Our Story

Pray Up began as a vision during my college years at Indiana Wesleyan University. I felt a calling from God, a vivid image of prayer pockets—small groups of people praying, all connected by arrows pointing towards each other. I still have that picture today. This vision led me to start a prayer gathering every Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Bethel Worship Center in Marion, Indiana.

Starting with just a few, including my girlfriend (now my wife) and a friend, our prayer nights quickly became a powerful experience. We changed the time to 8 p.m., and soon, students from the university joined us, filling the space with heartfelt prayers that often extended late into the night. God's presence was palpable, and the group grew to include around 70 students.

As my wife and I prepared for a mission trip to Africa, we felt the passion for prayer deepen. In Africa, the fervent prayers of teenagers, passionately praying with their whole beings, inspired us. We envisioned starting every service in the United States with such fervor.

Upon returning, we reignited our prayer gatherings and felt a new direction. I was led to walk around a property for six days, seven times each day, immersing myself in prayer despite the cold. On the fifth day, God revealed a powerful vision: my gaze lifted skyward, then to the right, where a spotlight illuminated the words "Pray Up." This moment was the catalyst for what would become a dedicated ministry.

Upon returning home, my wife and I reignited our prayer gatherings, this time in our home at 9 p.m. I felt God commissioning me to partner with local churches, leading an hour of prayer before their services to involve entire congregations. This evolved into an annual prayer walk, where we knocked on doors and circled the courthouse, uniting churches from across the city in prayer and worship.

As we approach our fifth year in 2025, Pray Up continues to grow, fueled by the passion for prayer that God ignited in us years ago. We invite you to join us in this journey, as we continue to seek God's presence and transform our communities through the power of unified prayer.