Older and Wiser? Satisfying Prayer Life a Function of Age Among Pastors
by Allie Martin
June 9, 2005
(AgapePress) - The head of a research firm says younger pastors can learn a lot from older pastors when it comes to personal prayer.A recent survey of pastors by Ellison Research found that only 16 percent of pastors nationwide are very satisfied with the personal prayer life. The study by the Arizona-based group found that the level of satisfaction pastors have with their own prayer life varies according to the pastor's age. As Ellison Research president Ron Sellers says, apparently there is some truth to the old axiom that says with age comes wisdom.
"Among ministers who are 60 or older, 30 percent are very satisfied with their own prayer life. That drops dramatically, all the way down to 9 percent among ministers who are under the age of 45," Sellers notes. "So there's a lot of suggestion that older ministers with more experience are the ones who have learned what satisfies their prayer needs and what truly gives them a fulfilling prayer life."
Sellers says pastors can learn a great deal about an effective prayer life by studying the life of religious reformer Martin Luther.
"I'm reminded of the old Martin Luther quote -- I don't remember the exact quote -- but he apparently used to spend about three hours a day in prayer," the researcher shares. "And somebody asked him, 'When you spend three hours a day in prayer, how can you get anything done?' And he said, 'That's the only way that I can get anything done is if I spend three hours a day in prayer.'"
According to the study, the average pastor prays for 39 minutes each day. The study was conducted for Facts & Trends, a magazine published by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
