ALTAR TRAINING
WELCOME
Thank you for saying “yes” to serving at YTH Ministry! It is said that 80% of Christians make Jesus Christ the Lord over their life between the ages of 10-14 years old. As a YTH Leader, you are raising up the next generation of Christ followers and helping form their faith in the most pivotal years of their life! In YTH Ministry, there are many altar moments with students, and we want to equip you to lead these moments well. Moments at the altar can be vulnerable for students, and we desire to see our leaders confidently able to navigate deep prayer moments and conversations full of wisdom, Biblical truth, discernment and faith.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” - Luke 4:18–19
When we read Luke 4:18-19, we see that this is the ministry of Jesus. Christ came not only for salvation from sin, but He came to deal with the entire person. We desperately desire to see our teenagers say “yes” to Salvation. We also desire to see the Lord deal with their whole being after they say “yes” to Salvation, as He heals their bodies, renews their minds, breaks chains of bondage and oppression off of them and instills calling and purpose.
We firmly believe that God wants to work through moments at the altar to see the Next Generation saved, healed and set free.
WHY HAVE AN ALTAR CALL?
“These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” - Isaiah 56:7
Altar: An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are made for religious purposes; any time or place you meet with God.
Corporate Gathering: A large group of people who are diverse in nature and experience, that make up a community of people.
At YTH, the altar is where students from all different backgrounds, experiences and families will come together to meet with God, lay things before Him as a sacrifice and give worship to the Lord as an offering of praise.
THE ALTAR CALL IS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO DETERMINE WHO IS RESPONDING TO GOD, AND WHO ARE SUBJECTS FOR MINISTRY.
Never forget, God can transform a life in a moment and He is inviting you to join with Him this week to see people healed, saved and set free.
It’s important to note:
1. Pay attention to the Pastor as they may give specific instructions to the students and leaders regarding the Altar Call.
2. Be prepared to flow with the Holy Spirit as He does the work. We are simply vessels for the Lord to move. We do not control the outcome of what God wants to do at the altar; we are simply stewards of the Holy Spirit and follow His leading and guiding.
TYPES OF ALTAR CALLS
1. Simple Altar Call: The Pastor may ask that people raise their hands in response to the message or for salvation.
2. Corporate Altar Call: Calls that involve a response by the whole student body.
3. Ministry Altar Call: Those with specific needs are asked to come to the altar area.
4. Seeker Altar Call: Allow those who are hungry for God to find a place to meet with the Lord.
As you lead in Youth Ministry, your ministry role at the altar is to pray for individuals in a way that does not interfere with their seeking the Lord.
As you lead and pray for students at the altar, be encouraged that the Lord is not looking for people who are perfect, but He does desire that you would be prepared spiritually. Here is how you can prepare for YTH:
• Humility: It’s about them and their story, not you and yours. (Proverbs 11:2)
• Prepared Heart: Position yourself to be used. (Proverbs 16:1)
• Knowledge of the Word: Communicate the heart of the Father (Psalm 119:11)
• Discernment and Wisdom: He knows what they need (Matthew 6:8, James 1:5).
• Filled with the Holy Spirit: We serve by His authority (Luke 9:1)
• Unconditional Love vs. Judgmental Spirit: Christ died for us while we were still in our sins. (Romans 5:8)
When the altar call is made, be ready to move forward immediately and pray over your students. Here are some practical guidelines as you lead in services:
• Men are to counsel men, and women counsel women. Exceptions would be in cases where the person is a relative or spouse, or by a Staff Pastor. If the individual is transgender, it is important to approach them with grace and invite a Pastor or a second altar team member to join you in prayer.
• If a person is crying or responding emotionally, do not interrupt unless it becomes out of order (disruptive). We are emotional beings. Look for the ministry opportunity once the emotions have subsided, or use wisdom as they are experiencing those emotions, as you pray for them. Godly sorrow can lead to repentance and restoration.
• Refer serious problems to the Pastoral Staff and be aware of when you need to share a Mandatory Report with a Pastor. This includes suicidal intent, abuse, someone planning an abortion and intent to cause someone else harm.
• Keep good personal hygiene.
• Keep your eyes open as you pray and pay attention to your body language as you pray for students.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
This is the Fatherheart of God for every single student who responds to the Altar Call. Our focus is on who God is and what God is doing, not our opinion or experience.
“Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”
- Proverbs 18:2 (NIV)
You’ll hear things that you’ll definitely have an opinion about. The altar is not the time nor place to share yours, but instead, to ask the Lord what He wants to say to the student and share from the Father’s heart.
“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” - John 5:19–20 (NIV)
As we lead in Altar Moments, we never want to do it apart from the Father. Our opinion may be accurate and biblically wise, but we want God’s opinion, heart, word and truth spoken over them because it is the word of God that will break chains, and not ours.
To understand and focus on the Father’s heart, you should:
• Minister of the overflow of your relationship with Him.
• Maintain your own intimacy with God.
• Pursue your own spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health and well-being in Christ.
As you lead in YTH Ministry, there will be different types of prayers you will be praying over your students.
TYPES OF PRAYER (This is not an exhaustive list.)
• Salvation
• Physical Healing
• Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues - “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” - Luke 11:13, NLT (See also Acts 2:1-4, and Matthew 3:11) “I wish you all spoke with tongues.” - 1 Corinthians 14:5
• Prayers of Confession and Repentance - “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” - James 5:16
• Prophetic Prayers - “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” - 1 Corinthians 14:3
• Forgiveness - “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:32
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit empowers people to receive the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit and the ability to witness the gospel. At the altar, as students respond, we guard against any prayer that would coerce or manipulate an individual in their experience of the Holy Spirit’s presence; however, we do freely welcome and encourage people to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. As you pray for Baptism in the Holy Spirit, keep these things in mind:
• Ensure that the person has received salvation. This is a requirement before receiving baptism in the Holy Spirit.
• Clarify the person’s expectations and assumptions regarding baptism. Talk with the individual to determine if there is a need for further understanding. Luke 11:13 (NLT) reads, “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
• Instruct the person to ask the Father for baptism in the Holy Spirit. Explain that you will agree with them while they pray.
• Ask the person for feedback on what they experienced during the prayer.
• Together, ask the Lord, “Is there anything else You want to do for this person?”
• Ask the Lord for a free gift of Holy Spirit baptism with the evidence of speaking in tongues, and believe it is received freely, just as salvation. No proof required. Do not pray for the Holy Spirit baptism, demanding the demonstration of a particular gift.
• Respond to God’s direction through prayer.
• Encourage the person to grow in the Spirit’s fruit and gifts.
PRAYING IN TONGUES
• 1 Corinthians 14:5 says, “I wish you all spoke with tongues...” This gift is the Holy Spirit’s desire for you!
• When praying with people to receive their prayer language, be sure to refrain from the appearance of manipulation or control. Simply pray for the person to receive their prayer language or agree with them while they pray. Do not instruct them by saying, “Repeat after me.” You may, however, ask them to join you while you pray in your prayer language.
THANK YOU for leading in YTH and having a heart that is willing to pray over students, lead them into God’s Word and God’s Presence. We are believing that as you pray over students, we will see the Next Generation say “yes” to salvation, encounter healing, freedom, and baptism in the Holy Spirit. We could not do this without you, and we are praying for you as you lead!
