Sometimes it can feel like the Internet is just a gateway to negativity. If you find yourself frustrated with what you see online, seeking out Christian content through technology is a great way to stay positive and keep your walk with Christ active in all parts of your life. These groups across social media and the web are great options to connect with other Christians for prayer and encouragement.
Fans of PureFlix.com’s original series, “The Encounter,” will love this fan group because it is not your typical fan club. Instead, the group shares prayer requests, news, and general thoughts on living a Christ-centered life. Check it out if you’re looking for an online community you already share something in common.
This simple prayer group was started by a London pastor in 2011 and now has more than 300,000 members. Though you must request to join, this is simply so the moderators can keep track of new members and welcome them to the group. Facebook users will appreciate the functionality they love about Facebook, but on a group page dedicated to sharing prayer needs.
This prayer group is massive, so be prepared for several posts a day showing up in your newsfeed. If you want to be reminded to “pray unceasingly,” this is an ideal group for you. With more than 800,000 members and growing, “God Answers Prayers” is one of the biggest prayer request groups on Facebook.
This smaller group is exclusively for women and was started by one woman who felt called to bring women together online. The group was started in 2015 and is still going strong. In it, you’ll see women posting not only prayer requests but also general encouragement.
If you’re looking for more of a general Christian community than a prayer requests only group, “Online Christian Fellowship” is a large public group with memes, sermons, encouraging messages, and prayer requests.
Upper Room Ministries offers a “Living Prayer Center” online, staffed by Christian volunteers who will pray for you anytime. You can submit a prayer request on their website or call 1-800-251-2468 (7am-11pm CST). If you want to become part of the community, you can also apply to volunteer as a prayer partner. Their website features great articles on prayer and spiritual gifts, making it a great site for all believers.
If you like the idea of Facebook but are seeking an experience that is strictly Christian, you’ll appreciate “Faithlife.” With a modern interface and easy-to-use mobile apps, the group’s features are a great tool for hosting online Bible studies or prayer groups.
For those that appreciate simplicity, the National Prayer Bank is ideal. Its website offers three options: pray for others, make a prayer request, or join a group. The forum-like interface is easy to use and the large buttons make it simple to navigate.
This free online forum is a great place to find a prayer group that is already flourishing. If you are nervous about praying with those you know or approaching sensitive topics, the ability to remain anonymous will appeal to you. Moderators monitor discussions to keep out hate speech and anti-Christian biases, but all faiths are welcome to submit prayer requests, making this a great evangelistic opportunity as well.
If you don’t mind a forum with less monitoring, Reddit has multiple sub-reddits dedicated to Christian topics and prayer requests. This one is just one example, which shows you anonymously posted requests from all around the world. If you’re feeling called to pray but not sure where to start, this is a great place to find people who need to feel God’s love in their life.