Public Prayers

[Don Stephens]

Dear friends,

 

I remember instructions some time ago that if a preaching group meets on the street, no prayer should be said. However, try as I may, I cannot locate the reference. 
any help will be appreciated. 
 

thbaks,

‘Don 

[Parale]

No, I don't know of any such instructions.

 

I've always offered a public group prayer when taking a ministry group on the street - discreetly, no need to bow head or close eyes - that's the format/style I'm used to here in London.

 

The places we have choosen for meeting on the street are generally always fairly busy areas, so a group of 6 to 18-or-so people together in one corner, or side, just blends in, and doesn't look strange, suspicious, or a spectacle.

 

It should be noted that you may have had country-specific information for the country/branch territory you are in.

 

And, if you haven't already, you may be interested to check out the following forum thread....

 

https://jwtalk.net/topic/17254-field-service-no-prayer/

 

 

Oh, and welcome to the forum, and making your very first post

[Mike047]

I think, here in the UK, we would always have a discreet prayer wherever we were.

[Landon1285]

For my Zone in Public Witnessing, we used Matt 6:5,6 for our direction towards public prayers. Specifically the part where it says: "on the corners of the main streets to be seen by men." So, if we have the Opening Shift, the Key Man will offer prayer at the storage location.

[Don Stephens]

Thanks for the welcome and responses. I’d keep searching but many of the local brothers remember it, so as someone said, it seemed to have been country-specific and in the form of a letter and not a publication reference. I’ve seen quite a few country-specific guidelines that don’t make it to general publications. As an example, some congregations here in Portugal use sisters for microphones, video, zoom although qualified males are present. We roll with the chariot and enjoy the ride. 

[Mike047]

Having been in a congregation where the 'coordinator' (congregation servant at the time), was a sister.

 

Admittedly she was a 'stand in' awaiting the arrival of a qualified brother. It was in a small town in northern Scotland.