Pray.com is a Christian social networking service and mobile app that serves as a social media platform for religious communities. The Pray platform includes social media, daily prayers, sermons, biblical content, and podcasts. [1] Pray.com was founded in 2016 by Steve Gatena, Michael Lynn, Ryan Beck and Matthew Potter. [2]
Pray.com serves as a social media platform for religious communities. [3] Congregations can create their own groups on the platform, where members and leaders can engage in discussions, livestream services, and solicit and receive donations. [4] The social media communities on Pray.com allow members to participate in “prayer communities” where Pray users are able to ask for and answer prayer requests. [5]
A paid subscription includes access to premium audio content, [6] such as biblically-inspired meditations and bedtime stories, and Bible stories for children. [7] [8] Pray.com produces Radio drama style with actors voicing stories from the bible. Some of the actors have been Kristen Bell and Blair Underwood. [5]
In June 2017, Pray.com announced it had raised $2 million in seed funding, led by Science Inc. with participation from Greylock Partners and Spark Capital. [9] In March 2018, Pray.com announced it had raised an additional $14 million in a Series A round led by TPG Growth with participation from Science Inc. and Greylock Partners. [10] Gatena, in an interview with Bloomberg News, recalled a mixed reception to faith-based technology from a few venture capital firms: “A few were very disrespectful and borderline discriminatory against our customers." [11]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic's limitations on religious gatherings, Pray.com has experienced major growth in active users, subscribers, and downloads. [12] [4] [5] Downloads for Pray.com increased by 955% during the pandemic. [11] During the pandemic, Pray.com partnered with churches to provide a platform for their ministries while in-person services were restricted by law. [11]
Pray first hosted a National Day of Prayer event in 2020 when it streamed to nearly one million viewers on Facebook. [4] [13]
In 2021, Pray hosted a virtual event for the National Day of Prayer in the United States. [14] The event featured remarks from public figures including United States President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence. [14] President Biden spoke of his faith and prayed for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden remarked: “It means the world to me to know that there are people across the country who include Jill and me in their prayers. And I hope you know that you and your families are in our prayers as well. Today I am praying for the end of this great COVID crisis.” [14] [15] The event featured musical performances from Gary Valenciano, Brooke Ligertwood from the Christian band Hillsong Worship, Lecrae, Heather Headley and Michael Neale. [13] [15] [16] Other notable speakers included Ronnie Floyd, Ed Young (pastor), Mark Driscoll, and Samuel Rodriguez. [13] Pray.com partnered with Sirius XM, DirecTV and Facebook to stream the event across multiple platforms. [17] Pray.com was featured as a pop-up channel on Sirius XM, channel 154, to host the prayer event and celebrate people of all faith. [18]
The Federal Election Commission, in 2021, issued an opinion that will allow Pray.com to feature members of the United States Congress on its platform. [19]
Pray.com is a Christian social networking service and mobile app that serves as a social media platform for religious communities. The Pray platform includes social media, daily prayers, sermons, biblical content, and podcasts. [1] Pray.com was founded in 2016 by Steve Gatena, Michael Lynn, Ryan Beck and Matthew Potter. [2]
Pray.com serves as a social media platform for religious communities. [3] Congregations can create their own groups on the platform, where members and leaders can engage in discussions, livestream services, and solicit and receive donations. [4] The social media communities on Pray.com allow members to participate in “prayer communities” where Pray users are able to ask for and answer prayer requests. [5]
A paid subscription includes access to premium audio content, [6] such as biblically-inspired meditations and bedtime stories, and Bible stories for children. [7] [8] Pray.com produces Radio drama style with actors voicing stories from the bible. Some of the actors have been Kristen Bell and Blair Underwood. [5]
In June 2017, Pray.com announced it had raised $2 million in seed funding, led by Science Inc. with participation from Greylock Partners and Spark Capital. [9] In March 2018, Pray.com announced it had raised an additional $14 million in a Series A round led by TPG Growth with participation from Science Inc. and Greylock Partners. [10] Gatena, in an interview with Bloomberg News, recalled a mixed reception to faith-based technology from a few venture capital firms: “A few were very disrespectful and borderline discriminatory against our customers." [11]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic's limitations on religious gatherings, Pray.com has experienced major growth in active users, subscribers, and downloads. [12] [4] [5] Downloads for Pray.com increased by 955% during the pandemic. [11] During the pandemic, Pray.com partnered with churches to provide a platform for their ministries while in-person services were restricted by law. [11]
Pray first hosted a National Day of Prayer event in 2020 when it streamed to nearly one million viewers on Facebook. [4] [13]
In 2021, Pray hosted a virtual event for the National Day of Prayer in the United States. [14] The event featured remarks from public figures including United States President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence. [14] President Biden spoke of his faith and prayed for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden remarked: “It means the world to me to know that there are people across the country who include Jill and me in their prayers. And I hope you know that you and your families are in our prayers as well. Today I am praying for the end of this great COVID crisis.” [14] [15] The event featured musical performances from Gary Valenciano, Brooke Ligertwood from the Christian band Hillsong Worship, Lecrae, Heather Headley and Michael Neale. [13] [15] [16] Other notable speakers included Ronnie Floyd, Ed Young (pastor), Mark Driscoll, and Samuel Rodriguez. [13] Pray.com partnered with Sirius XM, DirecTV and Facebook to stream the event across multiple platforms. [17] Pray.com was featured as a pop-up channel on Sirius XM, channel 154, to host the prayer event and celebrate people of all faith. [18]
The Federal Election Commission, in 2021, issued an opinion that will allow Pray.com to feature members of the United States Congress on its platform. [19]