Begin with the purpose of the gathering
The Kentucky Baptist Convention offers resources for developing congregational prayer and leading prayer meetings. This planner helps a leader put a planned gathering in order. Its five parts and example timings are our own, not a service order required of Baptist churches.
Decide what the group needs time to pray about before choosing a length. Keep the opening explanation brief enough that the gathering has room for prayer itself. Agree the plan with the person responsible for leading it.
Let the agenda serve the people
Choose a short Bible passage and identify who will introduce it. Plan time for thanksgiving as well as requests. A local need, the life of the church and mission beyond it can each have a place without becoming a long announcement list.
The clock times recalculate when you change a part. If you cross midnight, the end time is labelled as the next day. Zero minutes leaves a part out of the printed agenda. If your total differs from the example length, the planner shows the difference.
Handle requests with care
Ask permission before sharing another person’s circumstances with a group. Put broad categories in the agenda, such as community needs or mission, rather than names, diagnoses or contact details. Keep confidential requests in the church’s agreed process.
Consider how newcomers can take part without being put on the spot. A leader can explain when people may pray aloud and when they can listen quietly. Adapt those arrangements to the group and your church’s practice.
Close with a practical next step
Leave a little time to close clearly. If the group agrees to help someone or follow up a need, decide who will coordinate that outside this worksheet. The planner is an agenda, not an attendance register or case-management system.
For preparation ideas, use the Kentucky Baptist Convention resources linked below and your own church’s guidance. Different Baptist churches organise corporate prayer differently, so keep what serves your gathering and change the rest.
Questions
Is this an official Baptist order of service?
No. It is an independent agenda with adaptable examples. Agree the gathering’s shape with your own church leadership.
Can the meeting run past midnight?
Yes. The clock calculation carries the agenda into the next day and labels that on the schedule.
Are the agenda or prayer requests stored?
No. Edits stay in this page’s memory. Print, copy or download the agenda to keep it, and keep private requests out of the agenda.
Is this a feature in the PrayLock iPhone app?
This is a separate web tool. PrayLock puts a prayer before the iPhone apps you choose and requires a Pro subscription.
Sources and edition
Sources checked 22 October 2026. This is an independent PrayLock web resource.
