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New study finds America's biggest job creators pray more

Baylor's newly released 2010 Religion Survey looks at connections between religion and American attitudes in these tough economic times.

One section is devoted to understanding how religious beliefs affect the attitudes of those who create most of our nation's jobs.

Entrepreneurs help drive our economy, and according to the study, most of them are doing it with their heads bowed.

It finds that about 20 percent more of them pray or meditate several times a day than do non-entrepreneurs.

Fishing guide service owner Bob Maindelle is one of them.

"You've got these boundaries and limitations, and some of those are beyond your own ability, and so, where else does your strength beyond yourself come from? It comes from your God," Maindelle said.

Baylor researcher Kevin Dougherty found that when it comes to beliefs, prayerfulness was the one area where entrepreneurs significantly differed.

"We have to conjecture here that it could be that the stress and struggle of new business ventures are driving people to their needs," Dougherty said.

Pastor Randy Wallace of First Baptist Church in Killeen says that reliance on a higher power is old as the most common prayer.

"If you think back to the Lord's Prayer, Give us this day our daily bread. People in that economy would work all day and on the way home, they would buy the food in the market that they needed to feed their family," said Wallace.

Maindelle also identifies with the study's finding that two thirds of regular service attenders strive for excellence, based on their faith.

"That's what I hope for, just to make an impression, that hey, I took my ability and put it to use, because the Lord has driven me to do that and has expectations of me to do that," said Maindelle.

The study also finds that entrepreneurs tend to be men. They tend to be married and have college experience, and to have more conservative political views.

Reporter: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com

www.baylor.edu/2011religionsurvey