Did you notice that the number one book on the "Top Books that Have Shaped Evangelicals" was a book on prayer? The list appeared in the 50 Year Anniversary issue of Christianity Today (October , 2006) and featured "landmark titles that changed the way we think, talk, witness, worship and live." Names you'd expect were included; Francis Schaeffer, Corrie ten Boom, Philip Yancey, FF Bruce, Rosalind Rinker, James Dobson, Rick Warren.

Did you miss it? Or, should I say, her? The top book, Learning Conversational Prayer, was written by an unknown or long-forgotten Rosalind Rinker, who "taught us something revolutionary: Prayer is a conversation with God. The idea took hold. . . . Today evangelicals assume that casual, colloquial, intimate prayer is the most authentic way to pray."

Top Ten lists come and go (with apologies to David Letterman fans). And, another list might have the Andy of Mayberry Sunday school curriculum as their top choice. Nevertheless, for such a distinguished Christian periodical to recognize the impact of a simple book on practical prayer gives prayer leaders cause to rejoice.

For too long prayer, both personal and corporate, liturgical or passionate, has been demoted off the first string; benched in some denominational circles. But now, everywhere I go, whatever I read, prayer has returned to the vocabulary of both pastoral and theological leaders.

Recently, America's National Prayer Committee organized a task force entrusted with calling the leaders in Christian higher education to incorporate classes on prayer in their curriculum. Hard to believe, but most students graduate from Bible college or seminary without a single class (sometimes, a single lecture) on prayer.

And, who would have thought the most important question in "Who Wants to Grow a Church?" (Church Ministry Sourcebook, 2007) would be "Do you have a desire to pray?" Since when prayer has become recognized as vital to church growth?

It seems to me, we're witnessing a genuine revival of prayer. Which just might produce the genuine revival some of us have been praying for all along!

For CPLN,

Pastor Phil Miglioratti
http://www.prayerleader.blogspot.com
http://www.prayingpastorblog.blogspot.com