What this is
Prayer Circle is a small WordPress plugin for churches, small groups, and ministries that want a simple, dignified way to receive prayer requests, review them, and share the approved ones with the people who pray.
Visitors fill out a short form. Every submission lands in a moderation queue — nothing is public until you approve it. Once approved, the request appears on a prayer wall page, and the people who chose to subscribe get a single email letting them know there is a new burden to lift up.
“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
It is free. No accounts, no telemetry, no upsell. If it serves your people, that is the only thanks asked.
What it does
For the visitor
- A simple submission form — name, optional email, title, the request, an optional photo.
- An optional checkbox to be added to the prayer-list email.
- A clean prayer wall to read approved requests.
- An “I prayed” button on each card — a small acknowledgment.
For the editor
- A moderation queue — nothing public until you approve it.
- Edit the title, sender, or text before approving.
- Approval sends one email to all subscribers, BCC for privacy.
- Two shortcodes: one for the form, one for the wall.
Shortcodes
Two shortcodes drop the form and the wall onto any page or post:
| Shortcode | What it does |
|---|---|
[prayer_request_form] |
Renders the submission form with the optional fields and the email opt-in checkbox. |
[prayer_requests_list] |
Lists every approved request, newest first, with the optional photo and the “I prayed” button. |
Install
- Download the plugin: prayer-request.zip.
- In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New.
- Click Upload Plugin, choose
prayer-request.zip, then Install Now. - Click Activate.
If your site uses an aggressive security plugin or custom SMTP, make sure outgoing email is configured — otherwise the subscriber notifications won't reach anyone.
Setup
1. The submission page
- Create a new page named Share a Prayer.
- Add the shortcode
[prayer_request_form]. - Publish it and add it to your site's menu.
2. The prayer wall page
- Create another page named Prayer Wall (or Prayer Requests).
- Add the shortcode
[prayer_requests_list]. - Publish. Approved requests appear here automatically.
Moderation
In the WordPress admin sidebar, look for Prayer Requests:
- Pending — new submissions waiting for your approval. Approve, edit, or delete.
- Approved — what is currently public. You can still edit or remove a request after approval.
- Edit — adjust the title, the sender's name or email, or the text of the request itself.
Approval is the only moment the prayer becomes public, and the only moment a notification goes out. Until you click approve, nothing happens.
Safety, privacy, and pastoral care
- Moderation first. Nothing is published until an editor approves it.
- Subscriber privacy. Notification emails are sent BCC. No one's address is exposed to the others.
- Sensitive content. Be willing to redact names or details — many burdens are tender. Keep the wall pastoral and safe.
- Photos. Image uploads are optional. Review them carefully before approving.
- Email deliverability. Configure SMTP on your site for reliable delivery.
- Backups. As with all content, keep regular site backups.
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” — James 5:16 (KJV)
FAQ
- Will it work with my theme?
- It uses standard WordPress markup and CSS, so it should fit cleanly into most themes and page builders.
- Can people choose to be notified?
- Yes. The form has an opt-in checkbox. When you approve a new request, one email goes out with all subscribers in BCC.
- Can I edit or remove a request after it is published?
- Yes. The moderation page lets you edit the title, the sender details, or the text, and you can delete a request at any time.
- Is this GDPR / CCPA friendly?
- The plugin stores the sender's name and (if provided) email along with the request text. Use the moderation tools to remove data on request, and add a brief privacy note to your form page if your jurisdiction requires it.
- Does the “I prayed” button track anything?
- It is a quiet acknowledgment for the visitor — immediate visual feedback only. If you ever want global counts, the plugin can be extended.
- Can I use this on a non-church site?
- Yes. It works for any small group that wants to share burdens privately and pray for one another.
Download
Ready to set up your prayer wall?
A note on the spirit of this tool. Provided as-is, without warranty. As with any community space, exercise discretion and pastoral oversight. If this tool blesses your people, the only thanks asked is a prayer for the work.