Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes.
War in the Middle East
Strength of Families
Building up the Community
Men in the Bible; Examples to Live By
At S.O.P. we strive to serve all the needs of our members and the community through our ministries. At present there are six (6) ministries, namely:
The Sanctuary of Praise Prayer Ministry serves the SOP family by equipping, restoring, training, and facilitating the spiritual discipline of prayer. SOP Prayer ministries seek to develop and encourage prayer-centered lives that continually seek God’s presence. At Sanctuary of Praise, we do not believe that prayer is “a” ministry of the church, but “the” ministry of the church. Knowing that prayerlessness is our declaration of independence from God, we seek to make prayer as vital part of every ministry. Our goal is not simply to be a church with a prayer ministry - but a praying church.
Wednesday Prayer and Praise
Every Wednesday is designated as a day of prayer and fasting for the needs of our church, the worldwide church, the community, and the nation. The prayer service is followed by a time of fellowship as we share our Wednesday night meal together.
Sunday´s Incense
Preparatory prayers of thanksgiving, adoration and consecration are offered to the Lord prior to Sunday morning worship celebrations. Those taking part in leading worship are required to attend however all worshippers are encouraged to participate.
Impact Prayer Teams
Various prayer teams with a variety of purposes meet throughout the week.
Each Sunday morning worship celebration is covered in prayer as Worship Intercessors pray throughout the worship service at designated prayer locations in and around the Sanctuary of Praise sanctuary.
Altar workers are elders and lay members trained to minister to those who respond to the Lord during an altar call at one of our celebration services. Altar workers are intercessors who, having a burden for lost souls, stand prayerfully in the gap for those who are lost in the kingdom of darkness.
Our Impact Team meets every Saturday morning for prayer and intercession. This team is built on the passion of its members to pray about specific needs, concerns, request and praises. These "Issues" intercessors are those who stand against injustices through the power of prayer and fight for those who can´t fight for themselves.
Believers pray and walk (prayer-walk) through the streets of Homewood and the surrounding Pittsburgh communities. As we walk, we pray with our eyes open for spiritual awakening in the area. Walking through the arena of need helps us pray with spontaneity about the ways we expect God to answer our prayers. Our proximity to the need also helps us draw near to those for whom we pray.
We also use prayer walking to enlarge our vision of the entire community´s needs. As you walk, pray for the persons you see and allow the Holy Spirit to make you sensitive to their needs. Pray spiritual prayers and highlight God´s promises as you walk.
The Sanctuary of Praise Spiritual Growth Ministry exists to provide systematic Biblical instruction, to teach Christian doctrine, for training in righteousness, to equip all believers for ministry, practical Christian living, and spiritual growth, and to evangelize non-Christians.
We offer age appropriate new members training classes for all new believers and new members. As part of the Sanctuary Bible Institute, we offer systematic Bible studies for all ages. Each Sanctuary Connection group has a Biblical study component to equip believers for practical Christian living. Leadership Bible studies are offered to meet the training needs of Christian leaders and potential Christian leaders. Our Library, Media, and Educational Resource Center is available for quiet reading, meditation, and in-depth study of the Word of God.
In this ministry, we strive to utilize all the talents of our members to glorify the Lord our God.
The SOP Dance Ministry’s mission and purpose is to praise the Lord, to interpret the scriptures and to reach others for Christ through the art of liturgical or worship dance.
The Sanctuary of Praise Drama Ministry exists to worship God by helping others understand and apply the truths in God’s word and to lead people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the dramatic arts.
The Sanctuary of Praise Music Ministry exists to magnify the Lord through vocal and instrumental music presentations while leading the body into celebrative and intimate worship through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
The Media Arts Ministry exists to glorify God by enhancing the effectiveness of the worship ministries of Sanctuary of Praise with excellence in audio-visual presentation.
Our Missions and Evangelism Ministry is called Sanctuary Outreach Network - S.O.N.
S.O.N. is a faith-based community organization providing a support system that seeks to enrich, empower and equip metro-urban children, youth, adults and families in their effort to resolve issues (personal, familial, communal, economic, physical, educational and spiritual) assisting them toward holistic wellness.
These are the arms of S.O.N.:
Please visit the S.O.N. web site for a complete look at what we do. The address is www.sonpittsburgh.com
The hospitality, usher, greeter and security ministries of Sanctuary of Praise involve much more than hand shaking, bucket passing, and car parking. These ministries are a vital part of God´s ministry of helps. The literal meaning of helps is "one who gives assistance."
The HUGS team member is God´s public relations person and represents Sanctuary of Praise by making every visitor and congregant feel welcome and important. HUGS team members allow God to use them to meet the needs of people through prayer and joyful service.
At the Sanctuary of Praise, we believe that regular Sunday morning worship attendance is essential, but we place a great emphasis on regular small group meetings known as Connections, which meet in members´ homes, businesses, restaurants, or other locations.
We place value on relationships and realize the importance of "connecting" with others. Connections are small spiritual communities who get involved in one another´s lives. These groups are committed to caring for one another, learning how to love others as Jesus modeled in the New Testament and drawing in people who are not part of a healthy spiritual community.
At S.O.P, the Connection group is the best place for sustained life change to occur. In Connections, we study God´s Word together, discuss the issues and challenges of life, pray together, and are missed if we don´t show up. Connections are not just meetings they are groups where dynamic caring relationships are formed. Members are encouraged to develop meaningful relationships throughout the week, to build these relationships in trust and openness, and nurture them through care and support.
The goal for Connections is to foster intimate relationships, giving us the support and encouragement we need to live our lives for God. It is not merely about a regularly scheduled meeting, but a local community working out our Christianity together.