What's the worst/least helpful thing someone has said to you when you've asked for prayer during an altar call?
That’s the question I asked my Facebook friends a few months ago. There were SO MANY responses.
Here are some highlights.
“I know a teenager who was visiting a church for ministry purposes. The kid tried to cast a demon out of a man he’s never seen before. That someone just happened to be the pastor of the church.”
One guy told me he was literally told “to ‘shut up and quit praying.’ I needed to listen to what he was praying over me.”
A woman told me “After a lady finished praying for me one time, she said, ‘You know, I would really like it if you married my son.’”
Someone said “The worst is when you ask for prayer for a specific thing and the person praying with you repeats it in prayer extra loud and at the quiet part of worship." I thought this was really funny and relatable. How many teen guys don’t ask for prayer because they’re afraid the leader will start shouting "LORD, HELP THIS PERVERT TO STOP LOOKING AT SO MUCH PORN!”
It can be so scary to take the leap and open up to a leader about what you’re going through.
To confess and ask for prayer is making yourself so vulnerable.
But it can be just as scary to be on the other side of that conversation.
To be the leader someone is choosing to be vulnerable with can be so intimidating.
You can feel all this pressure like you have to fix this person in the next few moments or you’re not doing your job.
That mindset can lead to more harm than good.
I want to help train leaders.
That's why in 2018 I'm partnering with churches for a special event that not only includes a free comedy show outreach event for the community, but also training for pastors, leaders, and parents on how to be there for someone opening up.