If you are part of a church, you should be praying for the leaders of the church. But some people wonder where to start, maybe unfamiliar with what a church leader might do during the week. Prayer for church leaders doesn’t have to be complicated.
These 11 powerful prayers for church leaders are a good starting point for your own prayers and can help you grow in your intercessory prayer life for your church.
Why is Prayer for Church Leaders Important?
Prayer for church leaders is important because we love the church, and the leaders are part of the church. They provide direction, knowledge, time, experience, and training that the church needs. Prayer for church leaders helps us support them, whether they are employees or volunteers, is crucial.
We are also told to pray for leaders. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us, “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men: for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.”
While this verse emphasizes praying for government leaders, we are told in the first part to pray for “all men,” for everyone. It is logical to be in prayer for church leaders, as well.
Even if you don’t agree with, or might not even like, some of the church leaders you encounter, you should be in prayer for church leaders. God has allowed them into your life for a purpose at this point.
Before you complain about or take aside a church leader, or anyone else for that matter, you should absolutely spend time in prayer. God may show you a different perspective about the person or situation while you are in prayer, giving you better understanding.
He may also soften your heart toward the person. Do not rush into anything without taking time to pray about it.
God wants us to pray! James 5:16 says, “Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.” Your prayer for Christian leaders makes a difference! Be in prayer for church leaders.
Prayer for Church Leaders
Prayer for church leaders can take many directions. These prayer points for church leaders offer a lot of different options, from praying for a specific church leader, like a pastor, or praying in general for the church leaders. This prayer guide can be used in your own personal prayer time, with a small group, or another church event, to pray for church leaders.
Prayer for all the church leaders
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the people who lead our church. You have led them to serve You in this way, at this moment. I pray that they will be strengthened, encouraged, and blessed today.
You know what their specific needs are. I pray that they will see Your provision and give You the glory.
Whether they are employees or volunteers, I pray that You will help them stay true to what You have called them to do. Give them wisdom as they serve the body of Christ today.
May You draw them closer to You each day, and help them to serve You out of the spiritual strength that You give them today.
In Christ Jesus’ Name, Amen
Prayer for the Senior Pastor
Father Lord,
Thank You for bringing our senior pastor to this church. This leadership role can be a heavy mantle to wear. We pray that You would give our pastor a blessing of encouragement today, especially if it is a challenging day.
May our pastor be “preaching God’s Kingdom, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance,” as in Acts 28:31.
Let our pastor find “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit,” as in Romans 14:17.
Finally, may God make all grace abound to our pastor to always have all sufficiency in everything, and abound to every good work (from 2 Corinthians 9:8.)
Thank you for our pastor’s ministry, and may it bring glory to You! Be with our pastor today.
We ask all these things in Your precious and holy name, Jesus,
Amen.
Prayer for all the pastoral staff
Dear God,
We are grateful for the pastors that you have called to our church. They serve our church in so many different areas, and we are thankful for each one.
We pray that they would be faithful and equipped for their calling to ministry. We ask that You would be the source of their strength. They encounter many of God’s people, each with their own challenges and difficult times.
Help them to rely on You to help them, and not their own strength, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray that each pastor would spend daily time with You, getting to know you better and better each day.
We pray that You would give them opportunities for rest and refreshment as they schedule their week.
Please bless them today, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for administrative staff and volunteers
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this group of people who do the Lord’s work behind the scenes. Some may naturally be leaders, and others may be adjusting to leadership roles. We pray that You would help them to lead as You want them to lead.
Please bless them as they work out details with forms, bills, social media, website tasks, flyers, bulletins, scheduling, and more. Thank You for their faithfulness in serving in this way.
We pray that You will help them to be diligent. Help them to be encouraged as they wade through a myriad of details. Help them to know when to ask for help.
Thank You for giving them gifts that help them serve in this way. Bless the work of their hands!
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for the Elders / Spiritual Leaders
Dear Lord Almighty,
Thank you for those who serve as the elders or spiritual leaders in our church. Even if it isn’t a formal position at our church, there are people who serve as spiritual parents in our church family and need our prayers.
We pray that they will serve out of the strength, grace, compassion, and wisdom that You equip them with each day. Help them to not grow weary in their service, but to be edified by their time with You each day.
Help them to be faithful to the Word of God in their ministry to others. May they check their leadership and their actions with Scripture, and lead with Your heart and not their own.
Please bless them in their ministry of spiritual guidance, and encourage them today.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for the Deacons / Church Board
Dear Lord,
We give thanks for the church leaders today who oversee other leaders in the church, such as deacons, deaconesses, overseers, and other leaders that might serve on the board of our church.
We are grateful for this group of people who come together with their unique gifts to see to the business and right direction of the church. Give them clear vision to see the will of God.
Their responsibilities may be many, and they often need to make difficult and important decisions. I pray that You would help them through the challenges, and that You would grow them in perseverance and endurance.
Help them to form strong relationships with church members and those who attend, and to be welcoming to new visitors.
Please help them to see fruit from their faithful and righteous service. Bless them today!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Worship Leader
Dear Father,
We thank You for the worship leader or leaders of our church. Whether this is a pastor, another employee, or a volunteer, I pray that they would be encouraged as they serve You in this way.
Please keep them in Your Word, and help them to lead worship from the relationship that they have with You.
We ask that You will provide the singers and musicians You want on the worship team, as well as those who serve in video and audio.
Give them the songs and the words You want for this week’s worship service. May all the glory be to You!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for the Pastor’s Wife
Dear Lord,
We are thankful for the pastor’s family, and the pastor’s wife. While she may or may not have a formal position here at church, she serves You in unique ways as a pastor’s wife.
Whether she is highly visible or is behind the scenes, we pray that You would be her strength today. May You draw her closer to You each day.
Give her a spirit of wisdom as she serves at church. Since she can’t do all the things, and You don’t mean for her to do so, we pray that You would show her what priorities You have for her today.
We pray that she will be refreshed and encouraged. Please show her Your provision and blessing today, that she would see that You are with her.
We ask these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Children’s Leaders and Youth Leaders
Dear Lord,
Thank you for our children’s leaders and youth leaders. Whether they are paid pastors or directors, or volunteers, we ask that You will bless the work of their hands.
Many Christians remember praying to receive Christ at a young age. We pray that You would show these dear leaders how to help these kids connect with You. May they direct them in the way they should go, so that they will not depart from it (from Proverbs 22:6.)
Please show them favor with the parents. Help these leaders to be trustworthy and faithful. Keep them in Your Word each day.
Give them the strength that they need when they are sometimes literally running after these young people. Provide the creativity they need for solutions in this ever-changing world. Help them to have the resources they need to do the ministry You have called them to do.
We ask that You would encourage the discouraged and refresh the weary. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Volunteer Ministry Leaders
O Gracious Lord,
Thank You so much for the volunteer leaders of this local church. Whether they are a deacon, a children’s worker, a youth group leader, a Sunday School teacher, a meal organizer, or some other position, we pray that You would bless them today.
Please provide the time and the resources they need to serve. We pray that they would feel appreciated by our church body, but if they don’t right now, that they would feel appreciated by You for serving and leading in this way.
Please bring other volunteers alongside them to serve with them. We pray that many will become close friends, and that encouragement will flow freely.
May they have spiritual growth each day, and feel closer to You today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for the Church Leaders to Pray for Themselves
Dear Lord,
Thank You that I get to serve You by being a leader in this church. I feel blessed and humbled to serve in this way.
Please give me wisdom as I serve. Help me to see others as You see them. Please renew my compassion for others on a daily basis.
Keep me faithful in studying Your Word and in prayer. May I be prayerful in my decisions. Help me to be righteous and a good example, and help me to turn back to You when I sin. Keep me on the right path.
Be with me each day, Lord, and help me to serve You faithfully. Refresh me in You!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Hopefully, you have found something to pray about in this prayer for church leaders. If the ministry role wasn’t covered, adapt one of these powerful prayers to suit the leader you want to pray for.
If it seems like a good idea, share with the leaders that you are praying for them. Ask them to contact you if they would like you to pray for specific prayer requests.
Church leaders want and need your prayers. Pray for them today, and see the power of prayer in your church!
If you enjoyed this Prayer for Church Leaders, please keep visiting Church Ministry Help for more encouraging articles and resources. You may also want to read Prayer for Church Musicians and How to Develop an Effective Prayer Team.