Pete Greig is a man on a mission. A mission of prayer.
Few Christian authors have written about prayer with the same fervour and excitement as Pete Greig. Through his bestselling books, work with the 24/7 Prayer movement and The Prayer Course Pete Grieg has handed Chirstians all over the world the tools to pray with honesty and power. The simple truth behind all of what Pete Greig is simple:
Prayer changes things.
Whether you want to know more of the man behind the books or are looking for your next Christian book to read, this quick look at Pete Grieg will help you find what you’re looking for.
Described as ‘the bewildered founder of 24-7Prayer’, Pete Grieg has seen amazing things in his life.
Currently serving as a Senior Pastor of Emmaus Rd along with his wife Sammy, Pete Greig is a man with many hats. Alongside his role as pastor, he is an “Ambassador for the NGO Tearfund, an Associate Tutor at St Mellitus Theological College, and a member of The Order of the Mustard Seed”. He also co-hosts Wildfires and The Big Church Day Out events. Before that, he was also Alpha International’s Prayer Director. This takes us right back to what Pete Greig is best known for: prayer.
Pete Grieg is the founder of the 24/7 Prayer movement. Doing exactly what it says in the name, the 24/7 Prayer Movement gathered together Christians from all over the world to take part in one continuous moment of prayer. It ensured that at any one time, somebody would by praying. It was truly non-stop. Starting from a prayer room located in a warehouse in South England, the movement grew and grew. Something about it was wildfire. Christians all around the earth were taking part. This sudden and massive was what bewildered Pete Greig. It’s the mustard seed that became a tree, seemingly overnight. It was also the story that became one of Pete Grieg’s most popular books.
Just as 24/7 Prayer was a breakout movement, the book all about it was a breakout hit. Red Moon Rising: How 24-7 Prayer Is Awakening a Generation helped thousands of believers discover the power of prayer. It is a book filled with stories of Christians coming together and of people whose lives were transformed. It also traced the history of prayer rooms, going from the gathering of the disciples right up to the worldwide phenomenon of 24/7 Prayer. It showed what prayer could be, what it could do, and how you could join in. It fired up readers then and it still does to this day. Since its release, thousands more believers experienced their own stories of the power of prayer. These stories soon needed a book of their own.
The second part of the Red Moon Chronicles, Dirty Glory upped the ante of prayer. It featured stories that ranged from the desperate lives of people in Mexico to the lavish nightclubs of Ibiza, all of which feature people who were transformed by prayer. Dirty Glory traced a genuine Holy Spirit movement at work in the world. It also lay down a gauntlet for readers. It showed believers that prayer shakes off complacency and smashes the status quo. Readers were challenged not just to dream bigger, but to pray bigger.
But Pete Greig’s books are more than just fascinating stories and uplifting movements. In fact, one of his all-time best selling books took a more sobering turn. Something that every Christian has asked at some point or another: what do I when God doesn’t answer prayer?
God On Mute helped Chirstians understand and engage with unanswered prayer. It was an honest look at what it means when we pray in all earnestness and hear nothing back. The frustration, the doubting, the worry. All of it is sensitively and honestly explored. To do this, Pete Grieg opens up about the painful parts of his life. The times where he begged God and heard nothing. God on Mute became the definitive book on what to do when God doesn’t answer prayer.
Immense prayer movements, worldwide transformation, unanswered prayers. These are all pretty intense things. To someone who is new to faith and prayer, these can be a little overwhelming. Luckily, who is a better guide to getting started in prayer than Pete Greig? That’s why he wrote How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People. How to Pray is a back to basics book. It assumes no knowledge and uses absolutely no jargon in explaining just what prayer is. It’s straightforward, practical and inspiring. Perfect for helping newer Christians or anyone wanting a refresher in Prayer. It’s also great for anyone who might have fallen out of the habit of prayer recently.
It’s a book that makes prayer, above all else, doable. To hear from Pete himself about How to Pray, check out our interview with him here.
So, we’ve looked at books by Pete Greig. But what about books he personally recommends?
From the Books for Life series by Krish Kandiah, here are 3 Books Recommended by Pete Greig:
Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas
This is a book that helps you find the unique way in which your soul best connects with God. It paints your own temperaments as coming from God and how you can learn to grow in them.
Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster
Described by Pete as “one of the most important books for me as I was starting out in Christian leadership”, Richard Foster’s book examines six different dimensions of life and faith in a clear and intuitive way.
A revolutionary call for Christians to stop following the culture of the day and start making it. Kind of a no-brainer that Pete Greig would be a fan of this. “This book talks intelligently and in a way that I think is important for the church about how we make culture.”
You can listen to the full interview and find even more recommendations here:
It’s not just books that he recommends. Did you know that Pete Grieg considers the classic Jazz album A Love Supreme by John Coltrane as a deeply spiritual listen? He even namechecks it in his popular Choosing Joy blog post. I imagine he would get a kick out of visiting the church that plays A Love Supreme every week.
To find books and talks by Pete Grieg, check out our new author page for Pete Grieg.
How has Pete Greig’s books and the 24/7 Prayer Movement impacted your life? Let us know in the comments below.
Oh, and it’s pronounced “Greg”, not “Greeeg”.
April 1st, 2021 - Posted & Written by Aaron Lewendon
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