GA777: Many atheists/non-Christians who converted, mentioned the importance of being prayed for
In what way did they think that the prayers helped in their conversion?
Each one pretty much had his way. There is an infinity of factors which may lead to God, but each one may have a certain influence, depending on the number of those who prayed, how they prayed and how long they prayed and other factors. For example, some unbelievers met Christians in their lives not much after and started sharing their beliefs, others had some unexplainable thoughts about discovering if God exists or not or sudden keen interest about reading the bible or praying to see if God may hear them. Some for example, who were committing serious sins against ~everybody would face a certain tragedy making them change their ways for a specific period and maybe forever. If prayer was serious enough, some unbelievers may even witness miracles or something alike. This is rare unfortunately and Christians pray for other Christians instead of atheists much more frequently. But there's one thing which is certain : Everyone has his own free will, so nobody converts if he doesn't choose to. Tho. everyone would after some point.
GA777: not to mention that prayer can lead God to do anything without contradicting his will which is fulfilling justice.
Why does God need "leading"? Why wouldn't he simply do the same thing anyway?
Because if he does it, the number of saved souls will significantly decrease considering how selfish and how much indifference we often show to God that it would be very just for him not to interfere. (I believe the number of saved souls is higher than most imagine it to be btw.). Someone praying to God (sacrificing his time doing something which may be very boring to most of us and suffering to stay focused maybe all night or for a whole week) will move God and make him look at what the one who is praying wants, causing some events to happen in our lives getting us to know him better or to convert which weren't supposed to happen from the first place. He gave us enough anyways in order to be able to lead ourselves : The bible (His word), Prayer (A mean in communicating with him) and a brain. Anyone can easily get saved without getting help from anyone else if he desires to as much as he desires to do other pleasuring things in this life that he may even risk his life at anytime for doing so.
GA777: Furthermore, there are some specialized prayers for unbelievers
Specialized prayers? Of what sort? What is being prayed for? Why are there still believers if you have this arsenal of prayers with which to lead God?
eudaimonia,
Mark
Prayers which are designed to be prayed to help nonbelievers which were prayed by some saints who were very close to God or maybe suggested by Jesus Christ or Virgin Mary (According to some known and trusted apparitions). There may be a place for that in the psalms in the bible. Anyone can make his own easily anyways because God listens to the heart more than he does to the words. And in such prayers, Christians pray for the salvation of nonbelievers.
There are still unbelievers because praying, especially nowadays, is decreasing a lot. Very few do that, and much fewer pray while focusing and meaning what they pray and even if they do that, they pray for a very short period. And I'm pretty sure that small number is helping many atheists without them knowing it and any other Christian or nonbeliever or other religious, because it could get much worse than now. Imagine a world with much less churches or priests and its consequences . Fewer people will have the chance to be preached and the number of believers would be seriously declining, not to mention how the few believers may be affected by the others... Not to mention that the number of people suffering would incredibly increase, wars,famine,diseases and fear will take over our planet. (According to Christianity of course)
Note : I'm not 100% sure of every statement as I came to most statements after some interpretation which may sometimes be wrong of course.