also encountered incredible leaders who model prayerful dependence on God . These were the men and women we wanted to learn from . We launched a three-year study on the prayer habits of extraordinary leaders , conducting more than 100 hours of interviews with leaders in six continents who collectively serve in more than 100 countries . We interviewed great leaders like Joni Eareckson Tada , Francis Chan , John Mark Comer , John Ortberg , Tim Mackie , Jon Tyson , and Mark Battterson .
Our eureka came when we started studying global leaders , asking them to teach us how to become praying leaders . practice ” at all : It ’ s a prayer life .
The First Interview Our very first interview was with a leader named Rosebell , an unsung hero who has served victims of genocide for forty years in a landmine-laden war zone . But Rosebell radiates joy in a war zone , which she credits to her prayer practices .
“ When I was young and wanted to tithe , I had no money . The one thing of value I did have was time . I committed to tithe my time and pray and read Scripture and worship for two to two and a half hours every day , and I ’ ve done that for the last forty years .”
Something miraculous , even historic , is happening in the global Church . People are coming to Christ , churches are being planted , and communities are being transformed through community development and the message of the Gospel at never-beforeseen rates . It ’ s happening in our lifetimes : a worldwide revival or reformation on a scale not seen since the earliest days of the Church .
As we started interviewing the diverse leaders behind these movements , the number one principle , practice , and emphasis driving radical transformation — to a person , without exception — is extraordinary prayer .
Their leadership secret isn ’ t a “ leadership
As we continued the search for people like her in contexts more similar to our own , we made a discovery . Patterns emerged . From a leader serving refugees in a war zone to a New York financier who has managed billions of dollars to Francis Chan and Mother Teresa , leaders who are intentional about prayer have very similar prayer lives and practices .
Above all , it became abundantly clear : An intentional prayer life is the non-negotiable constant of lasting , fruitful Christian life and leadership .
We detail each of these patterns in the book Lead with Prayer : The Spiritual Habits of World-Changing Leaders . To help others
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