[Albion Wilde]

I think you may be missing the point of what I've been trying to illustrate. I'm talking about small groups where people do participate in group prayer, "for where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them." Sometimes a member will ask for prayers for someone with a specific issue, such as a teenager with a drug problem. What you do not want in a small group is to hear this request repeated as gossip in the larger community because one person trusted the others in the small group to hear a heartfelt request for prayer.

I agree, that God hears our earnest prayers in private. But I also believe that intercessory prayer helps many people, both the person prayed for and the persons doing the praying. Are you sure you have been addressing what I have described above?

[metmom]

Yeah, I guess I did miss what you were getting at.

Sorry about that.

[mlizzy]

But I also believe that intercessory prayer helps many people, both the person prayed for and the persons doing the praying.

Yes, I agree. Intercessory prayer is beneficial to everyone it touches, and signal graces have been sent in response to it. This has been documented by countless people since forever.