On our Knees : Prayer Survey Results

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On our Knees : Prayer Survey
Over the summer of 1998, The Teal Trust carried out a major prayer survey to gain new insights into the prayer habits of Christians. Titled "On our knees?", the survey received over 6000 responses from Christians in over 400 churches of different denominations in five different countries (UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia). Our main aim was to encourage prayer - individuals completing the survey could request a free booklet on prayer, leaders of churches sending in over 20 responses received a personalised summary report, and many senior church leaders received a complimentary copy of the findings to aid them in their leadership. However, the findings are of interest and encouragement to Christians and Christian leaders in many other churches, and we offer a selection of them on this web-site.
Executive Summary The Key Conclusions The responses to this prayer survey are likely to be from Christians who are more likely to pray than others. However, this gives some valuable insights into prayer habits of those who do pray, encouraging those who pray less. There are many Christians committed to prayer, and praying regularly across all denominations and countries. Those in positions of leadership (either full-time or in lay leadership positions) are praying more than average, thus giving a positive role model to our churches. The vast majority of respondents would like to spend more time in prayer. There is a clear challenge to the church in every place to provide encouragement to pray, without generating feelings of guilt. People are praying both alone and with other Christians, and seeing this as important. There is an opportunity for more Christian couples to pray together.		More about the Survey Over 6000 surveys were returned from 400+ churches. 69% were from women, 31% from men. 5499 were from the UK, with a global benchmark pool of 625 surveys. By denomination, 64% returned questionnaires were from Anglicans, 14% from Baptists, 10% from Methodists, 4% from Pentecostals and 8% from other denominations. The 45 to 64 age range and the over 65's accounted for 34% and 32% of responses, with a further 19% coming from those aged 25 to 44. By church position 8% of responses were from those who were pastors or in full time ministry, 26% from those in lay leadership roles, with the remaining 66% from other church members.
	SIX POSITIVE POINTERS 48% see private prayer as vital to their Christian life and faith. 64% of respondents claim to pray alone each day compared with 34% claiming to read the bible daily. 86% believe they have experienced prayer bring answered. 35% of respondents claim to spend an hour or more each week in private prayer. 75% of respondents would like to spend more time in prayer. 39% pray regularly with other people.
	The Approach 3000 church leaders from a range of denominations were invited to take part in the project. 2500 were UK churches, with 500 churches from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. We received 5644 completed surveys from 344 churches (11%), with an average of 16 surveys per church. Data supplied on congregation sizes suggests that 16 surveys per church represents around 13% of church members. Comparing these figures with other research suggests these 13% are almost certainly skewed to those church members who pray more.