I’m occasionally asked to pray in front of the congregation at church, or after service with an individual who requests prayer.

There are other times that I am asked to pray and those happen so often that I’m used to it.

Whenever I’m with my dad, whether it’s in the waiting room of a hospital, a coffee shop or the parking lot of a rest area, he will walk up to a stranger, introduce himself and chat for a moment before asking if we might pray with them.

I have never witnessed anyone refuse him, and most are eager to share their prayer request. I’ve also come to expect what will happen next.

“Ronny,” he says as he looks toward me. “You pray.”

And I pray out loud, with a total stranger, in public. Well, by ‘out loud’ I mean in a conversational tone.

I’ve not yet shouted to attract attention, nor do I ever see myself doing that. I simply talk to God my Father, and ask His blessings, healing and protection on my new friend.

Maybe the people we run into feel like I do. I know that I can pray silently, anytime, anywhere, but I sometimes like to pray with someone.

This past week, when sickness hit all three grandchildren, then started moving through the adults, I called my dad for prayer. Although I know that he prays for the whole family every morning, I needed to hear him pray out loud.

I believe that by praying with others, we live out Matthew 18:19, 20. “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.