Move People Through God Aloneනියැදිය

Why are people not affected by our lives and prayers?

In 1 Samuel 1, we read the story of Hannah, the childless woman. Year after year, she endured Peninnah's mockery for not having children. But one day, she said, "That's enough." The Word says, "she stood up," and in that moment, the history of a nation changed. Here was an ordinary woman who said, "Enough is enough." Enough of childlessness. Enough mockery. Enough barrenness. Enough humiliation. After getting up, she went to God. There was no other plan. God was the plan – the only plan. He alone was the answer.

The Overseas Missionary Society operated in India for 25 years, resulting in 2,000 converts and the establishment of 25 churches. Recognising that something was amiss, they changed and revised their strategy. The missionaries reached out to their home countries, seeking 1,000 individuals who would commit to praying for 15 minutes a day in support of their work. Within a few years, the results were remarkable: 73,000 converts and 550 churches.

John Hyde, a well-known missionary in India from 1899 to 1911, became known as "Praying Hyde" due to his extraordinary prayer life and the tremendous impact of his ministry. A fellow missionary noted that nearly everyone he spoke to who was unsaved came to faith in Christ. If he encountered someone who remained unaffected after their conversation, he would immediately retreat to his prayer room, wrestling with God to uncover any issues in his own life that might hinder the person's response.

Several years ago, a church in Ukraine successfully planted thirty other churches within a few years—an unusual accomplishment for the region at that time. All thirty churches experienced significant growth, with many individuals coming to faith in Christ. When a missionary asked one of the church leaders about the source of this remarkable growth, the leader admitted he wasn't sure. A few days later, the missionary learned that these churches practised all-night prayer six nights a week. This was the key to their success; the growth and multiplication of the churches stemmed from these nights of prayer.

Powerful church-planting movements and significant church growth consistently cite prayer as the most important element when explaining why there is fruit in their success. Conversely, when church planting stagnates and growth is minimal, there is often a notable absence of prayer in the conversation.