The History of Prayer Summits
Several components came together to spark the first Prayer Summit, which took place in Salem, Oregon, in February of 1989.
First, Dr. Joe Aldrich had, on several occasions, taken the leadership team of Mariners Church away for a period of time simply to pray together. No file folders with business to accomplish, just doing business with God. He knew the leaders would naturally reproduce themselves. If they were spiritually mature, the church would be spiritually mature.
Another component resulted from a Pastors' Enrichment Congress that Multnomah Bible College sponsored when Aldrich was its president. These wonderful times of personal enrichment didn't produce the anticipated lasting result in the community after the pastors returned home.
Aldrich then asked the question, 'What would it take to see a move of God initiated and sustained in a geographic area?' He knew part of the answer would come from having as many area pastors as possible unite in prayer, like the leaders at Mariners Church had done. That vision perked in his heart for several years before it came to fruition with the Salem pastors.
Without promotion or publication, others heard about what had happened and asked Aldrich and Terry Dirks to assist them in a similar setting. Time and time again, God came in a wonderful manner and accomplished great things in the lives of individuals and, as a result, in families, congregations, and communities. A movement was born.
By God's grace, Prayer Summits have been used to stir genuine, sustained renewal in many hearts and lives. All glory to Him! But God still has more on His heart, and we are moving forward with great anticipation.
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