Prayer Comes to Hollywood

In a world where the words "prayer" and "Hollywood" are rarely seen in the same sentence, a prayer ministry is going to try its very best to stick those two words together.

The 2nd Annual National Media Prayer Breakfast in Los Angeles will take place 3 November, when more than 1,000 people will pray for the 700 most powerful and influential media professionals in the world.

The public is welcomed to join celebrities, top producers, directors and decision-makers. Attendees must register online by 30 October.

Established in 2004, the National Media Prayer Breakfast was designed to mobilise spiritual support for leaders of global media, and reinforce the value of faith in media and entertainment. A Christian event open to people of all faiths, the prayer breakfast is not political, but it is a positive expression of care and support for the leaders of global media who wield tremendous influence across culture.

"The message to Hollywood's elite is that there are millions of Christians who care enough about them to pray for them-not boycott, protest or criticise them," Dr. Larry Poland, founder of the breakfast and chief executive officer of Mastermedia International-a ministry focused on leaders in the entertainment and media industries, said. "We want to send media leaders a positive message of God's love and forgiveness."

Poland said he feels strongly about creating positive alternatives to the "anger strategies" that he said have been directed at the entertainment community by many Christians in the past.

In addition, he believes the prayer breakfast and other events have already had an impact on the industry.

"Leaders of film and TV companies in Hollywood are stunned by the National Media Prayer Breakfast," Poland said. "Christians are coming to town to show their love and care for them and to pray for them-not bash, boycott, and attack them. The message is refreshing. After all, Hollywood is a mission field-it's even in the 10-40 window! It's time we mobilised the American church to pray as never before for 'the most influential unreached people group in the world-the leaders of global media.'"

The prayer breakfast is co-sponsored by the Hollywood Prayer Network, directed by Karen Covell, a firm believer of the power of prayer and its ability to change attitudes in Hollywood.

"The only way that people will see a change in the content that's coming out of Hollywood is to pray that the hearts of the people creating that content will change," she said. "Simply put, I believe that prayer is the strongest tool we have to touch the hearts and lives of decision-makers and to see a change in the content of Hollywood's TV shows and films."