Renewal is occurring in churches throughout the country as more pastors and disciples return to a worship-based model of prayer that is Scripture-fed and Spirit-led. Although the scale of renewal across the nation is significant, these stories often begin with a single person desiring more than a surface-level prayer life. One small commitment is all it takes to start a vibrant culture of prayer.

Pastor Joe Olkowski has been Pastor at Zion Church of Petroleum Valley in Karns City, Pennsylvania  since 2007, and he knows both the frustrations of a shallow prayer life as well as the joy of experiencing something deeper. 

Like so many other ministers, Pastor Joe knows the feeling of emptiness and exhaustion that comes with facilitating ministry that is more activities-based than Spirit-led.

“For years, I felt like an Activities Director on a Christian Cruise ship, going from one activity to the next  just trying to make something stick.” 

In the midst of this exhaustion, Pastor Joe read Glorious Finish by the founder of Strategic Renewal, Pastor Daniel Henderson. Soon after, he got connected to the 6:4 Fellowship. From this context, Pastor Joe began to sense the need for a richer prayer life. Specifically, this is when he learned about worship-based prayer. 

“Prayer, to me, was like going to the gym. It was something you had to do, but you hated doing  it.”

A request-based culture of prayers centered on our needs often creates such a feeling, but Pastor Joe quickly recognized how worship-based prayer was founded not on results, but on seeking God’s face. Now, he would rather pray than anything else. Pastor Joe soon experienced how this transformation that began with him helped build a culture of prayer for the rest of his church,  one modeled by him. 

“We had prayer meetings that went from “what do you want — what are you requesting from God” to seeking God’s face together.”

And it was through the training offered through the 6:4 Fellowship that Pastor Joe was able to pass the concepts he learned onto others. Pastor Joe soon recognized that people are discipled through other people. Just as he had been discipled to, so now he was able to do the same. Through training, through life-on-life contact, Pastor Joe saw a culture of prayer bring renewal to himself and his church as congregants grew from request-based spectators to worship-based partners. This simple shift accomplished more than any strategy, tactic, or initiative could have.

“I’ve been there with every other Pastor. You go to conferences. You read books. You look at articles. You listen to podcasts.” 

But prayer is not a matter of head knowledge but a matter of character, God’s character. Prayer can restore a person’s heart to God as we worship and commune with Him on an ever-deepening level. Prayer isn’t about changing God, it is about changing us. 

“I’m done playing Church. I’m done playing religion. I want Jesus and I want to give Him to others, especially to those in my church.”

If you are in the midst of ministry and you are feeling discouraged, empty, or exhausted the 6:4 Fellowship is a network of Pastors who will encourage you and build you up. If you are a disciple who desires to support your pastor and mature in your faith, consider one of our  6:3 Discipleship pathways to better equip you to share in the work of ministry.

If you wish to experience this kind of renewal in your own church, take the next step. Our Prayer Activation Guide will help you begin cultivating a prayer culture that transforms leaders, disciples, and entire congregations.

Download the Prayer Activation Guide