Friday Prayer Meeting

Definition and Meaning

The Friday prayer meeting is a regular gathering in which church members meet at church on Friday evening to pray together. Because participants originally prayed through the night, it is also called 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 midweek gathering held between the Sunday service and the Wednesday service, and it is characterized by a relatively free order of worship and extended periods of prayer.

Biblical and Historical Background

Churches that hold Friday prayer meetings point to instances of nighttime prayer in Scripture. These include 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). Reasons commonly given for choosing Friday are that it is the day for remembering Jesus' suffering on the cross and that it allows believers to prepare their hearts for the Lord's Day.

Exactly when the practice began is unclear. It is generally understood, however, to have taken root within the fervent prayer tradition of the Korean church, which includes the early-morning prayer meeting, mountain prayer, and revival meetings. This tradition is often described as continuing from around the time of the Great Pyongyang Revival.

Practice in Korean Churches

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

Practice varies somewhat by denomination.

• Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, and Baptist churches: Many churches 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, while others center it 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 relatively uncommon.

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