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It All Happened on Fulton Street
Fulton Street Noontime Prayer and the Revival of 1857-58
A renewed call to noontime prayer on the 150th Anniversary
Submitted by Cecelia Gleason
Chief Operations Officer
Intercessors for America
"Used with permission by Intercessors for America. For more information, visit www.ifapray.org."
Background
The Fulton Street prayer revival began September 23, 1857, in the consistory room of the North Dutch Reformed Church, just a few blocks from where the World Trade Center’s once stood. It grew to include Christians from a variety of denominational backgrounds and spread from one local church throughout the city, nation and into the world.
Jeremiah Calvin Lanphier was hired by the consistory of the Collegiate Church as a lay missionary in connection with the North Dutch Reformed Church. From his personal observations and experience, he felt it would be profitable to challenge “men engaged in active business to devote a portion of the time usually given to rest and refreshment at mid-day to devotional purposes.” So Wednesday, from noon to one o’ clock, was set aside in the consistory building on Fulton Street to give “merchants, mechanics, clerks, strangers and businessmen generally an opportunity to stop and call upon God amid the daily perplexities incident to their respective avocations.” The first meeting was held on the 23rd of September, 1857. The first person to join Lanphier was a half-hour late; several others came even later. Five denominations were represented. “Prayer and praise were offered.” The following week, twenty attended. The third week, there were forty. By the fourth week, they decided to hold a meeting every workday. Within months, meetings were being held throughout the city; the movement soon spread to other U.S. cities from coast to coast.
The agenda was simple: “the salvation of the soul.” They would pray for the “souls” of family members, neighbors, and coworkers—by name. Others would join in praying in agreement. They prayed for salvation and praised God when it happened. The absence of “oratory” (i.e., a speaker) and “argument” (theological discussion) made these meetings both unique and attractive.
Four items distinguished these prayer meetings from others:
1) Spontaneity - With the exception of a patterned beginning, the meetings generally conducted themselves. Almost everyone participated.
2) Their interdenominational nature - Leaders came from every evangelical faith: Baptists, Brethren, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Friends, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Reformed. Issues and items which distinguished them were not discussed.
3) Promptness - The meeting started promptly at noon and closed promptly at one. Prayers were held accountable to the five-minute rule.
4) Their focus on prayer - The “agenda” was prayer—prayer for salvation and for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. No “business” was conducted. Historians estimate that as many as one million people may have come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as a result of this prayer revival.
The Prayer Meeting
The character and pattern of the Fulton Street prayer meeting was followed as it spread across the United States and beyond. Leaders were given a “bill of direction” and required to observe it strictly:
A placard was hung on the wall in a prominent place, commanding the attention of the whole meeting.
Be prompt, commencing precisely at Twelve O’clock. The leader is not expected to exceed ten minutes in opening the meeting.
Open the meeting by reading and singing three to five verses of a hymn.
Prayer.
Read a portion of Scripture. Say the meeting is now open for prayers and exhortations, observing particularly the Rules, inviting the brethren from abroad to take part in the services.
Read but one request at a time—requiring a prayer to follow—such prayer to have special reference to same.
In case of any suggestion or proposition by any person, say this is simply a prayer meeting and that they are out of order, and call on some brother to pray.
Give out the closing hymn five minutes before one o’clock.
Request the benediction from a clergyman, if one be present.Current Vision
That churches, communities, and cities will use this commemoration as an opportunity to gather across denominational lines to pray together.
That churches and communities will encourage businessmen and women to set aside one noontime (lunch hour) each week to pray together.
That churches in business districts will open their doors for multi-denominational noontime prayer gatherings.
That these prayer groups will prioritize prayers for the lost, for the presence of God and for the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
That major gatherings for prayer and celebration will be held in metropolitan areas.
That people will pray that God will use this anniversary to ignite the fire of revival.
Current Implementation
Encourage people, churches, and denominations to pray for this celebration—that God will anoint it by his Spirit and use it to bring revival.
Use the above guides for setting up a noontime prayer meeting and training leaders.
Provide reproducible promotional materials to churches and to denominational and other ministry leaders.
Recruit additional prayer ministry partners who will endorse this vision and encourage their members’ participation. The goal is to make this a national, multi-denominational, multi-ethnic celebration of God and tool for revival.
During the 2008-2009 church years, encourage churches to initiate interdenominational noontime prayer meetings in their area through their businessmen and women.
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