We've all heard stories of people walking in church for the first time and without any coaching whatsoever, they walk down to the front of the church and God fills them with the Holy Ghost before they make it to the altar. I can tell you stories of drunks walking into service for the first time and the Holy Ghost came upon them and sobered them up. My Great Grandmother talked of people coming to church with knives planning to cut down the tent and leaving filled with the Holy Spirit of God.
Most people who receive the Holy Ghost do so with a little bit of help. In fact most people who receive the Holy Ghost had someone praying with them or ''coaching'' them. Many churches have trained staff in the altar area ready to assist the person seeking to receive the Holy Ghost. I've been in crusades where the altar staff wore a badge that said ''altar staff''' or even ''prayer counselor''.
Organizing an Altar Ministry or prayer team is not wrong, it's actually a great idea and if done right will only help people receive what the really need: a new life in Jesus Christ.
Never assume that everyone who comes to the altar
* Knows what they are doing
* Knows how to pray
* Knows how to repent or
* Knows how to receive the Holy Ghost
They may not even know what the Holy Ghost is or what they are feeling. They just feel something pulling them to the altar. That is where you come in, the Altar worker or coach needs to be there to help them to talk to them and help them receive the Holy Ghost. Just standing behind someone and praying quietly to yourself is not altar working, in fact, it may be a disservice.
