Freedom Prayer is simply the name of a specific ministry at Church of the City that aims to help people find freedom from barriers that may keep them from experiencing joy and peace in Christ. Freedom Prayer is a personal prayer ministry that exists to help with the process of recognizing and resolving anything that would keep us from an abiding relationship with God. It is a “first responder” ministry, focused on equipping individuals to prayerfully examine with God fundamental emotional and spiritual needs that hinder their Christian walk. Wounding, sin, ungodly beliefs and entanglements can create strongholds that cause continual struggle with God and others. Freedom Prayer exists to provide solid biblical reconciliation and restoration, that promotes a healthy prayer life and disciples individuals into a whole and abiding relationship with God. Traditionally, these prayer times occur in small groups of three people within a church team framework.

The promises and principles found in God’s Word are the basis for all effective prayer ministry. Click here to see the Scriptures that form the biblical framework for our ministry.​ The COTC elders and staff are committed to ministering in a way that is solidly biblical. If we don’t find it in the Bible, we don’t do it. This strong biblical grounding gives the Holy Spirit room to do what only he can do. We seek to be humble before the Lord and to honor the people who come for ministry. We also maintain a strong system of accountability and confidentiality. To the glory of God, hundreds of people have been encouraged, strengthened and drawn closer to Christ through Freedom Prayer.

During a prayer time, you will meet with 2-3 prayer team members. One team member will primarily lead the prayer time with help from the other two members. This team will have been praying on your behalf prior to your scheduled prayer time, and they will be seeking the Lord’s leading during the actual prayer time as well. The prayer time will center on Scripture and trusting the Holy Spirit to lead through applicable areas such as forgiveness, repentance, identifying and removing lies and/or ungodly beliefs, confession of sin, and receiving God’s truth and His heart towards you. There will also be a time of blessing during the prayer session. Both you and the team will be active participants in the prayer time as we seek the Lord’s heart together.

There are no specific qualifications necessary; but for a person to gain freedom, he or she must be honest, desire to be free and willing to submit to God’s word. It is ideal if the person is a Christian, ready to deal with sin and repent, and if applicable, willing to be transparent and honest about the places that are hidden that he/she would not want anyone to know about. The person must be willing to forgive others and let go of judgment. He/she must want freedom and not just relief. Being under clear church authority and accountable to members of the church is also helpful. Finally, one should expect God to lead the prayer time and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, without false expectations or prejudicial notions of what should occur.

It is our goal that everyone who receives prayer is in a discipleship relationship and walking in close community with the body of Christ. At Church of the City, this ideally means that you are in a community group (link to CG page) and in close relationship with people that can continue to walk with you in growing freedom and accountability.

While prayer sessions can be powerful times of personal ministry, new found freedom will be difficult to maintain and grow if we are not walking in close Christian community. If you are not in community with other Christian believers, it will be our goal to help you establish these relationships.

A Freedom Prayer session is not a one and done type of thing. You are welcome to schedule another prayer time to continue walking in freedom — whether it’s for the same subject you addressed in your first prayer time or something completely different. We believe seeking the Lord, removing those barriers, and pursuing our spiritual freedom is a lifestyle, not a one time thing.

Prayer is open to anyone who desires to meet for prayer whether you are Stakeholder of Church of the City or not. However, our goal is that everyone who comes to pray will be a part of true Christian community.

We request that if you have someone you believe needs prayer that you direct them to this website so they can explore what the process entails and sign up for a prayer time on their own. It is important that the person coming for prayer understands what they are signing up for and have made a decision that this is something they want to participate in.

We will offer periodic training for people who are interested in serving on the prayer ministry team. Our next Freedom Prayer training has not yet been scheduled.

Prayer times are led by trained team members who have completed an in depth training over several months that is followed by an apprentice period. Because of the variety and depth of hurts that are encountered, members are trained in confidentiality and in which circumstances professional or legal authorities should be consulted. Team members are trained regarding when to speak and when to wait; remember, the purpose is to give the Holy Spirit room to do what Jesus promised (​John 14:13​, 1​6:18​). Team members have also sat in your seat — each having sought their own freedom in prayer times led by a team.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1

Be still before the Lord, wait patiently for him… – Psalm 37:7

Be still and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10

The Bible is replete with Scriptures exhorting us to wait on the Lord and meditate on his Word.

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. – Matthew 18:19-21

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me wholeheartedly. – Jeremiah 29:11-14

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-19

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – James 5:15-17

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. – Luke 6:37-38

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ… – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son
cleanses us from all sin. – 1 John 1:7-8

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. – Hebrews 10:19-21

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. – Galatians 4:4-7

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. – Psalm 147:3