By Steve Loopstra

As point person for prayer in your church, you may be asking yourself if a solemn assembly is the right thing to pursue. After reading testimonies from Christ Community Church you might want to organize this type of event for the “results” that it might achieve. But before you move forward, it’s important to understand the biblical basis and unique function of this type of gathering.

Scripture is replete with examples of God’s people being called together in solemn assemblies (sometimes referred to as a sacred assembly). “The Solemn Assembly” by Richard Owen Roberts (see featured resources) lays out a clear background for its use in Scripture. In each biblical account, the call for solemn assembly came during times when sin had overtaken the people of God. Corporately, they faced the holy God they had offended for the purpose of earnest confession, repentance and reconciliation. Revival occurred as they turned from their sins.

Not Your Typical Prayer Meeting
Having a church or community-wide solemn assembly is not simply a matter of holding another prayer meeting or going through some ceremony. Isaiah chapter one makes it clear that God is not interested in “rituals” designed to get what we want from Him. He looks at the hearts of those assembled. If you consider a solemn assembly, here are some essential elements to keep in mind:

• Initiated by leadership. The solemn assembly must spring out of the hearts of church leaders who are broken over their own sins, as well as the sins of the corporate body. The call from leadership to the people is made in complete humility.
  
• Gather corporately. Joel speaks of families coming together (Joel 2:12-17). The whole church body participates, not a small elect group. This time must be given priority: normal schedules are set aside; it is not tacked on as an afterthought. It is to be a time of fasting (see Points of Interest in this section), sacrifice, worship, deep-seeking prayer with accompanying repentance, and exhortation from Scripture. The solemn assembly is an opportunity to openly acknowledge ways your congregation or community has broken faith with the holiness of God.
  
• Expect a Response. Attendees must come to solemn assembly with a sense of anticipation that God is true to His word and will keep His promise to respond to the sincere repentance of His people (2 Chron. 7:14).

Prepare the Way
So suppose, just as Jill Thistle at Christ Community Church, you are not in a decision-making, leadership position, but believe this is something to pursue? First, bathe it in prayer. Ask the Lord to give you a humble, submitted heart. Only then should you approach your church leadership with a well thought out, biblically based proposal. If there are widely known sin issues, mention those but keep personal opinions to yourself. Share copies of these Pray! articles along with one of Roberts’ pamphlets. Leave your meeting with an offer to pray for the Lord’s direction and an understanding that you are completely submitted to their decision. Honoring leadership in your church is the best way to approach the subject and remain in the very spirit of solemn assembly.

--Steve Loopstra is the executive director of Prayer Transformation Ministries (www.prayertransformation.com). He is a member of the National Prayer Committee and serves on the board of the Church Prayer Leaders Network. Steve and his wife Marilou live in Minnesota and have two grown children, Jonathan and Esther.