Saturday Corporate Prayer=Family

A brisk cool Saturday evening, the sun is shining in Corvallis Oregon which is a gift. Dozens make their way down the gravel hill to the barn converted chapel. Greeted by familiar faces, chairs in circles, and the smell of carpet and wood. As seats are found the emotion of the place is overwhelming. This is a place where hearts are stirred, confession is made, God speaks to His people, decisions are confirmed, battles fought and won.

Photo by Bethany Canfield

This is prayer and we are no longer strangers that have clocked hours in this room, for amidst the petitions and tears and repentance and praise, bonds have been formed, we became family.

In this room we are all equal and we are seeking with a singular heart, we are His. In this room we share truth, we share suffering, we share Jesus.

In this room we attempt to tread on holy ground removing the shoes of our hearts and crying out for the Spirit to flood in.

In this room we hear the exhort-er plead for truth to be revealed and sin to be confessed. We here the merciful ask for grace and hearts to be restored and we hear the compassionate pray for love to be pored out and the wounded healed. We hear the worshiper remember our God giving thanks for His goodness and blessing His name. We hear the fullness of the heart of God through His people and it is good.

The bulletin reads: Church Prayer Meeting. Some call it the boiler room, some say it is the heart beat or pulse of the church, but on Saturday evenings in a crowded chapel on a wooded hill in tiny Corvallis, we come together to meet our loving heavenly Father as a family.