Friday Prayer Meeting

Definition and Meaning

The Friday prayer meeting is a regular gathering in Korean Protestant churches at which members meet at church on Friday evening to pray together. Because participants originally prayed through the night, it is also known as the Friday all-night prayer meeting (geumyo cheolya) or simply the all-night prayer meeting. Churches that emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit sometimes call it the Friday Holy Spirit meeting. It is a weekday gathering held in addition to Sunday worship and the Wednesday service, and it is marked by a relatively free order of service and extended periods of prayer.

Biblical and Historical Background

Churches that hold Friday prayer meetings appeal to examples of nighttime prayer in Scripture: Jesus continuing all night in prayer on a mountain (Luke 6:12), his prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46), the church gathering to pray for Peter while he was in prison (Acts 12:5, 12:12), and Paul and Silas praying and singing praises at midnight (Acts 16:25). Friday is commonly chosen because it is the day for remembering Jesus' suffering on the cross and because it allows believers to prepare their hearts for the Lord's Day.

When the practice began is not known with certainty. It is generally understood to have taken shape within the fervent prayer tradition of Korean Protestantism, which also includes the early-morning prayer meeting, prayer on mountains, and revival meetings. This tradition is often traced back to the period of the Great Pyongyang Revival.

Practice in Korean Churches

A typical meeting includes worship songs, a sermon, tongseong gido (praying aloud together), and personal and intercessory prayer (prayer on behalf of others). In the past, meetings frequently continued past midnight and into the early morning. Today many churches begin around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. and finish around 11:00 p.m. or midnight.

Practice varies somewhat by denomination.

• Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, and Baptist churches: Many congregations hold the Friday prayer meeting as a regular gathering. The format differs from church to church; some center the meeting on the preaching of the Word, others on prayer.
• Pentecostal churches: Churches such as those of the Korea Assemblies of God often hold the meeting under the name Holy Spirit meeting, emphasizing being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, and prayer for healing.
• Liturgical churches: In churches that follow a prescribed liturgy, such as the Anglican Church of Korea, gatherings of this kind are comparatively uncommon.

In recent years, meetings led by a worship team have become more common, and meetings have tended to grow shorter. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many churches have also offered online livestreams. At the same time, some churches have replaced or discontinued their Friday prayer meeting because of declining attendance.