An altar call is a moment in some worship services when a preacher invites people who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ to come forward and pray. The aim is a personal commitment to faith, often called salvation or conversion. You can also come forward for prayer without deciding anything.
What happens during an altar call?
The invitation usually comes near the end of the service, after the sermon. The preacher explains what it means to receive Christ and asks anyone who wants to make that decision to come to the front, to kneel, or to raise a hand from a pew.
A pastor or trained counselor often speaks briefly with those who respond, then prays with them while the congregation prays silently. A slow invitation hymn may be sung during this time, and ushers or a prayer team may direct people to a counselor.
In some churches the communion table serves as the altar; in others the word simply names the space in front of the pulpit.
Why do people come forward?
Most often, a person comes forward to receive salvation: to confess faith in Jesus Christ and begin a relationship with God, described in many churches as being born again. The same invitation may also be used for prayer about healing, family problems, or grief, and sometimes for a believer's rededication after a lapse in faith.
Which churches use altar calls?
The practice is most common in American Baptist, Pentecostal, and other evangelical congregations, including many Church of Christ, Holiness, Nazarene, and nondenominational churches.
It is not part of the fixed orders of worship in Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Episcopal, or Lutheran churches, though the front of those churches may still be called the altar, meaning the table where communion is celebrated. Some liturgical churches invite people forward for a laying on of hands or a blessing, but they would not call it an altar call.
Where did the practice come from?
The phrase is American and largely 19th century. Revival meetings and camp meetings of the Second Great Awakening developed a formal invitation at the close of the sermon, and the practice spread through revival campaigns, tents, and tabernacles. Charles Grandison Finney's protracted meetings helped standardize it.
It remains a regular part of revival services and is still heard in many churches today.
What to expect if you respond
You do not need to prepare a speech. A pastor may ask simple questions, such as whether you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, and then pray with you in your own words. If you are not ready to decide, you can ask for prayer and return to your seat.
Afterward, a church may offer a Bible, a new-member class, or a small group to continue the conversation. You can read more about how churches handle membership before you make any commitments.