Since the early 20th century, Pentecostals have been known for a steadfast belief in God’s power to transform lives.

Early Pentecostal services consisted of three basic parts: song, sermon, and altar. Most services were structured so that the songs and sermon led up to the climax of worship — the time of response to Jesus as Savior, Baptizer, and Healer.

Over the years, the zeal of Pentecostal preachers to see people experience God’s work in their lives has led to some less-than-ideal tactics.

From the extreme case of a preacher using hidden electronic communication to falsely claim a word of knowledge to the more mundane practice of prolonging an altar call for “only another five minutes,” some Pentecostals have developed a reputation for unethical practices and manipulation.

The altar call — an invitation for public response to a gospel message, usually by coming forward to pray, commit to faith, or receive ministry — is a sacred moment. It is an awesome responsibility to steward these times.

In a 1953 Pentecostal Evangel article, W.T. Gaston expressed concerns about “trends in religion, however slight, that would be dangerous as a pattern.”

Gaston wrote, “Abraham beat off the strange birds that were attracted to his altar. Should we leave ours entirely exposed? … Should we not pray definitely that this great movement will purge itself of practices or propaganda patterns which are not compatible with the spirit and letter of the New Testament, and go forward to see a world-shaking revival?”

More than 70 years later, the Pentecostal movement still faces the challenge of beating off birds of prey that are attracted to our altars. Without a specific biblical pattern to evaluate modern altar calls, we must rely on general Bible teachings and ethical considerations as we shepherd God’s people in sacred moments of response to both the Word and Spirit.

Four Guardrails

While leaving room for the Spirit’s leading, keep in view four guardrails for avoiding unethical behavior during Pentecostal altar calls.

1. Avoid emotional manipulation. Pentecostals are comfortable expressing their God-given emotions. However, this openness can also make people vulnerable to manipulative behavior.

Fear-based appeals (“Two young people died in a car accident right after refusing to come to the altar for salvation”) and guilt trips (“If you refuse to come to this altar now, you’re denying Jesus”) can lead to emotion-based responses rather than genuine conviction. These responses often fade once the emotions subside.

2. Allow the Holy Spirit to call people to himself without resorting to undue pressure. Some techniques are not honest. Arranging for people to file down the aisle to prompt others may create the illusion of a large response, but this is disingenuous.

Saying, “I see that hand” when no one is responding shows a lack of faith that the Holy Spirit is genuinely working.

Using spiritual FOMO (fear of missing out) — “All those who really want God will come and receive!” — implies God cannot move outside of this moment.

3. Trust God with the results, and do not measure ministerial success by the response to your appeal. There is a subtle temptation for ministers to count altar responses as proof of revival, rather than looking for long-term transformation.

There is a subtle temptation for ministers to count altar responses as proof of revival, rather than looking for long-term transformation.

Promoting numbers with no follow-up to determine whether those decisions were genuine and lasting may boost your newsletter stats or All Church Ministries Report, but won’t contribute to building God’s kingdom.

Overhyping claims of healing or other outcomes based on a show of hands may briefly enhance your reputation, but can ultimately harm vulnerable seekers.

4. Shepherd physical expressions of God’s work without exploiting them. Pentecostals believe a work of God is often accompanied by outward, visible signs. However, leaders should resist the temptation to manipulate seekers into manifesting those signs.

Physically pushing people while praying for them is neither necessary nor helpful and can lead to pretend manifestations — something no Pentecostal who respects the Spirit’s moving would want.

Encouraging people to begin babbling to activate the gift of tongues short-circuits the natural beauty of the spiritual language, which is a gift from God.

Claiming God told you He is going to heal cancer during the service when He said no such thing is false prophecy and has no place in ministry.

Ethical Practices

Make your appeal clear. Consider saying something like this: “If you sense God is speaking to you, I invite you to respond to the call of a loving God who is ready to accept you and has the power to cleanse and transform your life.”

Affirm emotional and physical responses. Assure seekers, “Some people may respond physically to a deep work of the Spirit. Others may not. There is room for both at this altar.”

Provide support. Explain, “Fellow believers are coming to the front to support you in prayer, if you desire.”

Ask permission. Always ask before laying hands on people, especially those who may have trauma in their background. Seekers appreciate respect for bodily autonomy.

Focus on discipleship, not just decisions. Remind people, “A fruitful altar call doesn’t end at the altar. We are here to continue to pray with you and walk with you on your journey to long-term spiritual growth.”

Remember that God controls the results. Your role is to preach the Word and create an opportunity for  people to respond to Him. The results are up to God.

During 1937, J.W. Welch confessed to young ministers at Central Bible Institute, “In my early ministry, people came to the altar, and I didn’t know what to do with them. I used the expressions I had heard others use and saw little or no results. This lack of wisdom is serious. We must avoid getting into ruts or using someone else’s phraseology. Cut that out! Let the Holy Spirit direct you. Remember, Jesus knows how to do it; we don’t need to help Him.”

Music and Media

The worship team’s ministry during altar time is essential. Music is an emotional language that can heighten or calm emotional responses. Anointed music will support God’s work rather than seeking to shape it.

Keep the music at a supportive level. Avoid excessive volume that makes it hard for people to hear one another as they pray.

Worship and prayer should be complementary. Discern when it’s better to provide background music rather than lead congregational singing. Intentionally seek God’s guidance during these impactful moments.

In an age of livestreaming church services, consider ethical questions regarding cameras and social media:

• Is it appropriate to record someone without their consent, especially during vulnerable moments of seeking?
• Are there activities or locations that should be off-limits for recording and promotional use?
• What are the ethics of broadcasting altar responses online, especially those involving minors at youth camps or conventions?

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Pentecostal tradition emphasizes the power of the Holy Spirit, so an ethical approach should allow for Spirit-led responses without coercion or manipulation.

Some have observed the abuse of sacred moments at the altar, and that misuse has led to disuse.

We should never shy away from giving people the opportunity to respond to God’s call. Instead, we must honor the Holy Spirit and the people He draws, reverencing the sanctity of God’s work and driving away any birds of prey — including coercion, dishonesty, manipulation, and exploitation — from the altar.

Adapted from Art of the Altar: Leading Others to Seek, Respond, and Encounter God (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 2026).

This article appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Influence magazine.