Prayer Summit Progression

Written By J17 Ministries

In 1989, Dr. Joe Aldrich, who at the time was president of Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, pondered the question, “What would it take to see a move of God initiated and sustained in a geographic region?” Here’s what he concluded:

  • In order for there to be significant and sustained impact in a geographic region, healthy Christian leadership is required.

  • Healthy leaders require unity among Christian leaders.

  • Unity in the Body of Christ requires humility.

  • How can humility be achieved? An extended period of time lingering in the presence of a holy God.

Tucson’s history

And that is how prayer summits were birthed. Tucson’s first pastor prayer summit of 72 hours took place in the spring of 2009. Many of us believe that this 2009 pastor prayer summit shifted the spiritual atmosphere in our city. Instead of being notoriously divided, isolated, unhealthy, and competitive, a question began to be asked that would have been a foreign language previously: How can we work together? I believe the progression that Dr. Joe outlined above tracks the development of the Tucson City Church since 2009 remarkably well.

Upcoming summits

Prayer summits in Tucson have taken place every year since 2009, and the number of opportunities continues to expand. While this is not an exhaustive list at all, our prayer summit advisory team believes that God has led us to set some consistent dates that can be planned around either until Jesus returns or God leads us to move in a different direction. Reply to this email for questions about either of following opportunities:

  • Spring pastor prayer summit, Monday through Wednesday of the last week in April. In 2026 this means April 27-29. 

  • Fall one-day prayer summit for all Christian leaders (church, nonprofit, business, etc) the Thursday before Thanksgiving. So… November 20, 2025 and November 19, 2026.

There are also additional prayer summits that are being planned in the Tucson area, these with variable dates. Contact Kimberley Lee (k2blee@gmail.com) for more information or to register:

  • August 20, Men’s Prayer Summit

  • August 21-23, Women’s Prayer Summit

And finally, a nonprofit leaders prayer summit is being discussed for sometime in the early Fall.

Let’s keep praying and responding to God’s direction for a sustained move of God in our cities!

J17 Ministries
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Pentecost and unity