Prayer, Christ, and the Future of the Church

Description

Ten years ago, during my dissertation research, I was struck by how evangelical Protestants could speak extensively about their “personal relationship with Jesus” without mentioning Jesus himself when describing their prayer lives. This observation sparked a continuing curiosity about the role of Jesus in Christian prayer. In my current action research, I explore two central questions: What role does Jesus play in the prayer life of Christians today? And how does this relate to the perceived value of prayer for the future of the church? Against the backdrop of a rapidly declining and transforming church landscape in the Netherlands, prayer is often proposed as a key to renewal—core to the church’s identity and vitality. Yet from a theological perspective, the risen Christ is the true source of church life, prompting deeper inquiry into how prayer connects to Christ. So far, around 30 Christians have participated in this study through focus groups and oral prayer diaries recorded over one to two weeks. In this paper, I present preliminary findings and offer theological reflections on the relationship between prayer, Christ, and the church’s future.

Period	9 Sept 2025
Event title	Ecclesiology and Ethnography Conference Durham 2025
Event type	Conference
Location	Durham, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International