The Power of Prayer Movements
Sustained and Strategic Intercession
(Theme Introduction)
The first time I remember joining a prayer movement was in the 1990s when Luis Bush and the A.D. 2000 and Beyond Movement announced the 10/40 Window prayer initiative. They had identified the least-evangelized portion of the world (the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude), dominated by Islam, Hindu, and Buddhist religions.
I was just one of an estimated 20 million Christians who focused their prayers on this region of the world, asking God for breakthrough. But I was part of a movement!
Now, more than 30 years later, we hear stories of explosive advancements of the gospel in this previously dark and resistant part of the world. In fact, some of the fastest-growing church movements are in 10/40 Window countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, and China. Miracles, visions, and even Jesus appearing to people are common in this region.
One of my favorite stories of God’s miraculous breakthrough comes from a missionary in a Middle Eastern country. This church planter describes meeting a man who claimed that every night for a month, an unusual man in dazzling white clothing knocked on his door. He said he could not look at this man’s face because it was so brilliant and shiny. The man was instructed to write down everything this visitor spoke to him. When the missionary asked to see this man’s transcribed notebook, he was astonished to read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This supernatural figure had dictated the entire Gospel of John to this man.1
Admittedly, I did not see that coming when I started praying 30 years ago!
That’s how sustained and strategic prayer movements work. It may take a long time, but God-inspired prayer always results in breakthroughs.
In This Issue
God has raised up so many prayer movements over recent decades that we cannot possibly list them all. For this issue, we invited key prayer leaders to write about their experiences with some of these prayer initiatives that are witnessing breakthroughs and increased spiritual fruit.
Jamie Morgan draws on her experience as a pastor leading her congregation to pray in unique and timely ways. She has conducted many prayer journeys in the U.S. and writes about how understanding God’s heart should always result in strategic prayer.
After 15 years of faithful intercession at the Supreme Court regarding abortion, Matt Lockett was a firsthand witness to the astonishing ruling by the Court that overturned Roe v. Wade. He describes several lessons he’s learned in sustaining such a prayer movement for so many years.
Jason Hubbard has a worldwide perspective of prayer movements through his role as director of the International Prayer Council. He documents millions of hours of intercession that have opened doors to massive missions movements in difficult-to-reach areas of the world.
I wish I had been more spiritually astute and engaged at the beginning of the prayer movement to strike down abortion. I was slow to jump on board with that prayer burden, but I’m grateful to be part of this powerful initiative for the past several years.
Many faithful intercessors have gone before us. But we can all join them now for an end-times push to see righteousness, justice, revival, and spiritual awakening fill the earth!
CAROL MADISON is editor of Prayer Connect and author of Prayer That’s Caught and Taught: Mentoring the Next Generation (available at prayershop.org).