Transforming the Prayer Culture in Church Revitalization: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Churches within the U.S. continue to decline at an alarming rate. Southern Baptist churches close their doors at a rate of approximately 1000 churches every year. Consequently, churches must be revitalized because church planting alone cannot replace or replenish dying churches. Those pastors graduating from seminaries face nearly a 75 percent chance that they will find themselves in a church revitalization situation. When faced with overwhelming odds, similar to the ones stated, the early church sought the Lord through prayer for direction and intervention. Likewise, twenty-first century churches have at their disposal the same power that the early church employed: seek God in prayer by developing the discipline of prayer to effect change in the church. This study examined the condition of Southern Baptist Convention churches over a period from 2006 to 2016. Having identified churches that have been revitalized, this study examined how pastors developed a culture of prayer in their churches during the revitalization process. By directing their congregation to pray at specific times, by remaining humble and patient in the process, and by teaching their congregations to pray, these pastors led their churches, through the power of the Lord, back to health.