Welcome to our Christian guide to intercession for the state of Tennessee. Known as the “Music City,” Nashville is a place of cultural richness and vibrancy. Yet, the state of Tennessee faces a range of challenges, from economic instability to safety concerns, that call for our prayers.
As Christians, we are called to intercede and offer supplication for those in need. This post will guide your prayers for Tennessee, emphasizing the residents’ wellbeing, prosperity, and peace. By uniting in faith, we can lift the state of Tennessee and its inhabitants to our Heavenly Father, who hears and answers our prayers.
Join us as we pray for Tennessee’s leaders, crucial in shaping the state’s future. Let us also pray for the people of Tennessee, regardless of their backgrounds, that they may experience God’s grace and blessings.
May our prayers for Tennessee be a source of comfort, hope, and transformation as we trust the Lord to guide and protect the state and its inhabitants.
Quick Brief
Page Contents
Population: Tennessee is the 16th most populous and the 36th most extensive state in the US, with a population of 7,051,339 [6]. The state’s property tax rates range from $1.0322 to $6.163049 per $100 of assessed value, with assessment percentages of 25% for residential property and 25% for farm property [7]. The state’s population growth has fallen sharply in recent years due to increased deaths and decreased births, resulting in a natural change in population of only 0 in 2015 [10].
The state’s population growth in recent years has been driven by the increasing diversity of racial and ethnic groups, with non-white people accounting for over 80% of the state’s population growth since 2010 [3].
GDP: The GDP of Tennessee was $343.45 billion in 2021, up from $316.33 billion in the previous year [8]. The state’s GDP represents 1.82% of the US GDP, making it the 18th largest state economy in the nation in 2021 [4]. The concentration of Tennesseans working in the manufacturing sector is 1.35 times the national average. At the same time, the state has the second-lowest state and local tax burden per capita and no income tax on wages [5].
The latest estimates show that Tennessee’s per capita real GDP was $56,030 in 2019 [6]. The Tennessee Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report is created to provide a periodic snapshot of the state’s economy based on various information, including new business data from the Division of Business Services [9]. The report highlights the state’s economy over the previous year in employment, unemployment, wages, demographics, safety, and projections for next year’s employment growth for occupations and industries, as well as workforce challenges and strategies for strengthening workers’ skills [7].
Leadership
Bill Lee is the current governor of Tennessee, having taken office in 2019. Before his political career, he was involved in the construction industry and was the chairman of Lee Company. This family-owned business provides heating, cooling, and electrical services [4]. Governor Lee is a devout Christian and has publicly spoken about his faith on multiple occasions [1][4]. He is a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, and has been married to his wife, Maria, for over 40 years [4].
John Cooper is the current mayor of Nashville, having taken office in 2019. He has previously worked in the private sector and was the CEO of Cooper Capital Partners, a private investment firm [2]. Mayor Cooper is married to his wife, Crissy, and they have two sons [2].
Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are the two senators representing Tennessee in the United States Senate. Mrs Blackburn, a Republican, was first elected to the Senate in 2018, having previously served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019. Before her political career, she was a businesswoman, author, and commentator [10]. Mr Hagerty, also a Republican, took office in 2021, succeeding Lamar Alexander. Before his political career, he was a businessman and US ambassador to Japan from 2017 to 2019 [10].
Economy
According to [1], Tennessee has ten companies in the Fortune 500 list for 2021, including FedEx, Dollar General, and HCA Healthcare.
Regarding the automobile industry, Tennessee has several major automotive manufacturers such as General Motors, Nissan, and Volkswagen, and is home to more than 900 suppliers [6].
Nashville is known for being a hub for the healthcare industry, with HCA Healthcare being one of the largest private employers in the area [1]. Additionally, Nashville is known for being a hub for the music industry.
According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, common jobs in Tennessee include Healthcare support workers, Registered nurses, and Retail salespersons [6].
As of January 2023, the unemployment rate in Tennessee was 4.2% [6]. However, it is worth noting that the unemployment rate can fluctuate and change over time.
Healthcare
The Tennessee state government provides access to healthcare for its residents, including mental health services. [3]
In terms of health status, Tennessee has a higher percentage of adults with fair or poor health status compared to the national average. Specifically, 19.2% of the state’s adults have a fair or poor health status compared to the national average of 13.5%. [4]
Regarding rural areas, most of the land area in Tennessee is rural, with 93% of Tennessee being considered rural and 70 of 95 counties having at least 50% of their residents living in rural areas. [6] The state has a diverse population, with 7.4% of persons age 5 years and older speaking a language other than English at home. [7]
In terms of accessing mental health services, Tennessee offers a helpline for residents to connect with services for adults, children, or youth, anywhere in the state. Residents can call the helpline at 855-274-7471. [9]
Peace/Safety
Tennessee is generally considered a safe state with many communities ranking highly on the safety index due to low crime rates and well-staffed police forces [4]. The state has a violent crime rate of about six incidents per 1,000 people, but this varies across different areas, with some of the safest areas having a rate of about one incident per 1,000 people [5]. Furthermore, Tennessee has the lowest rate of rape in the country, with 16 reported incidents per 100,000 people, a fraction of the national rate of 42.6 per 100,000 [10].
However, some areas in Tennessee do have higher crime rates than others. For example, the city of Memphis has been considered one of the most unsafe cities in the state, with 12,674 violent crimes reported in the year 2018 [6]. Additionally, the Chattanooga metro area experienced a 16.6% increase in violent crime from the previous year, with nearly 3,500 violent crimes reported in 2020 [8].
Biggest Challenges
Tennessee faces significant challenges in terms of poverty, healthcare access, and substance-related deaths is accurate. According to a report, 15 rural Tennessee counties are economically distressed, and another 29 are at risk, based on unemployment, income, and poverty [1]. Additionally, the state’s poverty rate is higher than the national average, with an estimated 15.3% of Tennesseans living below the poverty level in 2018 [2].
Access to healthcare is also a concern, particularly in rural areas. As per the report, only 74.1% of Tennesseans have access to a regular doctor, which is slightly above the national average, and the state’s fair or poor health status rate is higher than the national average [3]. Tennessee has established a grant program to address these disparities to support hospitals and healthcare organizations in implementing programs targeting healthcare disparities [4].
Tennessee also faces high rates of substance-related deaths, including opioid and alcohol-related deaths. The state has implemented several initiatives to address this issue, including expanding access to treatment and training healthcare professionals on how to treat opioid addiction [1].
The state has strengths and weaknesses in terms of infrastructure, job opportunities, and education. Tennessee has a low cost of living and no state income tax, making it an attractive location for businesses and individuals looking for affordable living [7]. However, the state also faces workforce challenges, including a skills gap, and has identified the need for workforce development programs to strengthen workers’ skills [8].
Prayer Points for Tennessee
Ephesians 6:18
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
- Lord, we lift up the leaders of Tennessee to you. Grant them good health, wisdom, and discernment as they make decisions for the state.
- Heavenly Father, we pray that you would guide the steps of Tennessee’s leaders, and that their decisions would be in line with your will.
- Lord, we ask that you would bless the families of Tennessee’s leaders with your peace, protection, and provision.
- Father, we commit the state of Tennessee to your hands. We ask that you would bring healing, restoration, and transformation to every area of society.
- Lord, we pray for those in Tennessee who need healthcare. May they receive the care and support they require, and may the state’s healthcare systems be strengthened and equipped to meet their needs.
- Father, we ask for your protection and peace over Tennessee. We pray that violence, crime, and unrest would decrease, and that the state would be a place of safety and security for all who live there.
- Lord, we pray for a mighty move of your Spirit in Tennessee. May revival come to the state, and may your church rise up and be a light in the darkness.
- Heavenly Father, we pray for job opportunities and economic stability for all residents of Tennessee. May the state’s economy thrive and grow, and all seeking employment find meaningful and fulfilling work.
- Lord, we ask that you would end the opioid and alcohol-related deaths in Tennessee. May those who struggle with addiction find freedom and hope in you.
- Father, we pray for the education system in Tennessee. May it be strengthened and equipped to provide high-quality education for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances.
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