Young United Methodists
launch 40-day prayer campaign

By Joey Butler

The reports are everywhere.

• United Methodist membership in the United States is declining.

• The median age of the denomination is rising.

• There are not enough young faces in the pews -- and even fewer in the pulpits.

While much discussion has centered on this dilemma, it took a young Baptist minister to come up with the simplest, and possibly best, solution: "Why don't we pray about it?"

The Rev. Ben Simpson is an ordained Baptist minister, but his wife, Molly, serves on the pastoral staff at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West  in Olathe, Kan., where they both attend.

Earlier this year Simpson proposed on his blog that 40 young people commit to praying for The United Methodist Church and for other young clergy and church leaders during a designated 40-day period leading into the annual conference season.

"Efforts for renewal must begin with God," Simpson said. He hopes that "through prayer our youngest leaders -- can help orient us in the right direction and lead in new ways that are deeply faithful to the story we have been given both in the Bible and in the Methodist movement.

Several prominent bloggers picked up Simpson's idea. Soon it was moving through Facebook and Twitter. Since being published on March 14, his original post has had more than 1,000 page views.

Within weeks he had 40 people willing to contribute a written prayer.

The vehicle for the prayer campaign is a Web site, www.umcyoungclergy.com. For 40 days beginning May 18, one prayer written by a young United Methodist leader is being published each day.

Simpson's hope for the campaign is that "after beginning with prayer, people across The United Methodist Church will be more united and energized to pursue a common vision for ministry."

All of the prayers for the 40-day campaign have been compiled into a book. Paperback and electronic copies can be purchased at www.lulu.com. All proceeds benefit Nothing But Nets, an organization helping to prevent the spread of malaria in Africa.

--Joey Butler is managing editor of Interpreter