If you’re looking to add prayer request cards to your church, or change what you’re using right now, you’ve come to the right place! It doesn’t need to break the budget. These free printable prayer request cards options include ready-made templates and customizable designs.
Praying for people is our privilege as part of the body of Christ. We often hear about prayer requests from friends, family, or the person in need of prayer. Maybe it’s a conversation, a text, or a phone call.
Another great way to find out what the prayer needs are in your church family is to provide prayer request cards. Sometimes, it’s easier than having to share a prayer request in person. Other times, it is the most efficient way to collect prayer requests from a large group.
We are offering a free customizable Canva prayer request card template for you, as well as ready to print non-editable files. We’ll highlight that later in this article.
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Ways to use Printable Prayer Request Cards
As you look through church supplies online, you will find some limited options for printable prayer request cards. What’s the best option for you? Look at how you might use the free printable prayer request cards you will find.
The worship service. Prayer request cards are put in pews or chairs with pockets. This is one of the most traditional places to have a prayer request card. It could also be on a table in a foyer, in a welcome packet, or available from an usher or the pastor.
A small group. Some small groups or Bible studies like to write down prayer requests and review them during the group prayer time each week. The person designated as the prayer request tracker could write on the cards, or people could fill them out during the Bible study.
Some small Bible study groups may find this helpful if the time spent talking about the prayer requests exceeds the amount of time spent praying for the prayer requests. It can also help the group keep track of prayer requests that God has answered.
A prayer team. Many churches have prayer teams, whether it is an informal team of faithful prayer warriors, or an organized group of prayer team members.
Prayer request cards collected during the service could be passed on to them. However, a church leader should be tasked with screening whether or not the prayer request should be passed along.
Every prayer request on these cards should be prayed for, but not every prayer request should be shared with a large group of people.
A personal prayer ministry. Do you love to pray? It can be helpful to organize your prayer requests with free printable prayer request cards.
You can print up several and keep them in your Bible or prayer binder, filling the cards out yourself with the person’s needs, or having them fill it out (use your best judgment.)
This can be the basis of setting a prayer box, like is described at our sister site, Hope Filled Faith.
Prayer request cards aren’t required for a rich prayer life, but if you like to be organized, it can be helpful. Prayer notecards – just a prayer request on an index card – can be just as useful.
Here are some factors you may want to evaluate while you look at your free printable prayer request cards options.
Ability to customize. If you are satisfied with the prayer request card you find and don’t want to make any changes, then you do not need to pick up an editable template, like the Canva ones we are discussing in the article.
If you want to customize, and you are comfortable with Canva, you have options to edit the templates made for customization in Canva. You will need a free or pro Canva account.
Canva can be easier to learn than other programs or apps, so consider at least trying it with the free template on a free Canva account if you aren’t sure you can make the edits.
You can customize it in a number of ways! Add a church logo, specific verses, or other information, as you make simple changes to the prayer card template.
Terms of use. If you are using free printable prayer request cards for church, does the seller (or website or designer) allow for this kind of use? Some might only be for personal use. Be sure to read the details, and ask them if you’re not sure.
The ones we list in this article that we, Church Ministry Help, are providing, are permitted for ministry use. For the others listed here and that you might find elsewhere, you may need to check.
Amount of Information: Having a dedicated prayer request card usually leaves a lot of room for letting someone describe their prayer needs. But what other information needs to be collected with the prayer request?
Collecting the name of the person with the prayer request should always be done, unless you have planned this as an anonymous prayer request time. We have also found that a place to write the date is useful, especially if you collect these over time.
Additionally, you may choose to ask if they want their prayer request added to the prayer list or sent to the prayer team. Some churches find it useful to have a space to write a phone number, address, or email so that they can follow up.
Size Options: The placement of your prayer request cards depends on various factors. Will they be placed in a slot on the back of a pew or chair, included with the bulletin, or placed on a table?
The size of the card may be determined by space restrictions. If you’re putting the cards on a table, a larger size might be more appropriate, though it may result in less frequent use.
Lots of room to write allows for more detailed and specific prayer requests, so keep that in mind when determining the size.
Printing Options: Consider where you’ll be printing your prayer request cards – at home on a regular printer or in the church office. To ensure compatibility with letter-sized paper, it’s advisable to select a design already formatted for this size. Before choosing a design, determine the desired print size.
If you choose something to print one of the double-sided pieces, you may need time and patience to figure out how to do that with your particular printer. For simplicity, you may choose a design where all the information goes on the front of the card.
Popular sizes for prayer request cards include 3 x 5 and 4 x 6. These cards are often printed at places like VistaPrint, Office Depot, or local print shops. Avoid using glossy material for printing, as it can be challenging to write on with a pen or pencil.
Where to find Free Printable Prayer Request Cards
Our website is happy to bring you three options for free printable prayer request cards that you can use at your church. One card set is editable in Canva; the other two free printable prayer request cards are not editable.
This set is editable in Canva, and is sized at 4 x 6. The vertical orientation can be helpful if you want to place it in a pew or a vertical rack in the foyer. Download it here in our Gumroad store.
Not sure how to edit a Canva file? Watch our walkthrough over on YouTube.
If you aren’t comfortable editing in Canva, you may like this design. It’s the black and white version from the Canva template, but in non-editable .jpg form.
This is another option, a simple prayer request card in horizontal orientation sized at 4 x 6. It offers an option to mark “include on our church prayer list?, which can be useful.
Here are some other options not from our website. You may want to check the terms of use if you are going to use them beyond personal use.
Garments of Splendor has a number of prayer resources on this page, including a prayer request tracker, a prayer planner, and prayer request cards.
The Time-Warp Wife has a simple prayer request form on her site here.
We hope that one of these free printables listed above will help you in your search for your perfect prayer request card! Read about more options below.
More Option for Prayer Request Cards
Looking to have your prayer request card serve more than one purpose? You may want to read our article on Welcome Cards for Church.
If you haven’t found what you are looking for yet in one of the free printable prayer request cards options or free templates, consider purchasing a printable prayer request card or an already-printed prayer request card, or even a digital prayer request card.
Printable Prayer Request Cards to Purchase
Etsy has several options for printable prayer request cards. Some are editable and some are not. Check the terms and ask the seller if you have any questions about the terms of use.
Find a minimalist option with this well-designed printable prayer request card from Create Missionally. A box to check to stay anonymous is included, which is a nice touch.
Looking for a Canva prayer card template? This template by Faith Video and Design looks like a great option to pick up at Etsy.
This non-editable prayer request card by HappyHenDesignCo is a floral prayer request card, though it notes that it is for personal use only.
Teachers Pay Teachers has options for prayer request cards. This attractive floral one could be the right choice for a Sunday School class or for Women’s Bible Study groups.
Printed Prayer Request Cards to Purchase
If you’ve gotten to this point and think that printing out your own prayer cards might be too much of a hassle, consider buying them already printed.
There are a variety of sizes and designs. This is a business card-sized prayer request card. A 3 x 5 Prayer or Praise card is another option. Or, you might like this card that is both a welcome card and a prayer request card.
Digital Prayer Request Cards
This option is worth mentioning when talking about prayer request cards. It’s wonderful to have a paperless option to submit your prayer needs.
You might find that a form in Planning Center might work for your church, or that setting up a prayer request page in your church app (like from Subsplash) could be the right fit.
This is a great option for those who only attend church online, for them to form a connection with the church.
But carefully consider if you are only choosing a digital prayer request card, with no other options. As technology advances and we make use of it for more efficiency, some of the older members and tech-challenged people can be left behind.
If you choose to go with a digital prayer request card, also provide a way for those who can’t or won’t adopt the new technology.
Choosing from the options for free printable prayer request cards, or the other options for purchased or printed prayer request cards, can take time.
But using printable prayer cards can be a valuable resource to your church. It gives church members and visitors a way to share their prayer concerns, as well as provide you with an opportunity to offer prayerful support and intercession.
We hope that you have found this helpful as you look for free printable prayer request cards.
You may also enjoy reading How to Write a Prayer Request and Prayer for Church Growth and Development.
