Altar Worker Training Manual

Strengthen your altar ministry team and serve your church better! This altar worker training manual provides everything your prayer team needs to know to meet expectations effectively. Get the manual and share it with your team.

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Purchase The Altar Worker Training Manual

Get the immediate, shareable PDF of the Altar Worker Training Manual.

Share With Your Prayer Team

Print, email, or teach the altar training material with your team.

Serve With Excellence

With clear expectations and easy-to-understand instruction, your team can serve confidently!

Training Your Altar Workers

Altar worker training is an aspect of church ministry that many overlook.

With all the various needs and areas that need extra help, when it comes to praying for people, sometimes the pastor is relieved to see a breathing person standing there ready to pray just in case they are needed. However, providing clarity and adequate training for your altar workers is essential.

To do a great job, team members need clear instructions.

This altar worker training manual provides a way for you to teach your prayer team and clarify expectations. It’s a training manual to help you lead the altar worker team toward excellence and servanthood.

What Training Does The Altar Worker Training Manual Include?

  • Why The Altar Worker and Altar Ministry Are Important
  • Qualifications Of An Altar Worker
  • Expectations Of An Altar Worker
  • How To Respond During Times Of Altar Ministry
  • How To Pray With/For Others
  • The Prayer Of Salvation
  • Do’s/Don’ts Of Altar Ministry
  • Guidelines Concerning Speaking In Tongues
  • Prayer Accountability Guidelines
  • And More

How Has This Manual Helped Others?

Here is what others are saying about the Altar Worker Training Manual:

Thank you so much for helping the body of Christ. I just wanted to say that this material has helped in such a special way. I like that you didn’t make it out to be so difficult because that is how it has seemed to me for so long. You have lifted a heavy burden off of me. Thank you so very much. – Destinique B.

I have been looking for some altar worker material to train the team that I am over at my church and ran across yours. Based on what you have shared about being prepared for those that come seeking and several other points, we are on the same track. – Jean P.

What’s My Investment?

  • How much is having unclear expectations costing you?
  • Could your team reach more people if it worked together under one vision?
  • How much more time could you devote to what only you can do if you could trust others to do what you need them to do?
  • Are you wasting time and stress because you’re unsure what to do or say?

An uncertain, unorganized, uncommitted altar ministry team may already be costing you a great deal.

Train Your Altar Worker Team

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This altar worker training manual will help you lead your prayer team toward excellence and servanthood.

This altar worker guidebook will provide you and your team with the instruction you need. And yes, you will have immediate access to it!

Having the PDF version means it’s yours to keep! And, it will be much easier for you to share with your team whether you decide to print, email, or teach the material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will you mail me a copy of the training manual?

The Altar Worker Training Manual is delivered by email as a PDF file. It is yours to keep and use as often as needed. Feel free to print or email the manual for your team.

What is your refund policy?

We offer refunds to all customers within 30 days of your purchase. If you are not satisfied with our product, then send an email to [email protected], and we will refund your purchase right away.

What about images and graphics? Will they relate to my church?

We create the church leadership training manuals available from www.dailychristianhelp.com with your church in mind. There are no logos, graphics, or images in the altar worker training manual that would conflict with your church.

Do you have other ministry training manuals available?

Yes, you can view all available church training manuals by clicking HERE.

How do I pay for the manual?

When you click the buy now button, you are sent to PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to complete a transaction. Paypal is a fast, safe, and reputable online payment gateway.

Purchase The Manual

Remove the frustration of coming up with training material for your altar ministry team. Plus, with the Altar Worker Team Training Manual is a free bonus resource to help you develop new leaders.

Click the button below to purchase the Altar Worker Training Manual using the easy-to-use digital download and get immediate access to the training manual and free bonus!

 

Altar Worker Training Manual

Below is some of the content you will receive in the altar worker training manual.

Today in most churches, you will more than likely encounter one or more of the following connection points.

Each ministry should specifically consider how it can uniquely meet the various needs of people.

Any of these connections can influence a person’s entire worship experience.

Critical Connections To A Weekend Service

Greeters (A greeter gets the unique opportunity to make a first impression on behalf of the church by welcoming those entering.)

Information Center ( Ministries similar to this are in place to help answer specific questions about church happenings, classes, & events.)

Coffee Shop (The coffee shop is for people to enjoy and help build conversation as people share a beverage or snack.)

Security Team  (Obviously, this ministry provides a safe environment for people to gather by being aware of potential threats and diffusing arising problems. The Security Team hopes/prays for the best but is prepared for the worst.)

Usher Team (If a regular attendee or visitor had a less than positive experience finding their way into the sanctuary, an usher could play a significant role in turning that person’s experience around.)

Altar Ministry (A prayer team who is ready to minister to the needs of people as they are needed or called upon.)

Who Can Be An Altar Worker At Your Church?

Not just anyone can serve on an altar worker team, in the same way, not just anyone can play guitar on the worship team, work in children’s ministry or lead a small group. Your gifting, passion, and abilities should determine where and how you use them.

Qualities Of A Good Altar Worker

  • Does the potential altar worker understand and commit to fulfilling the vital role of a team member?
  • Does the potential team member have genuine care for people?
  • Can you see the traits of a servant’s heart?
  • Is the person committed to the vision of the church?
  • Are they supportive of the leaders of the church?

Altar Worker Responsibilities

Be Spiritually Prepared.

A good team member prepares mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually (This IS a ministry!). Understand this is not a duty but a privilege to connect with God as part of your preparation.

Here are three more tips regarding preparation for prayer ministry:

Take the initiative!

In moments when you’re not sure to pray (or do), ask another team member or leader.

Stay Calm.

There will be moments of pressure; someone may be upset, or something isn’t going the way you expected. In these moments, never transfer the pressure to the person you’re praying with and for.

Follow Direction From Your Leader

You must follow leadership. Good leaders are good learners. Remember you are there to be supportive and encouraging.

Altar Worker Guidelines And Etiquette

1. Understand Why the Altar Ministry Is Important.

According to the Bible, prayer eases others’ burdens. (Galatians 6:2)

Prayer is also a ministry (Hebrews 6:9-10).

Prayer brings deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:8-11) according to the promises of God and the faith of His people.

2. An Altar Worker Should Prepare Before They Pray With Others.

Altar workers should be leaders who live a consistent life inside and outside the church (Romans 12:1-2).

Live With Purpose

  • The prayer team represents God
  • The prayer team also represents their church

Be Presentable

  • Dress as though you were meeting someone important for the first time.
  • Use nametags or badges
  • Be aware of your breath

3. The Altar Worker Should Take Initiative.

Please introduce yourself and learn what their need is.

As the leader, realize that it can be so awkward (and cold) to immediately begin praying with someone as soon as they come forward or in a prayer room, etc.

Ministering at the altar is a leadership role. Take a minute to introduce yourself, ask what those seeking prayer their name, and how you can pray with them.

4. Pray Using (and according to) God’s Word. (1 John 5:14-15)

Effective altar ministry is based upon the Word of God and His promises. The prayers should be scriptural and focused on God’s clear and direct promises.

If you have the privilege of leading someone to Jesus through a prayer of faith, realize the prayer of salvation is (Romans 10:8-13) a profound truth that is presented in an introductory way.

Leading The Prayer For Salvation

THE PRAYER Of SALVATION IS A CONFESSION OF BELIEF:

*It is a prayer of asking God for the forgiveness of sins.

*It’s an acknowledgment of who Jesus is. He is God’s Son and the world’s Savior.

Here is A SAMPLE PRAYER

“Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and that I have sinned against You. Please forgive me for my sins. I confess Your Son Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I give my life to you. Amen.”

 5. Altar Ministers Should Provide Bibles And Helpful Discipleship Materials.

You can buy Bibles in bulk to save on cost and to ensure that you have bibles on hand to give to people. Christianbooks.com  and Bibles By the Case provide a large selection of bibles.

One of the areas that frustrated me about altar ministry was never having a resource that I liked and felt confident giving to those I was praying with. I wanted a book that would encourage growth in the new Christian, which would be easy to use for the altar worker. That is why I wrote Understanding God: Four Things You Need To Know About Him And Realize About Yourself.

Understanding God explains four key aspects of God and your relationship with Him:

Receiving God, Needing God, Trusting God, & Sharing God. The book is ideal for a new believer or those who are curious about God. Topics discussed in the book include God’s Love, Forgiveness, Repentance, Faith, Obedience, the role of the Holy Spirit, and Evangelism.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is actually for a practical reason. The salvation card is a tear-out on the last page of the book. This way, all that is needed is a pen and a book.

The altar worker hands the person a pen to provide some basic contact information, tears out the page, and then give the book and pen to the person they prayed with.

This one page eliminates the issue of fumbling with clipboards and separate cards to fill out.

If you’d like to purchase a copy of Understanding God, click HERE  for more details.

understanding God

6. Altar Workers Should Know Their Limitations.

Altar ministry will present many unique circumstances to pray about and for. Sometimes people will seek counsel concerning specific areas of their life. Unless you have specialized expertise or professional training directly related to their issue, please follow altar ministry guidelines.

*Encourage the person to call the church office if you do not feel comfortable providing counsel in a particular area.

*Realize you do not have to know all the answers. Remember, as an altar worker; you are there to pray in agreement with people.

*If a person is contemplating suicide, please immediately make a pastor or appropriate staff member aware.

7. A Few More Altar Ministry Guidelines

*Altar workers should pray in pairs if possible.

*To ensure accountability and safety, men should pray with men and women to pray with women.

*Altar workers should never try to manipulate or force others to say or do anything. Effective altar ministry begins with people who are caring and obedient. Allow others to respond at their own pace and trust that God will direct them as He sees fit.

*Prayer should take place in the altar area. Do not leave the altar area to continue praying with a person alone.

Guidelines Concerning Praying Tongues

Praying/speaking in tongues is scriptural and encouraged. However, if God has given you the gift of tongues, what you say should be understood by those who hear you (1 Cor. 14:2, 13-14,  16-17, 27-28).

If you pray in a prayer language without interpretation, it is not helpful to those who are new or uninformed.

If you pray in tongues, an interpretation should follow.

Praying for others should be a time of agreement and edification. Because of this, praying in tongues will not be productive unless an interpretation is shared.

A good “rule of thumb” to use before praying in tongues with another person is: (1)Do you personally know them? (2) Do they pray/believe in tongues themselves?

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Please let us know if you have questions about the downloadable altar worker training manual. If you would like to check out other ministry team training manuals available, CLICK HERE.