The Power Room

Churches have space dedicated for all kinds of ministries.  There is a space for worship and another for fellowship meals. It goes without saying that there will be something close to a commercial kitchen for the preparation of meals.  There are offices for the administrative work.  Of course, there is a large room for the youth of the church.  Some churches have parlors and libraries and even showers.  A conference room is always nice and not to be forgotten is a music area large enough for a choir and any necessary musical instruments.   

One room often overlooked is a prayer room.  This is not to say that some churches do not have prayer rooms and that they are used, but unfortunately, such is the exception.  It is also true that when such a room is provided it often looks more like a closet and ends us accumulating stuff that has nothing to do with praying.  The church seems to gets excited about many ministries, but its prayer ministry seems more like an elective rather than the core curriculum of discipleship.   

It is impossible to see Peter preaching on Pentecost without first seeing the church on its knees in prayer.   Imagine a church off the grid.  Off the grid means no electricity.  If imagining a church off the grid is far fetched, imagine a church when the electrical power shuts down.  If it is Sunday morning, worship is canceled.  Without the power, the church comes to standstill.  A clergy friend recently wrote, "The prayer room is the power source...the lack of emphasis on and the practice of prayer is the reason for the church's spiritual impotency."  Enough said.