Pastor Ernest Asiedu Alao-Caesar has urged Christians and churches to reconsider the manner in which they conduct prayers, describing the growing culture of noisy and disruptive prayer gatherings as “highly unbiblical.” Speaking during a recent address, the EverTrue Church leader emphasized that authentic Christian prayer is rooted in reverence, reflection, and love for one’s neighbour, not in loud display or public disturbance.
According to him, prayer should never become a nuisance to the community. “People in our neighbourhoods need peace of mind and quietness to engage in productive activities,” he said. “Some may be attending online classes or examinations, others may be resting after long hours of work. With the rise of remote work, it’s amazing what people now do from home. We must not be a disservice to our communities in the name of prayer.” He challenged believers to ask themselves how they would feel if such constant noise occurred near their homes, stressing, “It is not right to be praying and disturbing your neighbours. Let us copy from Jesus.”
Drawing from Scripture, Pastor Alao-Caesar referenced Luke 5:15–16, noting that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed,” underlining the phrase often withdrew as proof that Christ consistently sought solitude in communion with the Father. He also cited Mark 1:35, where “in the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.” According to him, these passages show clearly that Jesus did not shout through the streets or make noise in the neighbourhood to prove his spirituality.
He added that the few instances where Jesus prayed publicly such as when raising Lazarus or rebuking demons, were not displays of noise but acts of divine authority. “When Jesus truly wanted to speak with the Father, he did so privately,” Pastor Alao-Caesar observed.
Cautioning against equating loudness with spiritual power, he remarked, “It is not how loud or how much you scream that will make the Father answer. In reality, you have already received your reward as a showman.” He explained that many believers may have inherited traditions of loud and dramatic prayer, but maturity in faith requires discernment and correction. “We need to use discretion and biblical insight to recognise where we were in error and change. Prayer is not acting in a way that makes you feel good or think you have really prayed; it is about talking to the Father, and it must follow biblical guidelines.”
He further reminded Christians that prayer remains an essential part of the believer’s life, but it must be done with understanding and restraint. “As Christians, we ought to pray, and prayer is indeed good for us, but we should do it well,” he said. “We can pray without opening the microphone too loud; it can be within the confines of the church. I urge you to pray so you don’t become a prey.”
Quoting Matthew 6:5–8, he reminded the faithful of Jesus’ own instruction: ‘When you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites… but go into your private room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.’
Pastor Alao-Caesar concluded with a firm reminder: “As Christians, we do not do things however we please. There is a guide and that guide is the Bible. Let us learn from Christ and restore the dignity, peace, and purity of prayer. God does not require noise to hear us. He hears even the quietest prayer.”
