The Rock Hill Prayer Space
we have it because of prayer...
IF YOU HAVEN’T RESERVED A SPOT FOR THE GLOBAL WEEK OF PRAYER IN OUR NEW PRAYER ROOM, BE SURE TO READ ABOUT HOW AND DO SO HERE!
The York County Prayer team has been praying for years, asking God to provide a building in Rock Hill where we could have a permanent prayer room. A space that could feel like a “thin place,” free of the distractions of modern life, where people of every age and background—whether seasoned saint or circumspect seeker—could go any time of the week to fully engage and find pathways to encounter the living God. We were given an amazing space, just weeks before the Global Week of Prayer (full testimony coming soon; sign up to get email updates so you can catch all the posts). We believe this timing was intentional, and makes us even more excited as we see God making a way for our community to lean in more intentionally to prayer for our region!
What is a 24-7 Prayer Room?
A 24-7 prayer room can be hard to describe; it’s something best experienced! The first time I stepped foot in one, I thought to myself, “Where has this been all my life?” And I was never the same again. Here are some descriptions I’ve found that are useful:
It’s a place of the Presence of God
The Holy Spirit fills not only people, but places, too. Ancient Celtic Christians used the phrase “thin places” to describe where the veil between heaven and earth becomes so thin that prayer flows easily, and the still, small voice of God is clearer to the listener.
People often report that their sense of the presence of God in the prayer room deepens as the space is saturated in prayer. Over and over, people report that in the presence of God, one hour in the Prayer Room feels like ten minutes. Sometimes people who don’t know Jesus are drawn into the prayer room and find themselves encountering Him there.
God is always with us – but when we set a space aside specifically as a place to meet with Him, He loves to answer our invitation in amazing ways.
It’s a place of creativity and freedom
24-7 Prayer Rooms often incorporate art and creativity into their design, with materials that engage all five senses and offer opportunities to paint, draw, sing, dance, scribble, lie down, read, listen to music, and engage with the Holy Spirit. This creativity challenges long-held preconceptions about prayer and helps people to be open to encountering God in fresh ways.
It’s a place of pilgrimage
We believe that there is significance in devoting a specific time in a specific place to pray; stepping out of your normal routine to make a physical journey – a pilgrimage – to a dedicated place of prayer. It is a sacrifice of time, convenience, and attention, underlining what is truly important to you. If nothing else, this sacrifice is a sign to yourself, to your community, and to the world: a sign of faith that prayer is significant, that God is listening, that He meets with us today.
It’s an enduring encouragement
A prayer room is a picture of constant activity in the heart of every believer. It helps us maintain the flame of worship on the altar of our lives. We leave the prayer room encouraged and enabled to keep on praying consciously and subconsciously through the trials of the day ahead.
Non-stop prayer isn’t simply about a place of prayer; it is an attitude of prayer that reminds us of the reality that we are called to constant conversation and relationship with the God who created us.
We are beyond grateful for how God has answered our prayers. The building we have is in the perfect location — right between downtown and Winthrop University on Oakland Avenue. The part of the building that we get is spacious and full of natural light! It is on the second floor; we keep calling it our Upper Room! Make sure to sign up for the Global Week of Prayer (read all details here first) when our prayer room officially launches!
When I come to Rock Hill again, let's host an All Night Burn session : )