National Day of Prayer - Is It Still Relevant?

On Thursday, May 7th, millions of Americans across the nation will bow their heads in prayer for their country. It's a tradition that dates back to 1775, and every President since Harry S. Truman has signed an annual proclamation, calling citizens to "turn to God in prayer and meditation."

But does prayer work?

Is anyone listening?

What, exactly, is prayer?

These were the questions that a curious traveler wanted to answer.

"There are over seven billion people on this planet," Jared Brock says, "and almost every single one of us has prayed at some point in our life. Yet prayer remains this huge mystery."

So, Brock traveled 37,000 miles around the globe on a modern-day pilgrimage. He danced with rabbis, visited monks, walked on coals, toured North Korea, gained an audience with the Pope, ate lunch at the Vatican, and learned a world of prayer lessons across the Judeo-Christian faith tradition.

"I wanted to see how the rest of my faith family prays," Brock says. "including some of the weird uncles and crazy cousins."

Brock's prayer journey took him to some interesting places - including a prayer mountain at the world's largest church, a firewalking guru convention, and even a visit to Westboro Baptist Church.

"Many people think that God is like Santa Claus," Brock says. "We treat God like a spiritual slot machine that gives us what we want, when we want it. I think we've missed the point of prayer."

Though a constitutional challenge against the National Day of Prayer was thrown out in 2011, many Americans now wonder if prayer has simply lost its relevance in an age of science and reason.

"People in my generation are skeptical about prayer, and it's understandable," Jared explains. "We see a world in desperate need, but don't see how many religious activities are helping."

Still, Brock is hopeful.

"Prayer is about relationship," Jared explains. "As we spend time with God in prayer for others, we're compelled to do something on their behalf. Prayer becomes life's greatest work."

Jared Brock is the co-founder of Hope for the Sold and the author of A Year of Living Prayerfully.

Some of Jared's Previous Media Appearances:

Web: Huffington Post, Relevant, Elite Daily, Reknew, FaithStreet, ReligionNews, Today.com

Print: Esquire, Publisher's Weekly

TV: 100 Huntley Street, Miracle Channel, CTV

Radio: WDCX, Life 100.3, CBC, Salt & Light, Front Page, Daily Moments, Coastal Daybreak

Sample Work:

Book trailer video

Radio interview on WDCX Lifeline

TV interview on 100 Huntley Street

Images of Pope, North Korea, Westboro, etc, available upon request.

Suggested Interview Questions for Jared Brock:

1. Why did you decide to travel 37,000 miles around the world to learn about prayer?
2. You visited Greek Orthodox monks on Mount Athos, Protestants and Catholics in France, Jews in Canada and the United States, plus Quakers, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, and many more. Which community made the biggest impact on your personal prayer life?
3. What did the Pope teach you about prayer?
4. Does prayer really change anything?
5. Why did you travel to North Korea? What did it teach you about prayer?
6. Is the National Day of Prayer still relevant to modern culture?
7. Looking back on your year-long pilgrimage, what lesson stands out the most?

To schedule an interview with Jared Brock, please contact Maggie Rowe at Tyndale:

Phone: (630) 784-5333

Email: maggierowe@tyndale.com

Jared Brock is the co-founder of Hope for the Sold, a charity that fights human trafficking. He is the author of A Year of Living Prayerfully, a humorous travel memoir about prayer.