church has divided the city of Seoul into eight geographical districts. Each district has an office in the church, with a pastoral staff of eight to 12 ministers. Before and after services, believers can be seen visiting their respective offices, often to request special prayer.

Bethlehem Chapel. For any wanting to pray extensively, auxiliary auditorium Bethlehem Chapel is kept open 24 hours a day.

Prayer Boxes. Written prayer requests are inserted in designated prayer boxes. These requests are collected and recorded weekly, the subject of prayer by the Pastoral Care staff.

Prayer Mountain. Prayer Mountain is an integral part of Central Church's prayer ministry, many visits to Prayer Mountain initiating from the church. Cell Leader Duck Hee Cha commented on her visits: "I like to go to Prayer Mountain, especially to pray in a prayer grotto. Even if I can only pray for three hours, the trip is worthwhile, for I return refreshed and revived."

IN THE HOME CELL UNIT

Cell Unit Meetings. During home cell unit meetings prayer is directed toward the church and its leadership, and any problems and needs of those present. According to District Head Yi Shik Cho, members are taught: "Prayer functions first in giving thanks to God. Secondly, one can ask for the Holy Spirit to equip him to spread the Gospel more dynamically. With prayer one can cast out Satan's power, and can heal the sick."

Home Visitation. Those sick or those with problems are visited in the home, usually by a lay leader. A short devotional and nay counseling is followed with a time of faith filled prayer.

IN THE INDIVIDUAL

With the coming of the Holy Spirit, God's ultimate temple became the individual believer.

Greeting of Gratitude. When attending church, visiting a friend, or going to a business office, after sitting down the first thing a Korean Christian will do is bow his head and pray. The main purpose of this holy habit is to greet God with words of gratitude, then to invoke His blessings on all present.

Daily Devotions. Questionnaires passed out at three Maturity Growth Seminars revealed that individuals privately spent an average of 20 minutes daily in prayer. When asked about the type of prayer employed most frequently, two out of three replied "thanksgiving" or "worship."

Article copyrighted 1979 by "World of Faith" magazine, Summer 1979, Volume 1, No. 2, Page 15. This magazine is no longer published, but has been replaced by "Church Growth," available at P. O. Box 7; Seoul 150, Korea.