Third Annual NMPB

Another Resounding Success

By Robert Hall

HPN Phoenix / Mesa Chapter

Century City, California – For the third consecutive year a gathering of entertainment industry professionals – actors, writers, directors, producers – along with many other prayer warriors from across the globe, met for one united purpose:  to call upon God for His power and presence to be made known in the lives of media decision-makers and cultural influencers in our world.  On November 3, 2006 several hundred people gathered together in the Los Angeles Ballroom of the beautiful Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel for the 3rd Annual National Media Prayer Breakfast (NMPB).

The NMPB was sponsored by Mastermedia International in alliance with the Hollywood Prayer Network.  Mastermedia International, founded by Dr. Larry Poland in 1985, is most well known for its production of the Media Leader Prayer Calendar, a guide to praying for the 365 most powerful people in media. The Hollywood Prayer Network, founded by Karen Covell, is an organization linking national prayer movements in a focus on media from Hollywood.

“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 bash them,” says Dr. Larry Poland, chairman and CEO of Mastermedia International. “We want to send media leaders a positive message of God’s love and forgiveness.” Poland believes supportive prayer is a positive alternative to what he calls “anger strategies” such as boycotts and protests directed at the entertainment community in the past.

Singing artist Dennis Lamar (www.dennislamar.com) with Jennifer Hall, theatre major at Azusa Pacific University, and Kristen Cox, President and CEO of 16x9 Productions at the National Media Prayer Breakfast in Los Angeles.

Robert, Dennis, Kristen, and Jacque at the National Media Prayer Breakfast in Los Angeles.

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Jacque and I were blessed to once again be able to attend this awesome event.  Kudos to Mastermedia’s wonderful Sandy Hungate and HPN's Jennifer Dornbush and Melissa Dogero for their excellent administrative and organizational skills in helping with this huge event.  This being our third consecutive year at the NMPB, we saw several (now old) friends, including a couple from Mesa who we met at NMPB 1, as well as Kristen Cox, one of the most successful young producers of high-definition film and television in the country, who we also met at NMPB 1 and has since become our prayer partner, not to mention a very dear friend.  All throughout the room, people were making new friends, getting reacquainted with old friends, sharing stories, and of course praying for one another.

The event itself included personal testimonies and videos illustrating the purpose and power of prayer in media.  Among those speaking and leading in prayer were Michael Flaherty (President of Walden Media), Cherise McVicar (Sr. VP of Promotions at Disney's Buena Vista), Joni Eareckson Tada (Founder of Joni and Friends), and Gavin MacLeod (veteran actor from The Love Boat).  Both during and at the end of the program, Mary Mary provided inspirational music.  Everyone went away with uplifted spirits and a renewed energy to continue to pray for Hollywood.

Afterward, Hollywood Club alum Jennifer Hall was interviewed on camera for the NMPB DVD.  During the interview she shared her thoughts about the NMPB – including why she attended and what impacted her the most.

Later, we had the privilege of having lunch with HPN Director Karen Covell and her assistant Melissa Dogero, HPN San Francisco Chapter Associate Directors Barry and Terri Renfro, HPN Nashville Chapter Associate Director Barbara Halleen, and Ryan and Jen Dornbush, to discuss strategy for building the prayer network, including the role the Hollywood Club continues to play in that effort here in Arizona.  Yes, many people literally around the world are finding out about the Hollywood Club and our role in helping to bring cultural revival to America!  So, continue to pray, everyone – and be a part of the world’s largest prayer movement for Hollywood!

Karen Covell, Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network, and Terri Renfro, HPN San Francisco Chapter Associate Director.

Melissa Dogero with Karen Covell, Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network in Los Angeles.

Jennifer being interviewed on camera after the NMPB in Los Angeles.

"For God sent His Son into the world, not

to condemn Hollywood, but that Hollywood

would be saved through Him."

(Adapted from John 3:17)