It was a morning of encouragement and unity in Hollywood.
In a warm and elegant ballroom at the Kimpton Everly Hotel, the Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) hosted its first Hollywood Prayer Breakfast, kicking off the 2026 National Day of Prayer with style, substance, and a powerful flow of the Holy Spirit. The gathering brought together 90 pastors, entertainment professionals, and ministry leaders from across the city with a singular purpose: to unite Los Angeles churches and the entertainment industry in prayer.
From the moment guests arrived, there was a spirit of joy and expectation in the room. Conversations flowed easily as church leaders connected with one another, and mingled with faithful industry professionals and powerful prayer intercessors.
In a warm and elegant ballroom at the Kimpton Everly Hotel, the Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) hosted its first Hollywood Prayer Breakfast, kicking off the 2026 National Day of Prayer with style, substance, and a powerful flow of the Holy Spirit. The gathering brought together 90 pastors, entertainment professionals, and ministry leaders from across the city with a singular purpose: to unite Los Angeles churches and the entertainment industry in prayer.
From the moment guests arrived, there was a spirit of joy and expectation in the room. Conversations flowed easily as church leaders connected with one another, and mingled with faithful industry professionals and powerful prayer intercessors.
Photos by Kendra Harris
HPN Founding Director Karen Covell opened the morning by welcoming attendees and sharing why gatherings like this matter so deeply. "Our heart today," she shared, "is to see each of you building bridges from your church to the entertainment industry through prayer, community, and relationship."
The opening prayer was delivered by Reverend Chris Halverson, whose decades of involvement with the National Prayer Breakfast movement brought wisdom, humility, and spiritual gravity to the gathering.
Photo by Kendra Harris
Photo by Kendra Harris
Then came a beautiful shift in atmosphere. Special guest Tim Kirsch performed a moving worship song on the saxophone that filled the room with praise, creating a sacred pause in the midst of the morning.
Brothers and pastors Christian and Tommy Martinsen took the stage next, speaking candidly and humorously about shepherding creatives within the local church. Tommy reflected on the unique burnout many creatives experience while serving both professionally and within church communities, joking about creatives being exhausted after serving more than one Sunday in a row — a moment that brought knowing laughter from both pastors and industry professionals in the audience.
Photo by Kendra Harris
Photo by Kendra Harris
The heart of the morning came during keynote speaker DeVon Franklin’s powerful message, “The Hollywood Walk of Faith: Why Church Community Is Vital.”
DeVon shared vulnerably about the struggle of knowing that God had called him to Hollywood, but having his church community actively discourage him from from pursuing a career in entertainment because of the belief that there are "no Christians in Hollywood" --and that if he went to L.A., he would lose his faith entirely.
His story resonated deeply with the creatives in the audience who have faced similar discouragement from their families, pastors, and faith communities. DeVon reflected on how harmful this mindset against Hollywood has been for creatives, and shared personal stories of times when he was able to pray and share the gospel with industry colleagues--often at surprising times and in surprising places.
His words challenged and convicted many pastors in attendance. Rather than warning creatives away from Hollywood, DeVon urged churches to pray for them, disciple them, and stand beside them as missionaries within culture-shaping spaces.
DeVon shared vulnerably about the struggle of knowing that God had called him to Hollywood, but having his church community actively discourage him from from pursuing a career in entertainment because of the belief that there are "no Christians in Hollywood" --and that if he went to L.A., he would lose his faith entirely.
His story resonated deeply with the creatives in the audience who have faced similar discouragement from their families, pastors, and faith communities. DeVon reflected on how harmful this mindset against Hollywood has been for creatives, and shared personal stories of times when he was able to pray and share the gospel with industry colleagues--often at surprising times and in surprising places.
His words challenged and convicted many pastors in attendance. Rather than warning creatives away from Hollywood, DeVon urged churches to pray for them, disciple them, and stand beside them as missionaries within culture-shaping spaces.
Photo by Kendra Harris
Throughout the morning, attendees were reminded that ministry in Hollywood is deeply personal, and woven into the fabric of a career in entertainment as a Christian.
Actress Edwina Findley shared similar stories of praying with people on set, learning how to navigate the industry from other Christians she'd met during her career, and following the prompting of the Holy Spirit to minister to those who may never otherwise experience prayer or encouragement. Edwina then led the room in a powerful prayer of intercession for the entertainment industry, creatives, L.A. churches, and the city as a whole.
Actress Edwina Findley shared similar stories of praying with people on set, learning how to navigate the industry from other Christians she'd met during her career, and following the prompting of the Holy Spirit to minister to those who may never otherwise experience prayer or encouragement. Edwina then led the room in a powerful prayer of intercession for the entertainment industry, creatives, L.A. churches, and the city as a whole.
Photo by Kendra Harris
Merlinda Balmas, a marketing executive at Warner Bros., continued the conversation around ministry in unexpected places by sharing stories of being prompted to pray for actors on the red carpet, and receiving astounding confirmation from the actors about how badly they needed prayer in that moment.
The morning concluded with a powerful time of prayer, as Pastor JT Tartar prayed in repentance and intercession for Hollywood, followed by attendees praying for one another at their tables.
Photo by Kendra Harris
It was a morning of encouragement, challenge, and poignant reminders that God is actively moving and working throughout Los Angeles, both in the life of the church and the entertainment industry.
Photos by Kendra Harris
This gathering wasn't just a breakfast. It was a time of unity in the body of Christ, and a powerful picture of what can happen when the church chooses not to retreat, but to embrace the very heart of HPN's mission: to pray for the people working in the world's most influential mission field.
From left to right: Pastor Tommy Martinsen (Evergreen); DeVon Franklin (Producer, Actor, Author); Pastor Christian Martinsen (Frontier); Karen Covell (HPN Founding Director); Rev. Chris Halverson; Merlinda Balmas (Marketing, Warner Bros.); Pastor JT Tartar (First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood)
Photo by Kendra Harris
Photo by Kendra Harris
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