The Deacons of old prayed FERVENTLY and earnestly.  No one prayed harder and with more intensity than those old school Deacons. I grew up listening to the likes of Deacon Fletcher Brown, Deacon Croff Wimberly, Deacon Leroy Lightner, and Deacon Charlie Brown. These Deacons, in turn, grew up listening to Deacon Charlie Tigner, Deacon Eugene Brown and Reverend A. Jordan Smith. The old school Deacons and preachers practiced a style of praying that is rooted in the West African culture and has been handed down; generation after generation.

Their prayers were rhythmic and melodic; punctuated with unique interjections. When one of these Deacons prayed, one could see the Holy Spirit move through their bodies, sometimes causing them to tremble or beat their hands on a table or bench in rhythmic accompaniment to their lilting and colorful phraseology. And when they finally arose from their knees, wet with perspiration, everyone knew that God had heard that prayer and blessings were on their way. Fortunately, there are still some “Old School Deacons” out there. I pray that the tradition never ceases.

THE OLD DEACON’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in Heaven.

Hallowed would be Thy Holy Name.

Thy kingdom come, they will be done;

On earth as it is now already being done in Heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive our sins;

As we forgive those that have sinned against us.

And, lead us not into temptation but deliver us

From all that is sin and evil

For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory.

Father! God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph;

It is once more and again that a few of us have come together,

with bowed heads and humbled hearts.

Thanking You Father, for our laying down last night

And our rising up early this morning!

Thanking You Father! That the bed we laid down on last night;

Wasn’t our cooling board and the sheets that we covered up with Father;

Was not our winding clothes.

You woke us up this morning; started us on our way

You gave us a portion of health and strength this morning Father! Thanking You Father! For letting us keep our hands in the winding chain, one more time!

Thank You for letting us keep our hands on that Gospel plow, one more time!

We know You didn’t have to do it Father; but we mighty glad You did!

Thank You for waking us up this morning Father still clothed in our right minds.

Thank You for waking us up this morning Father, still having the use of our limbs;

So that we might move and have being in Your world.

Thanking You for letting us open our eyes and see all of our loved ones, one more time.

Father we want to thank You for blessing us and blessing so abundantly

We thank You for putting food on our tables,

clothes on our backs, shoes on our feet

and a roof over our heads Heavenly Father!

We want to thank You for healing us Father!

We want to thank You for healing our bodies,

We want to thank You for healing our spirits,

And we want to thank You for Healing our minds.

We want to thank You for healing in the old folk’s home.

We want to thank You for healing in the hospitals.

We want to thank You for healing at home in our sick beds.

We want to thank You for healing us as we walk around, not even knowing we’re sick.

Father we want to thank You for giving us the wisdom, strength and courage

To lead and guide our children and families in the way You would have them go.

Thanking You Father for the wisdom, strength and courage to avoid the

Traps and pitfall that the evil one lays down before us!

Father we thank You for giving us Your Holy Word to guide us.

And we thank You for sending us Your one and only begotten son

So that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have

An everlasting life. We thank You mightily Father.

We thank You for allowing Your Son Jesus to take our sins up on the cross,

Then down into the grave to leave them right there Father!

Then raising Him up on the third day with all power in his hands;

So that we may have life, everlasting life and have it more abundantly.

Father we ask that You keep on watching over us.

Father we ask that You keep Your loving arms of protection all around us.

Father we ask that You take our little hands in Your big hands

We ask that You continue to be our bridge over troubled waters.

Father we know that You’re be a doctor that’s never lost a patient

We know that You’re a lawyer that’s never lost a case.

We ask that You continue to be our Mighty Counselor.

We ask that You continue to be our Rock in a weary land.

We know that You’re the Alpha and the Omega; the First and the Last.

Only You know our needs before we know our needs

We know You know everything. You know the beginning from the end.

And that not a sparrow falls to the ground without Your knowledge.

Father we ask that You continue to be a lamp unto our feet

And a light unto our pathway Father!

And when we’ve gone the last mile of the way

And we can’t go another step farther, Heavenly Father

Heavenly Father, strengthen us where we’re weak

Prop us up on our leaning side.

Build us up where we are torn down,

If it be Thy Holy will Heavenly Father.

We ask that You give us a home somewhere in Your kingdom;

Where we may rest, rule and abide with You Father!

now and forevermore. AMEN

The Bible says: “The effectual, FERVENT prayers of a righteous man availeth much.”(James 5:16)

The effectual, FERVENT prayers of a righteous woman availeth much!

The effectual, FERVENT prayers of a righteous person availeth much!

The Bible says that Jesus prayed with such intensity that his sweat dripped to the ground like drops of blood. (Luke 22:44)