Prayer Ministry

The Work of Prayer

Intercessory prayer is a vital part of the ministry of the church.  In prayer we bring our praise, thanks, and needs to God. In prayer we are seeking God's insight, response, and help. At the invitation of Jesus our Lord we pray.  We pray that God's name and work would be known and honored, we pray that God's will might be done on earth, we pray for the needs of God's local and global church, and we pray that Jesus Christ would be known by all people.  At Thornapple we feel called to place prayer at the center of all that we do.  

You are invited to attend a prayer meeting and join others at church in the great work of prayer. Here is a list of some of the opportunities for prayer at Thornapple:

• Wednesday Prayer at 6:30 p.m. in the church office. Every Wednesday. Led by Bob and Jane Hilgenberg. September through July.
• Thornapple’s Life Groups are home small groups that include prayer as a vital component of group life. For more on Life Groups, click here.
• Prayer is an important part of other small groups at Thornapple as well, such as women’s Bible studies, Monday morning men’s breakfast, and choir. 
• Moms In Touch International (MITI) has had groups meeting at Thornapple for more than 10 years. Here are the current MIT groups meeting: MIT college and career group meets Mondays 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the prayer room (lower level). MIT Thornapple Elementary group. Contact Patti Raisch at spraisch@gmail.com for location and time. MIT Forest Hills Central Middle & High School group. Contact Kris Trieber at ketmomof4@yahoo.com for location and time. 
• Prayer for Zimbabwe. A group prays specifically for the needs in Zimbabwe on the second Monday of each month in Pastor Rob's office at 11am. All are welcome.

Thornapple has a prayer room in the lower level next to the middle school room. It can be used by individuals or groups to pray any time the church building is open. 

Silent Retreats - We have Silent Retreats 2 to 3 times per year. They are a day of prayer, reflection and silence. For all the details and online sign for the next retreat, click here.

Do you have a need you would like others to be praying for?
There are many ways you can communicate your prayer needs to those who will pray for them at Thornapple.

• Write your request on the tear off slip on the Sunday bulletin and indicate the level of confidentiality. 
• Email your request to Joyce Zaagman at jzaagman@thornapple.org or 957-0580 to be included in the Thornapple Praise & Prayer email that is sent to people in the church family who will pray for your request. Hard copies of this email are available at the Welcome Center. Typically the e-mail goes out on Wednesdays, so please submit your requests by Tuesday.
• From the church website, click on "contact us", then complete the form by choosing the staff member from the drop down menu, then type in your prayer request and click on "submit." Ministry staff will pray for your request.

Do you want a pastor or elders to pray with you?

• Pastors and elders would like to meet with you and pray. Contact them or call the church office to schedule a time when a pastor or elders will meet you at church or come to your home or the hospital to pray for you.
• Elders are also available to pray with you under the cross after each worship service on Sundays and during Communion, which is usually the first Sunday of the month. Pastors are also available for more lengthy meetings to listen with discernment and care and then pray.