Pastors and Their Prayer

A new study of pastors and their prayer lives shows that only 16 percent of Protestant ministers across the country are "very satisfied" with their personal prayer lives. Another 47 percent are "somewhat satisfied," while 30 percent are "somewhat dissatisfied" and seven percent are "very dissatisfied."

The study, conducted by Ellison Research (Phoenix , Ariz.), also found that the level of satisfaction a pastor derives from his or her prayer life varies substantially with the pastor's age. Only nine percent of pastors under age 45 are "very satisfied," along with 13 percent of those 45 to 59 years old. But 30 percent of all pastors 60 or older are "very satisfied."

The average Protestant minister prays for 39 minutes a day, although 21 percent typically spend 15 minutes or less per day in prayer. Younger ministers average 35 minutes a day, compared to 41 minutes among pastors 45 to 59, and 38 minutes among older pastors.

The typical pastor spends 32 percent of his or her prayer time making requests, 20 percent in quiet time or listening to God, 18 percent giving thanks, 17 percent in praise, and 14 percent in confession. These figures do not vary much with a pastor's age or denomination.

The most common subject of ministers' prayers is the needs of individual members of their congregations (98% in the seven days preceding the study). Other leading subjects include: the congregation's spiritual health (94%), spiritual growth for their church (94%), wisdom in leading their church (94%), personal spiritual growth (86%), the right things to say in a sermon (82%), the country as a whole (82%), and personal needs of their own or their family (81%).

Ellison found that pastors who are satisfied with their prayer lives are defined by the amount of time spent in prayer (56 minutes for "very satisfied" versus 21 minutes for "very dissatisfied"), how they divide their prayer time (less time making requests and more time listening to God for greater satisfaction), and subjects of prayer ( "big issues" beyond their own lives — overseas missions, persecuted Christian in other countries, local outreach and evangelism, other churches and pastors, global events, the country as a whole, individual Christian and government leaders, their denomination.)

Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research, concluded, "The study clearly showed that what drives a satisfying prayer life for a minister is spending less time asking God for things and more time listening to what God has to say, praying for issues beyond their own personal and church needs, and spending much more time overall in prayer." (from Pastor's Weekly Briefing, May 27, 2005)