Prayer & Pastoral Care

Prayer triplets are groups of 3 people who have specifically come together to pray for and support each other. Prayer triplets can take many forms; they can be a simple WhatsApp group, regular video calls, meeting together habitually, or a combination of everything! What they’re not is compulsory! Entering into a prayer triplet is choosing to be in a vulnerable and committed group with selected individuals – don’t feel pressured to be a part of one, only commit to it if it’s something you want to be a part of.

Many biblical figures have a small group of intimate friends with whom they can be honest and vulnerable with; who would challenge, pray for, and support one another. Paul had Timothy and Barnabas, Naomi had Ruth, David had Jonathan, and of course, Jesus had his disciples (although 12 is a lot for a prayer triplet!).

It’s important to say, though, that there are plenty of biblical characters who don’t model ‘prayer triplets,’ as far as the biblical texts tell us. So, even biblically, it’s not a one size fits all practise. But it is something that some biblical characters modelled, and it might be something that suits you too.

Having trusted people to share your burdens with is a great emotional resource for everyone. Supporting and praying for people in their highs and their lows can be one of the most rewarding experiences. Moreover, having people cheer you on, lift you up, and challenge you can be an invaluable support to anyone. That’s not to say your prayer triplet is a replacement for therapy, but casting your burdens onto trusted and loyal partners is certainly something which can help us all.

Choosing who to form a prayer triplet with can be tricky, here are some tips to help you decide:

Choose people you trust. Intimacy, vulnerability, and commitment are the keys to success in prayer triplets, so choose people who you trust and are comfortable with.

Stay between 3 or 4 members. We advise not going more than 4 so that groups stay manageable, and we advise no less than 3 because a one on one situation can become very intense very quickly. We want these groups to be loving and life-giving, which means keeping them healthy and sustainable for all involved.

It’s OK to not choose your friends. You might have a couple of mates you want to form a triplet with. But, for a number of reasons, you might want to pick people who aren’t in your regular circle of friends. And that’s OK! In fact, a prayer triplet is a fantastic way to get to know other people better. As we said before though, make sure they’re people you trust and feel comfortable with.

Make sure you all have similar expectations. Not everyone is going to agree on everything, but it’s best to be in a prayer triplet with people on the same page as you. Once you’ve found your prayer triplet, have a healthy and honest chat about how often you want to be in contact, how your schedules match up, if you want to commit to being a triplet for a set amount of time (a month, 6 months, 1 year), and discuss the boundaries of the conversation and expectations of trust and confidentiality between you.