“There’s more going on in the Twin Cities than in many other cities all across the U.S. in terms of prayer movement,” said Steven Andrews, director of the Bethany House of Prayer room. “There’s a lot going on on a lot of different levels—we’re not all 24/7 prayer ministries, but there’s a real unity of vision and purpose.”

Located in Bloomington, BHOP has seen steady growth in the 24/7 prayer ministry since its birth in 2001.

“There’s always been prayer at Bethany,” said Terry Bowman, Overseer of Spiritual Formation at BHOP. “But it’s really been in the last seven years we’ve seen structure come to it.”

Part of this structure is seeing and doing prayer and worship in a missions-oriented way. Following the Harp and Bowl model mentioned in Revelation 5:8, BHOP blends prayer and song into worship and intercession.

“It’s not necessarily a perfect model or the best model, but for long-term, sustainable prayer, it’s a model you can run with,” Bowman said.

Though run differently than some, BHOP is not the only prayer room ministry in the Twin Cities area. Elk River, Roseville, Burnsville, Minneapolis and others are home to growing ministries as well.

“There is a growing interest in 24/7 prayer in the Twin Cities,” said Dale Gilmore of the Minnesota House of Prayer, citing at least 21 communities around the state that have, or seek to have, an active and growing prayer ministry.

“The Lord is really raising up houses of prayer everywhere,” added Bowman, noting that hundreds of houses are popping up around the country independently of each other.

Yet all this growth is not without its opposition.

“Resistance on [the devil’s] part is something we face regularly because a praying church is a major threat to him,” said Jeff Evensen of the Elk River House of Prayer. “This can show up in many ways from both within the Church and from outside the Church.”

“All the sins that have characterized the Church life in the Twin Cities—like lack of unity, control, pride, kingdom-building—have to be fought in the prayer movement as well,” added Gilmore.

Along with resistance, the 24/7 prayer movement also has its share of critics.

Taking the brunt of the criticism is the International House of Prayer in Kansas City—the house many look to as the pioneer and prototype of modern day prayer rooms.

Heading IHOP is Mike Bickle, a man at the center of controversy. While many praise him and his efforts at restoring the 24/7 prayer movement, many others speak out against him. Calling IHOP a “cult” and a “ministry gone awry,” some critics also refer to Bickle as a “delusional leader.”

Bickle and IHOP have also been linked to several controversial movements and theologies which are addressed on the IHOP Web site (www.ihop.org).

“The International House of Prayer is just one expression in something that’s a lot bigger than the International House of Prayer,” Andrews said, adding that what IHOP has accomplished has helped smaller prayer movements around the country, regardless of the controversy surrounding it.

In Minnesota, many prayer ministries have been able to see God working despite the opposition and resistance they have faced.

“We are regularly hearing of believers who strayed away and returned and of those whose hearts were dull towards God and have [now] become more tender and devoted to him,” Evensen said.

Along with being able to see the work of God done, one draw of the prayer movement in Minnesota is that it is not defined by age. However, an overwhelming amount of those involved are young adults.

“Many in this younger generation are giving themselves fully to prayer and worship that their generation would be redeemed,” Evensen said.

Gilmore couldn’t agree more. “To say some of these kids are ‘on fire’ is truly an understatement.”

Yet it’s believers in all stages of life and maturity who are coming together to seek the heart of God—however that may look.

“Things look different everywhere. But it is all happening because of his power, his love, and it’s for his glory and purposes,” Gilmore said.

“What excites me for the movement as a whole is that I see God raising up prayer and worship with a global perspective,” Evensen said.

Bowman and Andrews agree. “We really want to bless the Body with the mandate the Lord has given us, so that they may be able to run farther and stronger in the things the Lord has given to them.”

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For more information, visit www.bethanyhouseofprayer.org, www.unveiledglory.com, or www.tchop.org.