Los Angeles – This week the Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Gatsby‑themed gala in downtown Los Angeles. Founded in 2001 by producer Karen Covell and her composer husband Jim, the ministry now operates more than 170 chapters in 42 countries.
Building a Bridge Between Church and Hollywood
Covell, a USC alumna, says she started the organization after witnessing the isolation felt by believers working in the entertainment industry. “We’re all freelancers, and many felt they had one foot in the church and one foot in Hollywood, and neither side liked the other,” she told Fox News Digital.
HPN’s mission is to support storytellers through intercessory prayer, professional discipleship programs, networking events and Bible studies. The group claims to have prayed for a wide range of public figures, from Britney Spears during her tabloid scrutiny to Robert Downey Jr. during his battle with addiction, and most recently for celebrity blogger Perez Hilton after a distressing livestream.
Local Impact and Resources
Beyond high‑profile prayers, HPN runs a monthly Kids Prayer Calendar called “Ones2Watch” to lift up child and teen actors facing industry pressures. The ministry also offers local chapters across the United States that provide mentorship, worship gatherings and an app that lists resources, events and chapter locations.
“We have gatherings of people all over the city and the country who say it’s important to be storytellers,” Covell said, noting that isolation, discouragement and fear are the biggest challenges artists face. She believes community can combat those issues.
Personal Faith and Future Growth
Covell attributes much of her success to her 42‑year marriage, which she and Jim chronicled in their recent book “Confessions of a Hollywood Marriage.” The couple says they pray together daily and support each other through both hard and good times.
Having stepped down from producing last year, Covell now devotes herself full‑time to HPN, which she says is experiencing rapid growth. She hopes the ministry will continue to build bridges between the church and the entertainment world, encouraging creators to tell stories that inspire and uplift.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
