Prayer warrior is a term used by manyevangelical and otherChristians to refer to anyone who is committed topraying for others.
Within the context ofdominion theology, prayer warriors see themselves as engaged inspiritual warfare againstsatanic forces.[1]
Prayer warriors may pray for individuals, or for entire states or regions. One recent development has been prayer undertaken by groups of people flying over the areas for which they wish to undertakeintercession.[2]
While not all prayer warriors are evangelical Christians, some are. During theIraq War, one aspect of the debate over U.S. involvement was a "prayer battle," with one side praying in support of the policies of theBush administration and the other taking ananti-war stance.Alabama GovernorBob Riley urged hisconstituents to act as prayer warriors, andGeorgia GovernorSonny Perdue designated a three-day prayer weekend that he cast as a spiritual battle.[3] Although most "prayer warriors for peace" were identified as Christians,Muslims in the U.S. andIndonesia were also said to have taken part.[4]
Sarah Palin, thevice-presidential candidate for theRepublican Party in the2008 U.S. presidential elections, regularly acknowledged the support of prayer warriors in her speeches and interviews, and has spoken of them as offering a "prayer shield."[5] As a candidate, she thanked prayer warriors for their support[6] and spoke ofdivine intervention in the election as a result.[7]
