Where Two or Three Are Gathered Together in My Name

Blog January 14, 2025

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19–20, NKJV).

Prayer and Bible study are the foundations of our spiritual lives and can be done alone via personal prayer and study or with our fellow believers at church on Sabbath or in small groups during the week. Prayer meetings, usually held in the evenings at local churches to ensure attendance by members with daytime commitments, have played a significant role in the Christian religious and social experience, particularly in the Adventist community.

Although the Sabbath worship services are integral to our social religious experience, studies show that members also benefit from small-group activities, such as regular group Bible studies and prayer meetings.

In 1884, Ellen White wrote:

Christians do not always make the public worship of God of sufficient importance. They do not realize their responsibility in the matter. The prayer-meeting, especially, is often dull, spiritless, and unattractive. But it need not be. Even where few love the hour of prayer, it may be made interesting and profitable. The presence of Jesus is not confined to large assemblies. (Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, December 4, 1884)

In the 2018 Global Church Member Survey, participants were asked about their social religious activities. When asked how often in the past 12 months they had attended a prayer meeting at their local church, 14.5% said they had never attended; 13.2% had attended only once or twice; 9.1% attended at least once a quarter; and 8.3% attended once a month. However, 16.8% answered that they attended prayer meetings almost every week, 25.5% attended every week, and 12.7% attended more than once a week.

When the question was presented to members in the 2023 Global Church Member Survey, 20% said they had never attended a prayer meeting in the last 12 months, 12.3% had attended only once or twice; 8.7% attended at least once a quarter; and 8.2% attended once a month. This time, 15.4% said that they attended prayer meetings almost every week, 23.8% attended every week, and 11.6% attended more than once a week. Sadly, the trend shows a slight shift away from attending prayer meetings at church.

In the GCMS 2023, two questions were added to determine how aware church members were of the General Conference initiatives—10 Days of Prayer and the Annual Week of Prayer.

When asked about 10 Days of Prayer, 10.6% had not heard of the program; 19.8% had heard of it, but had not participated; and 69.6% had participated in it.

GCMS 2023: General Conference 10 Days of Prayer

When asked about the Annual Week of Prayer, 16.4% had not heard of the program; 21.1% had heard of it, but had not participated; and 62.5% had participated in it.

GCMS 2023: General Conference Annual Week of Prayer

Although the survey results show that more than half of the respondents have participated in church-sponsored prayer programs, there are still very significant percentages who have not been involved in corporate prayer. Thus, more could be done to encourage more members to attend, particularly young people. According to Ellen G. White,

the prayer meetings should be the most interesting gatherings that are held; but these are frequently poorly managed. Many attend preaching, but neglect the prayer meeting. Here, again, thought is required. Wisdom should be sought of God, and plans should be laid to conduct the meetings so that they will be interesting and attractive. The people hunger for the Bread of Life. If they find it at prayer meeting, they will go there to receive it. (Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 70)

Perhaps we can develop new and innovative ideas that will coax members out of their houses, away from their electronic devices, and into our churches to fellowship, pray, and unite in “interesting and attractive” ways.

You can access the full report here.

Created in collaboration with the Institute of Church Ministry.

Published by ASTR on 1/14/2025.