But lately I've noticed an increasing number of prayer groups - some as small as five or six people and some involving thousands - have started showing up in church bulletins and in massive movements across the globe.

Once again we have books that tell us how to pray, books that tell us we ought to pray and books that tell us what prayers to say.

There also are any number of preachers who will tell us to get down on our knees to invoke the name of Jesus. We have Muslims praying five times a day, we have Buddhists who start every day with meditation, and we have Jews who put on their shawls and recite elegant prayers.

So, we're pretty much a praying nation. Therefore, everything ought to be just fine as long as we keep praying, right?

But then what can we say about our crime rates, the increasing incidence of divorce and dysfunctional families, and the terrible famines and wars around the world? Pilgrims, things could be better.

I happen to be a believer in prayer. I am convinced you can pray for an ill person who may be thousands of miles away and your prayer will have a positive effect on that person's health. And that ill person doesn't even need to know you're praying.

The problem is, people don't take time to pray. They say they don't have time, but the real problem is that prayer is not a top priority.

That's why movements that organize people for prayer are important. One of the newer prayer movements is Harvest Evangelism, which was founded in Argentina just a few years ago by a fellow named Ed Silvoso.

Silvoso will come to your city and teach people to pray for their immediate neighborhood. The ultimate goal of Harvest Evangelism is to have prayers said for everyone in a metropolitan area.

The plan works like this: People commit themselves to walk their block once a week praying for people inside each home as they pass by. After three months, members of the group drop a leaflet at the front door telling residents they are being prayed for. The leaflet also includes a telephone number they can call with prayer requests.

The other days of the week the Harvest members continue praying for their neighbors. Then, after three more months of walking their block, they stop to ring each doorbell, introduce themselves and ask community members if they have any prayer requests.

Then they return to their weekly routine, continuing to walk the block as long as it takes to change the climate in the neighborhood.

The Rev. Rick Heeren, director of Harvest Evangelism for the Twin Cities, says the problem of not having enough time for prayer can be overcome.

"First we get pastors to pray together across denominational, racial and ethnic lines," Heeren said. "I'm talking about the divisions that exist out there. This is a very key concept. Every person is a lighthouse of prayer. Everybody lives on a block, and if they can see themselves as ambassadors of prayer, things are going to improve on that block.

"We teach them the 'how' of prayer evangelism." Heeren said. "First Timothy basically says the church of Jesus Christ should pray for everyone. And right behind that, it says the outcome will be that we will live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. And we have people who are already praying who say they are experiencing more peaceful and quiet lives."

Now, there may be doubters out there who want some proof that this actually works before they try it. But why can't it work?

For centuries prayer has been a basic doctrine of all religions. Monks and nuns and all manner of mystics give up their lives to prayer simply because they believe it works.

For more information about Harvest Evangelism, call (408) 927-9052 or write to Harvest Evangelism, P.O. Box 20310, San Jose, Calif. 95160-0310.

Clark D. Morphew