How to Receive Prayer Requests During Your Church’s Live Stream

June 17th, 2026

Connecting with your congregation in real time, even through a screen.

One of the most meaningful moments in any church service is the time set aside for communal prayer. When your congregation gathers in person, collecting prayer requests is natural: a raised hand, a note passed forward, a quiet word before the service begins. But what happens when your people are joining you from their living rooms, their phones, or even halfway across the world?

Live streaming has opened incredible doors for churches to reach beyond their four walls, but it also raises a very practical question: How do you receive prayer requests during a live stream so you can include them in your time of prayer?

The good news is that with a little intentional setup, this can be seamless, and even more organized than your in-person process.

Option 1: A Prayer Request Form Embedded on Your Stream Page

The most effective method is to place a prayer request form directly on the same page as your video feed. If you’re using a short code or embed to display your live stream on your church website, simply add the form just beneath the video player. That way, viewers never have to leave the page. They can watch the stream, feel prompted to share a need, and submit it right then and there without missing a moment of the service.

If you already have a prayer request form on your website (many churches do), repurposing it here is straightforward. Just place it below your video embed and you’re ready to go. No need to build something from scratch.

Why this works so well:

You get an email notification the moment someone submits a request, so your pastor or prayer team can be alerted in real time.
Every submission is archived in your form entries, creating a running record of your congregation’s needs that your prayer team can revisit throughout the week.
It’s private. Unlike a public comment section, a form submission goes directly to your team, allowing people to share sensitive needs with confidence.

One important note: if you’re broadcasting via Zoom, be aware that Zoom takes over the full screen of its own page, so the embedded form approach works best on your church website rather than within the Zoom interface itself.

Option 2: Enable Comments on Your Stream Page

A simpler, lower-barrier approach is to enable the comment section on the page or post where your video is hosted. Viewers can type their prayer requests directly into the comments as the service unfolds, no form required.

This method has a certain organic energy to it. It mirrors the familiar feel of social media interaction and can feel less formal, which some congregation members may prefer.

A few things to keep in mind with comments:

Requests are visible to everyone, which may discourage people from sharing deeply personal needs.
Comments require active moderation. You’ll want someone monitoring the feed during the service to catch requests before your prayer time begins.
There’s no automatic email notification, so your team needs to be watching the comment stream in real time.

For many churches, comments work beautifully for general interaction and encouragement throughout the service, while a dedicated prayer form handles the more personal requests.

Which Option Is Right for Your Church?

The honest answer is: both can coexist. You can enable comments for general engagement and community connection while keeping a prayer request form beneath the video for those who want to share something more privately. This gives your congregation options and honors the different ways people are comfortable communicating.

If you’re not sure where to start, the prayer request form is the stronger foundation. The email notifications and submission archive alone make it worth the setup. You’ll have a clear, organized record of every need shared, and your pastoral team can follow up with people throughout the week, not just during the service.

Need Help Setting This Up?

If you’re not sure how to add a form to your live stream page, or if you need help creating a prayer request form from scratch, don’t hesitate to reach out. This is exactly the kind of thing we love helping churches get right, because when the technology works quietly in the background, your congregation can simply focus on being present with one another and with God.

Your people are showing up for your live stream. Make it easy for them to bring their whole hearts with them.

Have questions about setting up your church’s live stream or digital ministry tools? We’d love to help. Reach out to us anytime.