Study shows only 16% of Protestant ministers are very satisfied with their personal prayer lives

(Original release date: May 23, 2005) Research results being released for the first time in the May/June edition of Facts & Trends magazine show that only 16% of Protestant ministers across the country are very satisfied with their personal prayer life. Another 47% are somewhat satisfied with it. Thirty percent are somewhat dissatisfied, and 7% are very dissatisfied with their prayer life.

The study, conducted by Ellison Research (Phoenix, Ariz.) among a representative sample of 868 Protestant church ministers nationwide, asked pastors about their personal prayer lives, including how much time they spend praying, and what they are praying about.

The level of satisfaction pastors have with their own prayer life varies substantially by the pastor’s age. Only 9% of pastors under age 45 are very satisfied with their prayer life, along with 13% of those 45 to 59 years old. But 30% of all pastors 60 or older are very satisfied with their prayer life – more than three times the proportion of younger ministers.

There is not a lot of variation in satisfaction level by denomination. However, Methodists tend to be somewhat more satisfied with their prayer life than others, and Presbyterians are much less satisfied. In fact, only 5% of all Presbyterian ministers are very satisfied with their prayer life, and Presbyterians are actually more likely to be dissatisfied than to be satisfied with it.

The average Protestant minister prays for 39 minutes a day, although 21% typically spend 15 minutes or less per day in prayer. Although younger ministers are less satisfied with their prayer lives, this does not appear to be due to spending significantly less time in prayer. Younger ministers average 35 minutes a day in prayer, compared to 41 minutes among pastors 45 to 59 years old, and 38 minutes among older pastors.

Methodists, who are among the most satisfied with their prayer life, spend an average of 45 minutes a day in prayer. Presbyterians, who are among the least satisfied, spend only 28 minutes a day in prayer. Lutherans (27 minutes) also spend less time than average in prayer, while Pentecostals (47 minutes) and Baptists from outside the Southern Baptist Convention (43 minutes) spend more time than average.

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

What does vary quite a bit is specifically what pastors are praying about. The most common subject of ministers’ prayers is the needs of individual members of their congregations. Ninety-eight percent of all pastors have prayed about this topic in the seven days preceding the study. Other topics included the following:

There are a number of differences by denomination. In general, evangelical ministers have a much broader range of things they pray for, being more likely than mainline Protestant pastors to pray for their congregation’s spiritual health (96% to 90%), numerical growth for their church (58% to 43%), the financial health of their church (57% to 46%), the right things to say in a sermon (86% to 78%), personal financial needs (52% to 40%), overseas missions (67% to 49%), local outreach and evangelism (75% to 58%), individual government leaders (71% to 63%), and personal spiritual growth (86% to 78%). Mainline pastors are more likely than evangelicals to pray for just two areas: global events such as war or disasters (87% to 72%) and their denomination (57% to 34%). This diversity among evangelicals is true even though evangelicals spend slightly less time in prayer each day than do mainline pastors.

Even within specific denominational groups, there are numerous differences (the study included all Protestant denominations, but six groups – Southern Baptist, all other Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Pentecostal/charismatic – are large enough to allow individual analysis).

Southern Baptists are considerably less likely than average to pray for their denomination, but are average in all other respects. Other Baptists are particularly likely to pray for individual Christian leaders, numerical growth for their church, overseas missions, and local outreach and evangelism efforts. Methodist ministers are less likely than average to pray for numerical growth for their church, but especially likely to pray for persecuted Christians in other countries, as well as global events, and their denomination.

Lutherans are among the most likely to pray for their denomination and global events, but are far less likely than average to pray for personal spiritual growth, personal or family financial needs, numerical growth for their church, or the financial health of their church. Pentecostals are more likely than average to pray for other local pastors or churches and personal spiritual growth, and dramatically more likely to pray for personal or family financial needs, church finances, and numerical growth for their church.

Presbyterians are more likely than average to pray for global events and their own denomination, but they have a litany of subjects they are less likely than average to pray for: numerical growth for their church, the financial health of their church or their family, local evangelism and outreach, personal spiritual growth, other local churches or ministers, and individual Christian leaders or government leaders.

What defines pastors who are satisfied with their prayer lives versus those who aren’t? A number of things:

The amount of time spent in prayer: pastors who are very satisfied spend an average of 56 minutes a day in prayer; those who are somewhat satisfied average 43 minutes; those who are somewhat dissatisfied average 29 minutes, and those who are very dissatisfied average 21 minutes.

How they divide their prayer time: ministers who are very satisfied spend considerably less time than average making requests, and considerably more time in quiet time or listening to God – other areas (confession, praise, thanksgiving) are about the same.

What they pray for: the more satisfied ministers are with their prayer life, the more likely they are to spend time praying for “big issues” beyond their own lives and churches – overseas missions, persecuted Christians in other countries, local outreach and evangelism efforts, other local churches and pastors, global events, the country as a whole, individual Christian leaders, individual government leaders, and their denomination. Yet they are no less likely to pray for personal and church needs such as church growth or personal finances.

Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research, noted that pastors seem to have provided a pretty clear roadmap for a fulfilling and satisfying prayer life. “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,” Sellers explained.

Sellers added, “These are not minor percentage differences in the study, but major ones – 78% of pastors who are very satisfied with their prayer life had prayed recently for overseas missions, compared to just 40% among those who are very dissatisfied with their prayer life, for example. These numbers are hard to ignore, and it would be unwise to do so.”

Facts & Trends, where this study is being published, is designed to assist pastors, church staff and denominational leaders in their roles of ministry by informing them about LifeWay resources and how they relate to current issues in Christian ministry. It is published by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For information about Facts & Trends, contact Chris Turner at 615-251-2307.

The study was conducted by Ellison Research, a marketing research company located in Phoenix, Arizona. The sample of 868 Protestant ministers included only those who are actively leading churches. The study’s total sample is accurate to within ±3.2 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level with a 50 percent response distribution.

The study was conducted in all 50 states, using a representative sample of pastors from all Protestant denominations. Respondents’ geography, church size, and denomination were carefully tracked to ensure appropriate representation and accuracy.

Time spent in prayer daily, by level of satisfaction with their prayer life…

 

Measurement
All Pastors
Very Satisfied
Somewhat Satisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
Average minutes spent in prayer per day 39 mins. 56 mins. 43 mins. 29 mins. 21 mins.

 

Personal prayer statistics, by church size and pastor’s age…

 

Measurement
All
Small Size
Medium Size
Large Size
Age <45
Age 45 – 59
Age 60+
Satisfaction with prayer life:
  • very satisfied
16%
14%
16%
22%
9%
13%
30%
  • somewhat satisfied
47
52
44
40
49
50
38
  • somewhat dissatisfied
30
28
31
33
28
32
28
  • very dissatisfied
7
6
10
5
14
5
4
Average minutes spent in prayer per day
39
39
37
41
35
41
38

Personal prayer statistics, by denominational group…

Measurement
Southern Baptist
Other Baptist
Meth-odist
Luth-eran
Pente-costal
Presby-terian
All Others
Satisfaction with prayer life:
  • very satisfied
14%
14%
20%
13%
14%
5%
19%
  • somewhat satisfied
44
46
51
56
49
38
44
  • somewhat dissatisfied
33
34
25
28
27
48
29
  • very dissatisfied
9
6
4
2
10
7
8
Average minutes spent In prayer per day
33
43
45
27
47
28
41

What they’ve prayed for in the last seven days, by level of satisfaction with their prayer life…

Measurement
All Pastors
Very Satisfied
Somewhat Satisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
Individual congregation members’ needs
98%
99%
99%
98%
98%
The congregation’s spiritual health
94
97
94
94
90
Spiritual growth for church
94
98
94
92
90
Wisdom in leading the church
94
99
94
93
86
Personal spiritual growth
86
90
86
83
85
The right things to say in a sermon
82
80
82
82
84
The country as a whole
82
88
84
77
75
Personal/family needs
81
74
83
83
74
Global events (war, disaster, etc.)
76
87
79
72
55
Local outreach/evangelism
71
80
71
68
65
Individual government leaders
68
75
68
63
62
Overseas missions
62
78
63
54
40
Other local churches/pastors
61
66
65
55
55
Numerical growth for the church
56
55
55
57
64
Financial health of the church
56
53
59
52
54
Personal/family financial needs
50
48
50
48
59
Individual Christian leaders
50
62
51
44
50
Persecuted Christians in other countries
46
64
47
39
32
Your denomination
37
47
39
31
28
Other
11
16
12
9
4

What they’ve prayed for in the past seven days, by church size and pastor’s age…

What They’ve Prayed for in the Past Seven Days
All
Small Size
Medium Size
Large Size
Age <45
Age 45 – 59
Age 60+
Individual congregation members’ needs
98%
99%
97%
99%
99%
99%
95%
The congregation’s spiritual health
94
94
94
95
95
94
93
Spiritual growth for church
94
94
93
92
93
93
97
Wisdom in leading the church
94
92
96
96
94
94
93
Personal spiritual growth
86
86
83
88
90
84
88
The right things to say in a sermon
82
82
84
79
88
82
72
The country as a whole
82
85
77
79
82
81
85
Personal/family needs
81
81
83
79
85
82
73
Global events (war, disaster, etc.)
76
76
77
75
70
79
77
Local outreach/evangelism
71
72
64
78
74
69
73
Individual government leaders
68
70
62
67
59
68
76
Overseas missions
62
62
58
64
59
61
65
Other local churches/pastors
61
65
57
55
62
60
62
Numerical growth for the church
56
59
56
49
67
50
60
Financial health of the church
56
55
55
58
64
52
54
Personal/family financial needs
50
53
47
43
59
51
35
Individual Christian leaders
50
53
46
48
45
51
55
Persecuted Christians in other countries
46
52
41
38
35
47
58
Your denomination
37
42
34
28
31
38
45
Other
11
13
7
12
5
12
12

What they’ve prayed for in the past seven days, by denomination…

What They’ve Prayed for in the Past Seven Days
Southern Baptist
Other Baptist
Meth-odist
Luth-eran
Pente-costal
Presbyterian
All Others
Individual congregation members’ needs
99%
98%
99%
100%
97%
98%
98%
The congregation’s spiritual health
94
94
95
90
98
93
92
Spiritual growth for church
92
93
98
84
98
90
92
Wisdom in leading the church
95
92
98
90
95
96
95
Personal spiritual growth
84
87
88
75
93
69
85
The right things to say in a sermon
87
83
77
82
85
71
77
The country as a whole
80
90
86
85
79
80
76
Personal/family needs
82
86
86
76
83
69
74
Global events (war, disaster, etc.)
74
75
90
92
68
90
71
Local outreach/evangelism
72
82
64
65
74
52
65
Individual government leaders
73
76
67
64
66
52
58
Overseas missions
64
72
57
55
67
61
48
Other local churches/pastors
58
67
55
56
71
46
58
Numerical growth for the church
56
66
46
28
77
34
55
Financial health of the church
54
60
57
39
74
32
53
Personal/family financial needs
50
57
49
30
76
27
40
Individual Christian leaders
46
63
46
42
52
32
45
Persecuted Christians in other countries
44
47
62
55
38
52
42
Your denomination
24
28
49
67
34
61
33
Other
10
15
8
10
5
11
12

Numbers may not add to exactly 100% due to rounding. "Don't know" responses are not shown.  The survey included all Protestant denominations, but the groups shown separately in the table above were the only ones with large-enough subsamples to examine separately.