The opportunity to share their pain with another believer, to be touched by the Father, and to receive compassion and healing, would mean more to them than the best sermon I could ever preach. We enlist laypeople who have a heart for this kind of ministry to be conduits, and they are always on call at the altar. During this time of personal prayer, I become a facilitator and they become the ministers. The success of altar ministry depends greatly on training. Allowing someone who is not spiritually mature enough or who has the wrong motives to pray with people could do more harm than good.
Men pray with men, women pray with women.
Listen for a direction to pray. Don't be shocked by what you hear. Ask for permission to pray. Pray Scriptures over the person. Refer serious problems to the pastoral staff.