In Lead With Prayer, the authors share compelling research from a Barna Group study that shows the tangible impact of prayer on organizations. Among groups that significantly prioritize prayer, 91% of respondents felt more aligned to their mission, 85% believed God’s work was more evident, 78% reported less stress in daily responsibilities, and 70% said productivity increased (Skoog 2023, 5). Lead with Prayer is a book that emerged from research and interviews, and is authored by Ryan Skoog, Peter Greer, and Cameron Doolittle. There is an inviting Foreword from John Mark Comer at the start of the book. As a book, it explores the spiritual habits of some world-changing leaders and the fruit of such actions, but also calls the reader to be a leader who prioritizes prayer in the same way. It is a thorough read, with no doubt why it became a best seller. This book has quantitative and qualitative aspects that will appeal to a diverse audience.
Interviews with leaders confirmed that the most effective organizations were often guided by leaders who also prioritized prayer in their personal lives. Prayer becomes both a posture of dependence, reminding us we are not enough on our own, and a place where God offers presence and guidance for every area and arena of our lives. As the authors remind us, Jesus turned the world upside down not with political power or global reach, but by sitting with regular people around campfires in small towns (Skoog 2023, 13). Prayer is remembering to sit with Jesus around the campfire, because we cannot do it on our own, and the conversation is what matters most. Leading with prayer means making space for God’s Kingdom to refresh and flow through us, even in the middle of life’s war zones (Skoog 2023, 14–15).
Lead With Prayer: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Insights
This book feels like a collection of the wisdom of Christian mystics, drawing from the Lord’s Prayer, the Ignatian Examen, and other practices, while also weaving in interviews with contemporary leaders of well-known organizations and those who have taught well on prayer practices. The result is a kind of “cheat sheet” or “beginner’s guide” on prayer from all of those sources, and how to integrate it into organizational leadership, while blending theology, stories, and practical tools.
At times, the book can feel repetitive, but its points are good. There are a few places where I felt theology could have been left to the theologians. For example, in chapter 13, the authors attempt a theological point on the pronouns of the Sermon on the Mount that doesn’t fully hold up. While they highlight the plural nature of the Lord’s Prayer, they overlook that much of Jesus’ teaching is also directed to a community. Still, even when the details stumble, the overall emphasis that prayer is inherently communal is worth reflecting on.
Practical Ways to Lead With Prayer
One of the strengths of this book is its practical suggestions for embedding prayer into organizational life. The authors identify four areas where leaders can create a culture of prayer:
- Physical Space: Dedicating rooms, offices, or multipurpose spaces to prayer.
- People: Appointing prayer coordinators or even hiring intercessors.
- Systems: Creating ways to share prayer requests consistently.
- Schedules: Building prayer into the calendar with regular meetings, daily rhythms, or quarterly prayer days (Skoog 2023, 196–197).
These are not abstract ideas. The book includes concrete practices at the end of each chapter, such as praying through an organizational chart to cover every staff member (Skoog 2023, 164) or praying specifically for the children, blessings, needs, and Scripture over each person you lead (Skoog 2023, 169).
Modeling Leadership Through Prayer
Perhaps the most important reminder is that cultures of prayer cannot be taught; they can only be modeled. Leaders must themselves become people of prayer before they can shape prayerful organizations. As the authors write: “We cannot create cultures of prayer without first becoming people of prayer. We must model before we multiply” (Skoog 2023, 144).
That means praying for those you lead, building teams of prayer, visibly praying with staff, allocating budget lines to prayer initiatives, and making space for prayer in daily rhythms (Skoog 2023, 155–156). This challenges the common leadership myth of self-sufficiency. As Skoog notes, “The great lie for leaders is the illusion of our self-sufficiency… But it’s hard to be arrogant on our knees” (Skoog 2023, 57).
Why I Read Lead With Prayer
I first picked up Lead With Prayer because of my ongoing studies in the Doctor of Ministry program on the Lord’s Prayer at Kairos University, where I’m exploring the role of prayer in leadership and spiritual formation. This book seemed like a natural fit for both my academic work and my ministry context. Interestingly, I actually won my copy at an event where Peter Greer was speaking, but it took me some time to finally sit down and read it. When I did, I found it to be both timely and practical—challenging me not only as a leader but also as a follower of Jesus who wants prayer to remain central in every part of life and ministry.
Final Reflections on Lead With Prayer
Lead With Prayer is written in an accessible style, similar to other leadership books, with clear formatting, wide margins, and practical steps at the end of each chapter that grow in depth and usefulness. While you could read only the introduction and conclusion to grasp the big picture, the heart of the book lies in its insistence that persistent prayer is both mysterious and essential—a steady ax against the fallen world, even when results are not immediately visible (Skoog 2023, 204).
For pastors, organizational leaders, and Christian professionals, this book offers both theological encouragement and practical application. It reminds us that while prayer may indeed improve cultures and productivity, its greater gift is cultivating deeper dependence on God. If you want to move beyond leadership techniques to a posture of faithful reliance, this book is a call to Lead with Prayer.
Readers will also find additional resources on the website for this book.
