African American Church Deacons Praying The Old School Way (videos and comments)

Doctor, Apr 30, 2012

Baptist Devotion Whooping
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/04/black-preaching-art-of-whooping-in.html for a 2016 pancocojams post entitled "Black Preaching - The Art Of "Whooping" In Sermon Closings (with a video of a sermon & my transcription of that video)."

Here's what I wrote in that post about the African American Vernacular English meaning of "whooping":
"Whooping" ("hooping") is an oratorical and homiletic style that occurs at the end of the sermons of some Black (African American) preachers. "Whooping" includes chanting, cadence, speaking in a loud voice, call & response including organ riffs, and other oratory and movement flourishes that are designed to touch the congregations' spirit and emotions."

Praying that is described as "whooping" by Old school Black Deacons from Baptist churches and from other Christian denominations has very similar characteristics as minister (pastor) whooping 

The church devotion service is lead by Deacons immediately before the actual Sunday morning church service.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is part of a continuing pancocojams series on Black church services in the United States.

This pancocojams post showcases two YouTube videos of old school praying deacons in African American churches. 

Selected comments from these videos are included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for religious, historical, and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to past and present church deacons. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR VIDEO #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmEQwPKs5GU

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1. @Me2times, 2016
"This is the preaching and praying I grew up with"

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2. @tenishabradley7063, 2018
"Whoa Lord......I done got happy in Jesus! There is power in prayer......"

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3. @doloman2525, 2018
"My Lord...this is how we should start devotion before service...I bet the spirit of the Lord touched everyone in the house of prayer that morning."

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4. @EricBrockman21229, 2019
"Ain't nothing like a praying Deacon!"

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5. @iyawhite7665, 2019
"Yesssss Lord... Praying likes this brings out the holy spirit (holy ghost)! Devil can't do me no harm bc I got Jesus"

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6. @just4kevkev, 2019
"I remember back in the day like the 70s those type of prayers was prayed every Sunday morning and the church would just erupt in the presence of the Holy Spirit something's happen don't know what it is really but church has become a business multi-billion-dollar business I just missed this kind of worship!"

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7. @virginiawilliams648, 2021
"Its still alive and well. Just ask God to lead you by his Holy Spirit to a church that's Holy Ghost filled and fire baptized. I pray you prosper in all things in Jesus's name!"

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8. @jetaunafreeman6574, 2020
"Man I miss this At Sundays devotion. D School Praying, yeah it may be long but when someone's feeling the Spirit like This Deacon, you can't put a time limit on him... I love it!!!!"

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9. @amundine, 2020
"They don't even know what devotion is today!"

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10. @twinettedurden9754, 2021
"I grew up to Deacons praying like this ! Amen and thank you Jesus. Churches today need to praise God like this in the name of Jesus

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11. @bookitty1232000, 2021
"yes Lord, yes sir, thank you. He knows what he's praying about. He is praying from deep down in his soul.

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12. @sl1393, 2022
"This type of praying is what got our people out of bondage and institutional segregation. And afterwards. I don't even think deacons kneel on their knees anymore. But we need this type of praying now more than ever.  Thank you for this."

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13. @cedricrobertson1499, 2023
"I hear some people would say that this deacon is praying too long but I'm here to tell you when you have good praying like this, it's never too long. Thank you sir!"

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14. @rabbithunter35, 2023
"Love this prayer!! Heartfelt and the Deacon meant every word he said. Say your prayer, Deac"

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15. @Nofacenocase1619, 2023
"These old school down south deacon devotional prayers hit mighty different. God bless y’all . Amen "

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16. @arnettesmith8975, 2023
"Thank you Sir Awesome prayer!!u Blessed us Old School Prayer Miss my Dad And Mom who taught us to pray like they use to pray down South at the Mourners bench.Those old Deacons they Would Pray like this they Would PUSH!!! PRAY, Until, Something, Happened!!! salvation ,healing, deliverance & Freedom. Breaking the back of The Devil "

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17. @luckyhatt8895, 2023
"This is the kind of pray that reaches heaven, old times saints, not praying to be seen, but reaching up to God"

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18. @0H9D, 2024
"Sometimes we just need to go back to the sincerity & the heartfeltness of these type prayers"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Old School Prayer and Praise

OfficialSmokieNorful, Mar 27, 2020

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD OF SHOWCASE VIDEO #2

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMwRDtTVSLY

1. @rondas7772, 2020
"Praise & worship can't touch this old school prayer, those of you who grew up in the traditional black church, saw this every Sunday, it's missed & appreciated. The spirit just moved through before the choir & the preaching..yesss!!"

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2. @HOPE.TheresNoPlaceLikeHomeClub, 2020
"So glad I grew up in church was about salvation and not a fashion show."

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3. @kritteekdezigns, 2020
"We still do here in Louisiana.  Every Sunday morning."

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4. @rondas7772, 2020
"@kritteekdezigns  alrighty, love that, ain't nothing like southern church!"

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5. @kritteekdezigns, 2020
"@rondas7772  Amen!!"

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6. elone5213, 2020
"Mannnnn especially in the C.O.G.I.C. churches"

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7. @rondas7772, 2020
" @elone5213  really.. Ookkkaayyy, great. I grew up in Missionary Baptist."

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8. @emmalewis5288, 2020
"U Sho Rite"

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9. @lindalyte7307, 2020
"@Ronda S/Amen This takes me back to the time... while growing up in church....Having "Devotion" and the Deacons praying️️Lord have Mercy.... I sure do  miss those days at St.Paul Missionary  Baptist Church .( And sadly it's  not the same anymore, when I last visited).People get too caught up in Denominations....God is in my heart, whatever  church I happen to attend/ visit... be it a Baptist, Methodist,or Penocostal....Church.

( I wouldn't  change my upbringing  in the Church)....for anything!!!! Praise and Worship  just doesn't  have the same impact!!( At least not for me!!) Just giving my humble opinion , in which we all are entitled  to.

Peace and an Abundance  of Blessings  to All., 4/2020"

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10. @aundrahicks5241, 2020
"Yes Lord I miss those services"

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11. @NehemiahsVisionAVL2020, 2020
"This reminds me of the days growing up when the older Saints were not looking for a quick answer but they labored mmmmmm before the HOLY GHOST.

Saints would stay all night in the sanctuary even after YHWH answered"

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12. @deborahjackson2979, 2020
"Now that's Ole school, deep down Holy Ghost, Anointed, Sanctified, FIRE Baptized...PRAYER!"

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13. @brothamaberry, 2020
"This needs to return to the church of TODAY! Not old school , same school. We still have church and prayer like this in the Apostolic church."

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14. @ceeg0865, 2020
"That’s prayer that moves the atmosphere stirring up the fire of Holy Ghost!"

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15. @365daysofprayer3, 2020
"Awesome!  I love the old time tarrying.  This is the type of prayer that renders results!  These days we pray for 5 minutes and expect great miracles.  You get out what you put in."

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16. @lestine53, 2021
"This is how our Deacons prayed  at Mt. Hermon MB Church on Sunday mornings! Dec. Johnny Middleton would end his praying happy! Singing “Won’t It Be Grand!!” He taught us to pray at Bible study in this manner! We need these kind of prayers today! Thank ya Lord!

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17. @audreyjeaneason-jones2477, 2021
"I grew up in Arkansas as well. I tell you, people don't pray like this any more. This is what's we need to get back to. Glory to God. Breakthrough comes when we get "ugly" for The LORD. Hallelujah. Let's Do This"

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18. @mthomas7825, 2022
"I’m still in Arkansas & we have the best praying deacons in the world here that know how to pray & get a word through!!"

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19. @Ilearneveryday322, 2022
"@mthomas7825  yes suh,as those Deacons would say. I miss those days when we sang those hymns that came from deep within. You could feel the holy spirit."

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20. @kentbrooks3227, 2021
"I grew up on this in small-town North Carolina. My late father was the chair of deacons, and he would start the devotional service praying that same way! Sometimes he would say, "Lord, we are your children standing before you as empty pitchers before a full fountain!" Those old saints were masters of imagery because their theological perspective was formed from their experience, and it came from their heart. They weren't highly educated, but they knew God! And they gave that gift to us! I'm so grateful for my upbringing!"

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21. @leciagray, 2022
"Yesss Brother Brooks, I grew up in the city, but church was ran by older folk! They had the Mother's corner on one side and the deacons on the other side!!! Memories!!!"

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22. @kentbrooks3227, 2022
"@leciagray  You hit it right on the head! That was my family church, River Zion United Holy Church! Deacons on one side and church mothers on the other! Directly after Sunday School, they'd open with ACTUAL testimony services, also called devotional services, with two people sitting up front on either side of the communion table. One would read the scripture and the other would pray. My brother and I both had to play piano and organ, and the saints would go all the way IN!!!"

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23. @leciagray, 2022
"@kentbrooks3227 , yess that was the set up at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Fl!!!"

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24. @eresfsfsfsf, 2022
"So glad I was a part of this generation.Landmark baptist church and then Rogers chapel in slick Oklahoma still standing today Mr. Fonso collecting church offering in a folded piece of paper. My uncle and rev kellum leading devotion. GOD I thank you for this foundation"

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25. @ob2be1, 2023
"Yessss, they didn’t have much but their faith was unshakable and the power and demonstration of God would show up every time."

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26. @kathleendunton241, 2024
"@kentbrooks3227 not to mention can pray and praise the house DOWN. The Holy Spirit KNEW it was welcomed."

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27. @hilbertsandifer8337, 2023
"Reminds me of the old school deacons who would open up service with prayers that would move mountains! Miss those days!"

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28. @leonoraowens1339, 2023
"There ain't nothing like those old school Anointed Deacon  prayers from the soul that ring the doorbell to Heaven..thank you Jesus"

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29. @bfkirk, 2023
"Now that's church!"

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30. @myrarogers842, 2024
"I remember hearing my Granddaddy praying like this as a child we weren't allowed to MOVE my mama would get so happy didn't no nothing about what was going on BUT as I got older in life I learned it was a Prayer of leaning and depending On God's Glory I Thank God for those Old People they left a Map back here For US to live trust and Obey God's for his  and Blessings and God's Words.."

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31. @reddchannel1390, 2024
"I needed this going through something"

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32. @JoyLady-1966, 2024
"Remembering the old deacons bent over kneeling praying during devotion service. These prayers kept us grounded"

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