Faith at work: leading people well, carrying decisions you cannot discuss, and the question of what integrity costs when it costs something. Written by people running a company, about running one.
Faith & Wisdom · Sep 14, 2025
Lauren Jackson explores the booming "faith tech" industry where tens of millions are using AI chatbots for spiritual guidance. The article examines apps like Bible Chat (30M+ downloads), Hallow, and PRAY.COM (25M downloads) that offer 24/7 digital chaplaincy services, raising questions about technology's role in religious practice.
This case study features Ryan Beck, co-founder and CTO of PRAY.COM, discussing how AI translation technology is transforming global ministry outreach. Beck explains how PRAY.COM partners with HeyGen to enable ministry leaders to communicate directly with international communities in their native languages, creating unprecedented connections between organizational founders and the people they serve worldwide. The conversation highlights the transition from audio-only to video translation capabilities and the profound impact on global humanitarian efforts.
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In this insightful episode of the SubClub podcast, hosts David Barnard and Jacob Heiding interview Ryan Beck, co-founder and CTO of PRAY.COM. Ryan shares the business journey behind building the world's leading prayer and faith-based audio content app. The conversation explores PRAY.COM's evolution from a social network for faith organizations to a consumer subscription platform, highlighting effective monetization strategies, customer acquisition tactics, and product development approaches. Ryan provides valuable insights into reaching older demographics through various marketing channels, the importance of diversifying revenue streams beyond just subscriptions, and why the team maintains "revenue" as their ultimate north star metric. Throughout the interview, Ryan emphasizes the data-driven yet mission-focused approach that has enabled PRAY.COM to successfully navigate the unique challenges of building a technology platform in the faith space.
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In this powerful episode of the Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur podcast, host Shae Bynes interviews Ryan Beck, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of PRAY.COM. Ryan shares his remarkable journey from teenage drug dealer to faith-driven tech entrepreneur, revealing how a profound encounter with God during his time in jail completely transformed his life. After being released, Ryan pursued theological studies before discovering his passion for computer science, which eventually led him to co-found PRAY.COM in 2016. Throughout the conversation, Ryan discusses how he approaches leadership as a servant, empowering his team members rather than wielding power over them. He also explores how he balances ambition with relationship, seeking excellence in all areas of life while cultivating a Kingdom culture within a Silicon Valley tech startup. The interview highlights how God's providence guides our steps, revealing how a seemingly chance encounter between old high school acquaintances led to the creation of what is now the world's number one app for daily prayer and faith-based audio content.
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In this heartfelt interview with award-winning Christian artist Matthew West on The Matthew West Podcast, PRAY.COM co-founder Matt Potter shares the remarkable story behind one of the world's leading prayer and faith-based content platforms. Potter's journey begins with his own miraculous entry into the world when a pregnant 15-year-old girl, on her way to an abortion clinic, stopped at a church instead—a decision that would save his life. From his adoption by a Christian couple to meeting Steve Jobs at Pixar as a teen, Potter's path ultimately led him to build a successful tech company before feeling spiritually empty despite worldly success. Through a divinely orchestrated encounter with future co-founder Steve Gatena, who had experienced his own spiritual awakening following a tragic loss, PRAY.COM was born. Now, eight years later, the platform has accumulated an astounding 2.5 billion listening minutes and reached millions with the gospel message. Throughout the conversation, Potter reveals the profound difference between worldly success and spiritual fulfillment, offering powerful examples of lives transformed through prayer and highlighting the platform's innovative features, including clinically proven meditative prayer content that positively impacts mental and physical health.
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This in-depth conversation with Matt Potter, co-founder of PRAY.COM, reveals the extraordinary human stories and pivotal life moments that created what is now the leading prayer and meditation application worldwide.
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In this episode of "Leading Organizations That Matter," host Ray Spadoni explores the intersection of faith, business, and technology with Matthew Potter, co-founder of Pray.com. The conversation examines whether faith is becoming culturally acceptable again, how mental health concerns are driving people toward spiritual resources, and how businesses are increasingly embracing employees' whole selves, including their faith lives. Matthew shares his remarkable personal story, the growth of Pray.com as a platform, and how they're measuring the impact of prayer on mental health through scientific research.
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In a landmark moment for faith-based technology and leadership, PRAY.COM Founder and CEO Steve Gatena has been awarded the prestigious LA Times Executive Leadership Award in the Small Business Founder category. This rare and meaningful recognition highlights Gatena’s significant contributions to the Southern California business community and underscores the growing influence of Christian tech leaders in the digital age.
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In this moving interview from The Father Podcast, PRAY.COM co-founder Matt Potter shares his remarkable journey from being an adopted child to becoming a successful tech entrepreneur. Matt's story begins with a providential intervention when a 15-year-old girl considering abortion instead walked into a church and chose adoption. This decision connected Matt with the parents who would raise him with unconditional love and Christian values. Throughout the conversation, Matt reveals how his adoptive father became his hero by leading by example, allowing him to fail, and creating a safe space for open communication. These foundational principles not only shaped Matt's character but also influenced his path to co-founding PRAY.COM, now one of the world's leading prayer and faith-based content platforms. The interview offers powerful insights for fathers seeking to make a lasting impact on their children's lives while highlighting how prayer and faith can transform personal challenges into purposeful living.
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Episode 5 of the Relentless Hope Podcast The Relentless Hope Podcast, hosted by Steve Gatena, founder of PRAY.COM shares vulnerable testimonies from the world's most passionate…
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Pray.com
Cinematic Journey through the Bible Released in October, Reached #1 on Spotify Religion within First Week LOS ANGELES, January 30, 2023 – Pray.com , the No. 1 app for prayer and faith-based audio and video streaming content, has already seen 10 million downloads of its new “ Bible in a Year with Jack Graham ” podcast, done in collaboration with iHeartPodcasts and sponsored by the leading healthcare sharing community Medishare . The “Bible in a Year Podcast with Jack Graham” daily series launched in October and reached No. 1 on the Spotify religion list in the first week. It has continued to generate interest and downloads at an accelerated rate, reaching the 10 million milestone in record time. “We praise God for how Pray.com has been used as a tool to help people get into His Word and grow in their faith,” said Pray.com Founder and CEO Steve Gatena. “We thank Pastor Jack Graham for his commitment to this project, which has made it of such great quality for listeners, and we congratulate both the iHeart and Pray.com teams for their hard work in delivering such a stellar podcast.” “I wasn’t sure what to expect when we first launched the podcast, but it’s been amazing to see what God has done. Millions of people have been impacted by it,” Graham said. “With its cinematic approach, even those who have struggled to make a habit of getting into the word, are coming back day after day. I’m so grateful for Pray.com and the amazing work they’ve done on this project, and I pray Bible in a Year touches many more millions of lives.” Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation’s largest, most dynamic congregations with over 56,000 members. He is a noted author of numerous books, including his most recent, “Reignite: Fresh Focus for An Enduring Faith.” His passionate, biblical teaching is also seen and heard across the country and throughout the world on “PowerPoint Ministries.” Graham has served as Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer and President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country, with more than 14 million members. “We’ve been blown away by how well received the ‘Bible in a Year with Jack Graham’ podcast has been,” said Max Bard, VP of Content at Pray.com. “We hoped that this entertaining and story-driven format would help listeners get into a daily habit of engaging the Bible, and it has. We pray it will continue to inspire listeners to establish a routine to stay in God’s Word and experience the joy of reading the Bible every day.” In addition to “Bible in a Year with Jack Graham,” Pray.com hosts podcasts from leading Christian pastors and speakers, meditative and reflective prayers, and Bible-based resources to aid listeners wherever they may be in their spiritual growth journeys. Pray.com podcasts are distributed by iHeartPodcasts. Find “Bible in a Year with Jack Graham” and other prayer and faith-based audio content at www.pray.com/discover , on the iHeartRadio app , and everywhere podcasts are heard.
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Pray.com
You likely know Pastor George Foreman as a boxing champion—after all, he was both an Olympic gold medalist and the heavyweight champion during his career. You might also know that he won a second title at age 45, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in history. Even if you don’t follow sports closely, you likely know George for his indoor grill and all of the television commercials he’s done for countless products over the years. Yet it’s his faith that plays a central role in the new movie BIG GEORGE FOREMAN , which is based on his incredible story of redemption and second chances. We talked with Pastor George about this new movie (which opens in theaters everywhere April 28), his boxing career, and his faith journey.
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Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, April 21, 2022 – In partnership with The National Day of Prayer Task Force and the Museum of the Bible, Pray.com is excited to announce that Grammy Award-winning artists Chris Tomlin, Lecrae and Matthew West will join with other influential leaders to participate in the 2022 National Day of Prayer Broadcast on May 5, 2022, at 5 p.m. PDT/8 p.m. EDT. The 2022 National Day of Prayer Broadcast will follow tens of thousands of prayer gatherings being carried out in all 50 states and several U.S. territories for the National Day of Prayer. That evening, faith leaders will come together at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., to lead the nation in a time of worship and prayer. “What an honor it is to have Chris Tomlin, Lecrae and Matthew West join us for this important annual event,” said founder and head of strategic relationships for Pray.com, Matthew Potter. “While these talented, award-winning artists are known for their engaging music, at the heart of everything they create is a desire to exalt the Lord. What a beautiful opportunity it is to have them publicly support this event and join us in prayer.” The 2022 National Day of Prayer Broadcast will reach more than 300 million homes across the world through television, radio and social media streaming. With a theme of "Exalt the Lord Who Has Established Us," based on the verses in Colossians 2:6-7, the event will bring people together from all backgrounds to lift their hearts to heaven, praise God for his many blessings, and pray for a revival to take place among His children. Other speakers who will be involved in leading worship and prayer include Pastors Samuel Rodriguez, Allen Jackson, Ronnie Floyd, Miles McPherson and Mark Batterson, and ministry leaders such as Anne Graham Lotz and Tim Barton, along with National Day of Prayer Task Force President Kathy Branzell. “What a privilege it is to have these spectacular Christian artists lend their influence to help rally people of faith to participate in the 2022 National Day of Prayer Broadcast,” said Branzell. “We’re grateful they’ve chosen to align their hearts with us as we exalt the Lord and pray together as a nation.” The 2022 National Day of Prayer Broadcast will air throughout the world via partners at GodTV, Daystar Television Network, Bott and Faith Radio networks and many more – as well as on websites and social media platforms. For station and social media information, visit https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2022broadcast .
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We hope you’re having a great summer! This time of year is an excellent time for reading, so we’re sharing some of our favorite books.
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Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2022 – Dr. Ed Young, pastor at Second Baptist Church in Houston and founder of the digital broadcast “The Winning Walk,” has always been an advocate for television ministry. His content was one of the first to appear on Pray.com ’s Pray Radio and will now be featured on its newest platform, PrayTV. As the leading mobile platform providing 24/7 prayer and faith-based audio and video streaming content, Pray.com has enabled Dr. Young’s encouraging teaching to reach new and growing world-wide audiences. “It's always been important to us to share our messages beyond the walls of the Church, as that is where we are most likely to reach the people most in need of the spiritual equipping that we need for our daily walk,” said Dr. Young. “Pray.com has been instrumental for us in expanding our audience and helping encourage new listeners and viewers in their spiritual journeys. We are grateful to be a part of this new platform and eager to come alongside people with more immersive methods than just audio content.” Before coming to Second Baptist Church, Dr. Young ministered at First Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. There, he had a front-row seat to the church’s television ministry and its effectiveness in reaching an audience and building the church. It came as no surprise, then, that Dr. Young wished to implement this same type of ministry in Texas. Beginning in 1979, Dr. Young would go to a local television station every Monday morning and preach the previous day’s sermon in an empty studio. Over time, more people began to watch, and the broadcast eventually blossomed to include an international reach. “The Winning Walk” now has a ministry in India that is able to translate sermons into other languages and connect individuals who hear these sermons to local churches in the area. “Dr. Young always likes to say, ‘I’m just scattering seeds. That’s all we do – we scatter seeds.’ Pray.com gives opportunities to amplify and an avenue to really scatter the message far and wide,” said Keith Brown, Director of Broadcast Ministries. “Dr. Young wants to take the truth of the gospel and get it out as far and wide as we possibly can. Pray.com helps us do that and reach areas that we weren’t able to reach before.” Recently, due to the effects of the pandemic, one pastor was forced to shut down his church, but through Dr. Young’s teaching and daily devotionals, the pastor found encouragement to endure. In fact, people from around the globe have shared similar stories of finding strength in the midst of challenges through “The Winning Walk.” “The ability to get places where we weren’t able to before – to get the gospel into someone’s pocket – that’s an amazing thing to be able to do,” Brown added. “It’s encouraging for us to know people are using and seeing the content because the numbers represent souls. These metrics help make tangible something that’s intangible.” Through Dr. Young’s impact, Second Baptist Church has grown from 2,000 members in 1978 to over 87,000 members across six church campuses. Serving two terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Young has also written numerous books, including “The 10 Commandments of Marriage,” “The 10 Commandments of Parenting” and “Healing Broken America.” “We are so honored to have Dr. Young’s content on our platform as he is such a respected voice with a heart for helping people overcome their struggles, which is also very important to us here at Pray.com,” said founder Matthew Potter. “We look forward to continuing to work alongside ‘The Winning Walk’ in exploring ways we can better serve our audiences who we know are benefitting so much from this encouraging content.” In addition to “The Winning Walk,” Pray.com includes teaching and preaching programs from leading Christian pastors and speakers, along with meditative and reflective prayer and Bible-based resources to aid listeners wherever they may be in their spiritual growth journeys. Find “The Winning Walk” and other prayer and faith-based audio content at www.pray.com/discover .
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Episode 17 of the Relentless Hope Podcast The Relentless Hope Podcast, hosted by Steve Gatena, founder of PRAY.COM shares vulnerable testimonies from the world's most passionate…
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The Relentless Hope Podcast, hosted by Steve Gatena, founder of PRAY.COM shares vulnerable testimonies from the world's most passionate Christian leaders who overcame extreme trials through God's faithfulness.
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Pray.com
Meditative and Motivational Prayer Series designed and narrated by GRAMMY® Award-winning artist comes to leading Christian audio content platform SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 15, 2022 -- Pray.com, the world’s No. 1 app for Christians, today introduced GRAMMY® Award-winning global entertainer and entrepreneur Lecrae as its latest brand ambassador. The collaboration with Lecrae will see the release of several new content series led by the artist on the Pray.com website and mobile app. “Transform Yourself,” a seven-part meditative prayer series, will guide listeners through messages of mindfulness in faith to reduce everyday stress and improve their relationship with God, while an additional seven-part motivational prayer series will aim to inspire listeners in the morning to lead a productive day. In addition, Lecrae has narrated “Hope in a Dark World,” a Pray.com Bedtime Bible Story centered around Noah’s Ark that helps parents and families share lessons with children about having faith in tough times. “Pray.com and I believe positive messages have the power to help uplift, motivate and inspire those on their journey through faith," said Lecrae. "I'm a Pray.com member who has turned to the app for thoughtful faith-based guidance and I'm excited to partner with a company that helps people of all backgrounds be the best versions of themselves in a safe and user-friendly way. I'm proud to record and share my motivational and meditative prayer series with the world through a trusted partner like Pray.com." The special Lecrae-led content is accessible via PRAY PLUS, which users can try for free via a 3-day trial period. Subscribers can listen either through the Pray.com website or app, available both in the App Store and on Google Play. The collaboration with Lecrae is part of Pray.com’s continued pursuit to provide a spiritually-motivating experience for its members in technologically-savvy, engaging ways that positively impact people's faith, health and well-being. “The first time I spoke with Lecrae I felt his authenticity and courageous spirit,” said Pray.com CEO Steve Gatena. “His desire to spread God’s message worldwide pumps us up and we are thrilled to welcome him to the Pray.com family as our newest brand ambassador.” Lecrae’s journey to faith began in his teenage years when, as the son of a single mother, he turned to music to find meaning and share socially conscious messages of hope. Notably, his 2012 album Gravity won Best Gospel Album at the 55th GRAMMY Awards, marking the first time a hip-hop artist won the honors in that category. Over the course of an accomplished career, Lecrae has also received three BET Awards, been named a Dove Award Winner eight times, and has had eight songs reach No. 1 on Billboard. His seventh studio album, Anomaly , debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2014 and was certified Gold by the RIAA. His TEDx Talk “Is Hip-Hop a Cancer or Cure” has been viewed over 650,000 times on YouTube, his New York Times bestselling memoir Unashamed has sold over 100,000 copies, and the 2020 follow-up, I Am Restored, How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith was a top-selling title. LISTEN TO LECRAE ON PRAY.COM
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Discover how to deal with the increasing problems of mental health in the workplace, including anxiety and burnout.
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Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2022 – As citizens from around the country gather on the National Day of Prayer for the 2022 National Broadcast, Pray.com and the National Day of Prayer Task Force are proud to announce the media outlets who will make the event easily accessible to participants worldwide. The 2022 National Day of Prayer broadcast will follow thousands of prayer gatherings being carried out in all 50 states and several U.S. territories for the National Day of Prayer on May 5. Hosted from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., the national broadcast will feature dozens of faith leaders from around the country who will usher the nation into a time of worship and prayer at 5 p.m. PDT/8 p.m. EDT. The event is positioned to reach more than 300 million homes throughout the world via livestreaming on Pray.com and through Christian television and radio partners who have chosen to be involved. The event will also be shared live on several media partners’ websites and social media platforms including Pray.com ’s and the National Day of Prayer Task Force’s Facebook accounts. In addition, a special link will be shared in the YouTube stream that will allow viewers the opportunity to receive a Proof-of-Attendance token (POAP) as a virtual souvenir of the event as part of Pray.com ’s new web3 initiative. “When we pray as a unified group, with one heart and one voice, we glorify the Lord in a way that is unparalleled to any other form of worship,” said Pray.com founder Matthew Potter. “It is only through the generous partnerships of these dedicated broadcast partners that millions of households can come together for this night of unified prayer.” With a theme of "Exalt the Lord Who Has Established Us," based on the verses in Colossians 2:6-7, the 2022 National Day of Prayer Broadcast will bring people together from all backgrounds to lift their hearts and voices to heaven, praise God for his many blessings, and pray for a revival to take place among His children. The television and radio outlets who will carry the 2022 National Day of Prayer Broadcast include: Daystar Television Network GodTV CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) CTN (Christian Television Network) NRB-TV (National Religious Broadcasters’ TV Network) Revelation TV Bott Radio Network Faith Radio Network Salem Radio Network Mars Hill Network American Family Radio K-Love (EMF) Radio Network “As we pray together, our hearts are more deeply knit with God’s heart and with each other,” shared Kathy Branzell, president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. “We’re given a glimpse of the unity we’ll enjoy in heaven. The media outlets that help to facilitate this nationwide spiritual gathering are making a tremendous impact to the Kingdom of God. We are grateful for their support in making this year's broadcast possible!” The 2022 National Day of Prayer Broadcast will feature an engaging lineup of speakers and musicians who will be involved in leading worship and prayer. Participants include Pastors Samuel Rodriguez, Allen Jackson, Ronnie Floyd, Miles McPherson and Mark Batterson, and ministry leaders such as Anne Graham Lotz, Joni Eareckson Tada and Tim Barton, along with National Day of Prayer Task Force President Kathy Branzell. Grammy Award-winning artists Chris Tomlin, Lecrae and Matthew West will participate in the time of prayer, also. For more information about the 2022 National Broadcast, including station and social media information, visit https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2022broadcast . Viewers should check their local listings to confirm the time at which their preferred outlet will broadcast the event.
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Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, September 15, 2022 – Pray.com , the No.1 app for prayer and faith-based audio and video streaming content, is promoting the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month with the addition of “The Road to Restoration” by Pastor Sergio De La Mora of Heart Revolution Church . De La Mora is a leading Latin voice in America whose mission is to raise leaders who will win souls and make disciples to influence their generation for Christ. National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 annually and recognizes the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. "We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success,” said Pray.com Founder Matthew Potter. “We believe Pastor Sergio is very much a leader in that space and we are excited to begin delivering his messages of encouragement and inspiration to our Spanish-speaking audiences." De La Mora’s content will run on Pray Radio in English and will be offered in Spanish under the app’s existing ‘Spanish’ tab . Additionally, Spanish- language content will be featured on De La Mora’s channel. With the user’s phone set to Spanish language, Pray.com features Spanish content such as Daily & Nightly Prayer, 21 day Prayer Plans, Biblical Sagas, Kids Bible Stories and Meditations, Book Summaries, and most Bedtime Bible Stories. With the phone’s primary language set to English, all of the same content is still available under the Spanish tab. ”Como aplicación #1 para la oración y el contenido de audio basado en la fe, en Pray.com estamos comprometidos a brindar algo para todos” said founder Steve Gatena. “El podcast del pastor Sergio y nuestro otro contenido en español es solo una muestra de lo que está por venir. Nos apasiona servir a nuestra creciente audiencia de habla hispana.” De La Mora is the founder of Heart Revolution Church in San Diego, California; Tijuana, Mexico; and Bogota, Columbia. He is the author of “The Heart Revolution” and “Paradox: The God Who Breaks the Rules.” Now that he is no longer pastoring full-time, De La Mora hosts his own podcast titled, “The Road to Restoration,” inspired by his own testimony of redemption. He speaks around the world, is featured on different radio and television broadcasts, and consults and preaches with leaders globally. “I'm excited about this content being featured on Pray.com and putting energy into this new platform that has the power to reach people outside the physical doors of the church,” De La Mora said. “Transcending Sunday sermons, this platform will allow us to reach more people and influence nations in both English and Spanish.” Pastor De La Mora is creating a two-part training process on bringing restoration to churches, leadership teams, families, marriages and businesses. This new curriculum will be called “42,” based on his own redemption journey, when God kept leading him to biblical examples of restoration. For example: Job 42, where God restored Job’s losses and made his life greater than before; Genesis 42, where Joseph was restored from his losses; and Isaiah 42, where God mentions restoration for those who dwell in their sorrow until they are called out to be restored. After discovering this theme “42” being associated with times of restoration, De La Mora claimed the title and started a new campaign with curriculum and clothing apparel. In addition to De La Mora’s content, Pray.com includes podcasts from leading Christian pastors and speakers, meditative and reflective prayers and Bible-based resources to aid listeners wherever they may be in their spiritual growth journeys. Other Spanish language content options include pastors Sammy Rodriguez and Adam Mesa. Find De La Mora’s content and other prayer and faith-based audio content at www.pray.com/discover .
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This collection includes best-sellers from some of the top Christian thinkers and leaders, and they offer fresh perspectives on faith, discipleship, and the love of Christ. We’re excited for you to start your next book!
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Episode 8 of the Relentless Hope Podcast The Relentless Hope Podcast, hosted by Steve Gatena, founder of PRAY.COM shares vulnerable testimonies from the world's most passionate…
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Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2, 2022 – Pray.com has partnered with Leading Points Corporation to launch a military program which will share the power of the Pray.com platform with all members of the Armed Forces, all Veterans and all Military Family Members. This joint venture involves a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing the spiritual readiness of our military heroes and their families, beginning with making Pray.com more accessible by offering a 30-day free trial followed by 30% off the monthly premium subscription for members of the military community. Pray.com will host this offer at www.pray.com/military , and as the partnership expands, more military and veteran specific content will be available on the platform that will connect service members, their families and veterans to stories of strength and prayer. Pray.com already carries series that provide encouragement and inspiration for military members and veterans. “ The Armor of God ” features real-life stories of American veterans – military heroes who so proudly wear the spiritual protection that is provided to them, known as The Armor of God, found in Ephesians chapter 6. The Victor Marx podcast is hosted by a Marine Corps Veteran who challenges his audience to maintain and build spiritual health, mixing humor with raw reality stories of survival and redemption to encourage a resilient lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of the faith community in the military. Members of the military can attest to the common bond they share, in which many of them pray for safety, strength and hope for the present as well as the future, especially during difficult times, personal losses and grief. The Pray.com military program will allow this community to come together and share their inspirational journeys, experiences and messages of strength and healing found through prayer while serving, defending and supporting this great nation. “Demonstrating great respect and admiration for those who serve in the armed forces is mission critical at Pray.com. Over the past five years Pray.com has worked hard to honor our service members, military families, and veterans in meaningful ways. The brave men and women who serve our country need resources to aid them in their unique challenges,” said Pray.com founder and CEO Steve Gatena. “The men, women, and families in our military are heroes, and as such, it is important that we never overlook their mental health needs. At Pray.com prayer is the priority and we strive to connect as many people as possible to spiritual content that can provide hope, alleviate stress, and deliver inspiration on a daily basis.” The partnership began when Kevin Sullivan, President of Leading Points, considered the importance of spirituality in the military. While Pray.com already provides broad services that help its users pray, meditate and sleep, the new program will use the range of Pray.com’s services to guide this specific community of users through interacting with a drill sergeant, undergoing deployment and other challenges of the military lifestyle. "Throughout my career in the military, there was an emphasis placed on everyone’s mental, physical and spiritual readiness. I found that prayer was a very beneficial part of that for individual military members and, thus, the military mission as a whole," explained Kevin Sullivan, president of Leading Points Corporation. “While respecting and supporting the diversity of beliefs across the military community, we are confident that the Pray.com military program will help strengthen the spirituality and readiness of its users.” For more information about Pray.com or its military program, please visit www.pray.com/military or contact us at military@Pray.com .
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Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 24, 2022 – Pray.com and the National Day of Prayer Task Force are excited to announce a full partnership to broadcast the 2022 National Day of Prayer event live from the Museum of the Bible on Thursday evening, May 5. Now in its third year hosting a National Day of Prayer event, Pray.com previously hosted events concurrent with the National Day of Prayer Task Force. By combining efforts, the group that has been mobilizing prayer on the National Day of Prayer since the 1980s and the world’s No. 1 Christian app for daily prayer hope to mobilize an unprecedented number of participants for this historic observance around the 2022 theme to “Exalt the Lord Who Has Established Us,” taken from Colossians 2:6-7. “Our team at Pray.com is honored to officially partner with the National Day of Prayer Task Force this year, to help rally people of faith from every state in our nation to pause and praise the Lord for our many blessings,” said Pray.com co-founder Matthew Potter. “This annual celebration of year-round prayer brings together citizens from all backgrounds into the throne room of Heaven as we renew our reliance on our Almighty God, and as we lift up our hearts to heaven, praying biblically -- not politically -- and asking the blessings of God to rest on every leader in every area of influence in our country.” The National Day of Prayer has been celebrated annually in the U.S. since 1952 when Congress created a joint resolution, signed into law by President Harry Truman, stating that the President would dedicate one day every year for a National Day of Prayer. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation designating the first Thursday in May as the annual observance. Every president since President Bill Clinton has on that day issued a proclamation encouraging the people of the nation to gather together in prayer. To date, Pray.com and the National Day of Prayer Task Force have encouraged millions of people to join in prayer for our nation. Pray.com has over 1 million paying subscribers, while National Day of Prayer has more than 700,000 followers through email and social media, with an annual broadcast reach of more than 200 million households throughout the world. Speakers and musicians who will be involved in this year’s event, leading in worship and prayer, include Pray.com ambassador and recording artist Lecrae, Pastors Jack Graham and Greg Laurie, ministry leaders such as Franklin Graham and Priscilla Shirer, and National Day of Prayer Task Force President, Kathy Branzell. Local prayer gatherings will be held in all 50 states and several U.S. territories, with the annual national broadcast airing on television and radio, and streamed through social media at 8 p.m. ET. For station and social media information, visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org. “Our praise of His unchanging attributes and remembrance of His blessings has helped Americans remain steadfast in faith even through the most challenging of times,” Branzell said. “Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we do not waver today in this practice of praise and expressions of faith, love, and thanks as we unite in prayer across America on this National Day of Prayer.”
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Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2022 – Hoping to provide some extra encouragement and inspiration for Veterans and active duty military this Memorial Day Weekend, especially those who may be dealing with PTSD and other mental health issues, Pray.com will feature the Victor Marx Podcast on its weekly “Sunday Service” feature. The program highlights Marx’s own military service as he shares wisdom he’s gained finding triumph over trauma. In addition, Pray.com recently launched “ The Armor of God ” podcast series featuring real-life stories by American veterans who exemplify the glory of God. This new series presents the true heart of these military heroes who so proudly wear the spiritual protection that is provided to them, known as The Armor of God, found in Ephesians chapter 6. In his podcast, Marx – a Marine Corps Veteran – challenges his audiences to maintain and build spiritual health. He believes in the importance of the faith community in the military and mixes humor with raw reality stories of survival and redemption to encourage a resilient lifestyle. He and his wife Eileen serve veterans and military personnel, women and children in the Middle East who have encountered debilitating trauma, and promote healthy, Christ-filled marriages and families. As such, his podcast tackles hard truths, stories of redemption and the latest from the frontlines. “What excites me about being on Pray.com is that I know I’m reaching a wide audience with messages of hope and redemption – whether they have had any exposure to faith before or not,” Marx said. “I know when I direct listeners to find my podcast on Pray.com that it’s the single best platform or app where they can get fed and be encouraged, wherever they are coming from in life.” “My life was turned around just from hearing other peoples’ stories, so that’s what I try to share on my podcast,” Marx continued. “Our guests – who range from war heroes to actors to fellow humanitarians – share authentically about their own journeys, and we never force discussions about faith. I think that’s what makes our podcast different from others you might hear on faith-based platforms, and I appreciate Pray.com giving us the opportunity to do that.” Severely abused and tortured as a child, by the time Marx graduated from high school, his lifestyle was filled with drugs, fights and theft. The discipline of military life and faith in God helped him recover from his traumatic childhood and empowers him to help others. Today, he focuses his attention to the plights of those affected by ISIS, troubled juvenile offenders, and supporting military personnel from all branches including the special operations community. Since leaving the military, Marx has done more dangerous missions now as a high-risk humanitarian, and is preparing for his 17 th trip to the Middle East region to continue his humanitarian work as an advocate for children and youth. “We love having Victor’s podcast on the Pray.com platform as it’s a very unique program that reaches a broad audience,” Pray.com founder Matthew Potter said. ”His stories are compelling, he’s vulnerable about his own trauma and recovery, and therefore is a great help to listeners who may be struggling with some of their own PTSD or mental health issues.” In addition to the Victor Marx podcast, Pray.com includes many meditative and reflective prayer and Bible-based resources to aid with mental health, along with audio teaching from Marx and other leaders regarding what has been helpful to them during their struggles. Find the Victor Marx Podcast and other prayer and faith-based audio content at www.pray.com/discover .
3 min
Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, September 29, 2022 – Pray.com , the No. 1 app for prayer and faith-based audio and video streaming content, has announced a new collaboration with iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac , to bring innovative, exciting and engaging Christian media programming to the world. Beginning today, Pray.com audio content will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network and available everywhere podcasts are heard. "The entire team at Pray.com is excited to partner with iHeart. The breadth and diversity of the iHeartPodcast Network is second to none, giving Pray.com the ability to reach hundreds of millions of additional listeners around the world. As PRAY continues to elevate the standard of faith-based audio content, we will also be releasing new shows for both English and Spanish audiences.” said Steve Gatena, CEO and co-founder of Pray.com. iHeartPodcasts and Pray.com’s first show launch will be “Bible in a Year with Jack Graham,” a daily series that will help listeners experience the Bible in a new way, using original background music with a full 61-piece orchestra to provide a cinematic journey through a specific story in the Bible. The collaboration will bring more faith-based podcasts throughout the year. The iHeartPodcast Network is part of iHeartMedia and is home to more than 750 original podcasts that span every category from business, sports, spirituality and technology to entertainment, family, comedy and true crime – and everything in between – making iHeartPodcasts the largest publisher of podcast content in the world with more than 450 million downloads each month. Visit iHeart.com or download the iHeartRadio app on your favorite device to listen to podcasts, music and radio anywhere you are.
4 min
Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, June 9, 2022 – Five years after launching what has become the world’s leading faith-based and Bible audio content app, Pray is moving into the video streaming space with PrayTV, bringing its members’ favorite preachers, Bible teachers and worship leaders to the new visual platform. Recognizing that video is the primary way we communicate as a nation, PrayTV was created as another way to help support members’ worship and prayer practice, providing another channel to enrich their faith, learn from others and feel part of a community, Pray leaders share. “Linear TV has seen a drastic decline in viewership as people’s attention continues to shift to mobile and connected devices,” said Ryan Beck, Chief Technology Officer. “PrayTV brings faith video content not just into the homes of Americans, but into the hands of every Christian around the world.” In addition to inspirational sermons from favorite pastors, the new PrayTV 24/7 streaming channel will include worship music videos from some of the nation’s top Christian bands, along with motivational messages inspired by the Bible from popular faith leaders and Bible teachers. Pastors include Ed Young Sr., Jeff Schreve, Jack Graham, Ed Young Jr., Troy Brewer, Matt Brown, Beth Jones, and many more. Worship bands include Eagle Brook Music, Fellowship Creative, OpenDoor Worship, Nigel "Legin" Anderson and Valley Worship, among others. “We are so excited to be a part of the new PrayTV platform and the variety of content it includes to help encourage people for growing in their faith,” Dr. Ed Young said. “We are grateful for how we will be able to help them feel connected and inspired throughout their day, reaching them in a more visceral way than through audio content alone.” PrayTV is available for free for everyone who downloads the app at https://link.pray.com/AppDownload .
3 min
Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, October 26, 2022 – As the No. 1 app for daily prayer, Pray.com is partnering with renowned researchers to study the benefits that digitally enabled prayer can have on mental health and well-being during our current pandemic-induced mental health crisis. With approximately 26% of the U.S. adult population suffering from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to John Hopkins Medicine, and at a time when people are more interconnected digitally than in-person, Pray.com believes it’s important to scientifically study the benefits of digital engagement with prayer for the first time. “We know from experience and the existing anecdotal research, that prayer, meditation and consumption of faith-based content is beneficial to your mental and spiritual well-being,” said Founder and CEO Steve Gatena. “We are excited to contribute to the scientific knowledge to further examine the science behind digital prayer and its impacts on mental, physical and spiritual health, an area of research that has been largely overlooked.” Partnering with established scientists in this space, Pray.com will conduct multiple first-of-their-kind studies to assess the impact of digitally-enabled prayer on mental health and wellness, bringing together science around mental health and digital prayer. Dr. Jennifer Huberty, former Director of Science at Calm, who recently joined Pray.com as Fractional Chief Science Advisor, is leading the company’s research efforts in partnership with Dr. Todd Hall, a professor of psychology at Biola University and a faculty affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program; Dr. Joshua Hook, Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of North Texas; and Dr. Daryl R. Van Tongeren, Associate Professor of Psychology at Hope College. “I am very passionate about mental health,” said Dr. Huberty. “If we can show that spiritual well-being is linked to mental health benefits, then Pray.com, with its spiritual well-being offerings, could be a strategy to help people improve their mental wellness.” One clinical study in the process is a randomized control trial in which participants with high levels of stress will be assigned to one of three groups to determine the effects of the app on stress and mental health. Findings from this study will add to the scientific knowledge about how spiritual well-being may reduce stress and improve mental health outcomes. Another study is exploring the feasibility of Pray.com in ethnic minorities. Findings from this study will help inform the product enhancements to ensure continued inclusivity of the app’s content and experience. In addition to these studies, Dr. Hall is conducting a cross-sectional survey based on Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program to help understand self-reported user perceptions of the app and its benefits for spiritual and mental wellness. “The essence of the research I have done in my career has been about the well-being of people and how we become the best version of ourselves. After countless hours of conducting research on social connection and flourishing, I am more convinced that relationships are the key to flourishing in life and work,” said Dr. Hall. “This is exactly what Pray.com is doing with these research projects. By understanding its users’ needs the platform gives them an opportunity to connect with others and improve their mental health, which translates into other areas of their lives.” As the first religious mental health and wellness app to do so, Pray.com’s purpose in these studies is to drive scientific insight into the impact digitally enabled prayer has on mental health and to use its findings to raise more awareness of ways to strengthen mental health by practicing the healthy habit of daily prayer.
5 min
Episode 24 of the Relentless Hope podcast The Relentless Hope Podcast, hosted by Steve Gatena, founder of PRAY.COM shares vulnerable testimonies from the world's most passionate…
2 min
Pray.com
LOS ANGELES, October 18, 2022 – Pastor Beth Jones, co-founder and co-senior pastor of Valley Family Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has joined Pray.com , the leading mobile platform providing 24/7 prayer and faith-based audio and video streaming content as a content creator, bringing her teaching and wisdom to the app. Jones and her husband, Jeff, have led their church together as visionary pastors and shared the pulpit as Bible teachers. They have recently extended their vision and leadership positions to their son and daughter-in-law, who are the new interim lead pastors of Valley Family Church. “I love Pray.com, their whole backstory and passion for the Gospel and I am thrilled to be partnered with this team,” Jones said. “Pray.com has the experience, skillset, technology, and reach to share content to the world. People need the Bible and its basic truths and Pray.com allows me to share that passion with a much wider audience. I have seen our social following and requests for our free ebook, the 7 Basics , increase since partnering with them, which tells me people are hungry for the Word.” For the past 30 years, Jones has been helping people learn the basics of faith through writing, speaking and co-pastoring with her husband. Through The Basics With Beth , she and the BWB team are passionate and focused on strengthening individuals, small groups, missionaries and church congregations in the Bible basics and giving them transferable study tools so they can share the Bible basics with others. As an author, Jones has written more than 20 books aimed at helping people unlock the foundational truths of the Bible in a way that makes practical sense to their Christian faith and everyday life. More than 250,000 copies of her flagship book, “Getting a Grip on the Basics,” have been sold in America and thousands more have been distributed in more than 27 foreign languages around the world. She also writes The Basics Devo blog, a f ree resource to all. Jones teaches the basics in a down-to-earth, humorous and practical way through her weekly podcast and on “ The Basics With Beth TV ” which airs on the Pray.com App, the Hillsong Channel, TBN Nejat in the Middle East and on Smart TV platforms including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. Jones founded The Basics University , a growing, online video-based discipleship platform with over a dozen free courses and 7,200 subscribers. Jones received her bachelors in Communication from Boston University and received her ministry training at Rhema Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to Jones’s pastoring, speaking and mentorship, her church has a community outreach initiative called The Valley Groceries Food Pantry, where volunteers distribute supplemental groceries to families in need in the southwest Michigan community, with no requirements or strings attached, every Tuesday night. The community outreach also offers optional prayer and an inspiring in-person message that is available to all. This past summer The Valley Groceries was able to give their three millionth meal. “It has been so amazing to have Pastor Beth’s content on our platform,” said Pray.com founder Matthew Potter. “Her teaching is exactly what so many of our members want and need, and we are so grateful for the encouragement and the inspiration that she is able to provide for their lives via pray.com.” In addition to Jones’s content, Pray.com includes teaching and preaching programs from leading Christian pastors and speakers, along with meditative and reflective prayer and Bible-based resources to aid listeners wherever they may be in their spiritual growth journeys. Find “The Basics with Beth” and other prayer and faith-based audio content at www.pray.com/discover . To listen to Jones’s content, visit https://www.pray.com/bethjones .
7 min
Religiosity is very diverse in the United States, especially in the workplace. It is safe to say not everyone you work with holds the same beliefs you do.
10 min
Honor your pastors Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and…
4 min