Praying for Movers and Shakers

A book published this month by Harvest House suggests that Christians can dramatically improve the world by focusing daily intercessory prayers on powerful leaders.

Praying for the World’s 365 Most Influential People is based on Paul’s 1 Timothy 2:1–2 instruction to pray for kings and those in authority, expanding the list to include those in media, entertainment, science, religion, sports, and business.

Christians and non-Christians are included in daily profiles, and the book suggests nonjudgmental prayer points designed to turn the individual toward Christ as Lord and Savior.

“We encourage people to bless their enemies,” says David Kopp, coeditor of the book with his wife, Heather Harpham Kopp. “We want to win people through kindness.”

There are obvious choices—Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul II, Ted Turner, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates. But Kopp notes that fame does not al ways equal influence, and he admits the list is arbitrary, with such behind-the-scenes names as TV director Marcy Carsey, Nike CEO Phil Knight, and Nintendo creator Shigeru Miyamoto.

Kopp hopes to update the book biennially as existing entries die and other individuals gain prominence. Already there has been a scramble to include new notables such as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Academy Award winner Roberto Benigni.

The publication has been widely endorsed by evangelical leaders. Nearly all the subjects were contacted and approved. “Saddam Hussein didn’t return calls,” Kopp quips. But Kopp says he had a fruitful conversation with American Atheists president Ellen Johnson after she understood the book is not adversarial.

Copyright © 1999 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The Triumph of the Praise Songs: As praise bands and worship teams replace organs and choirs, the boomer tastes that reshaped our society are ruling our worship as well.

In Brief: July 12, 1999

New Song, Familiar Tune

New & Noteworthy: Biography

Karon’s Agenda

Writing the Trinity

Christian Coalition Loses Exepmt Status

Wiccans Practice on U.S Bases

Voucher Plan Draws Mixed Reviews

God Speaks to Commuters

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from July 12, 1999

Religious Liberty Bill's Passage Uncertain

Bountiful Believers in the Bayou

Fidelity Urged to Fight AIDS

In Brief: July 12, 1999

Evangelicals Resent Abandonment

Anglicans Recognize Papacy as 'Gift'

Slave Girls Find Redemption

Christians Held As Hostages

The Triumph of the Praise Songs

Letters

Pain Relief

Truth-Telling on Trial

The Ministry of Safe Play

Indianapolis: Graham Touts Muscular Christianity

Southern Baptists: City-Focused Evangelism Launched

The Biotech Temptation

Editorial

There Is Room in the Inn

Balkanized by Music

The Profits of Praise

We Are What We Sing

One Church, Two Faiths

Integrating Mars and Venus

Coming to a Neighborhood Near You

Stuck on the Road to Emmaus

Escape from Fantasy Island

A Cracked Code

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