Board Members

Tonya Skelly

Chair

Pastor 
Mike Shoaf

Church
Engagement

Pastor 
Glenwood Oats

Outreach

Tyler Smith

Treasurer

Winstona Cole

Prayer Chair

Greg Skelly

Logistics

Rebecca Kulawhick 

Praise Team

Emeritus Board Members

Jessica Cloward

Pastor Julius Koonce

Pastor Kevin Whidden

Pete Harvey

ABC's of Salvation

ADMIT THAT YOU'RE A SINNER.

THIS IS WHERE THAT GODLY SORROW LEADS TO GENUINE REPENTANCE FOR SINNING AGAINST A RIGHTEOUS GOD AND THERE IS A CHANGE OF HEART, WE CHANGE OUR MIND AND GOD CHANGES OUR HEARTS AND REGENERATES US FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART..

THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS, WAS BURIED, AND THAT GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD. BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS, WAS BURIED, AND THAT GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD. THIS IS TRUSTING WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART THAT JESUS CHRIST IS WHO HE SAID HE WAS.

CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

THIS IS TRUSTING WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART THAT JESUS CHRIST IS WHO HE SAID HE WAS. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO EVER LIVED SINCE ADAM WILL BEND THEIR KNEE AND CONFESS WITH THEIR MOUTH THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, THE LORD OF LORDS AND THE KING OF KINGS.

Statement Of Faith

These core beliefs make up the foundation upon which all our ministry endeavors are based.

•We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
•We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Ephesians 4:4-6.
•We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-4 and 1:29; Acts 1:11 and 2:22-24; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-4 and 4:15.
•We believe that all men everywhere are lost and face the judgment of God, that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation, and that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ results in regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Luke 24:46-47; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Ephesians 1:7 and 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7.
•We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, whose indwelling enables the Christian to live a godly life. John 3:5-8; Acts 1:8 and 4:31; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Galatians 5:16-18; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 2:6-10.
•We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved unto the resurrection of eternal life and the lost unto the resurrection of damnation and eternal punishment. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; Revelation 20:11-15.
•We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and that all true believers are members of His body, the church. 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23.
•We believe that the ministry of evangelism (sharing and proclaiming the message of salvation is only possible by grace through faith in Jesus Christ) and discipleship (helping followers of Christ grow up into maturity in Christ) is a responsibility of all followers of Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:9-15; 1 Peter 3:15.
•We believe God’s plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage, that God created man and woman as unique biological persons made to complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female. Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9.
•We believe that we must dedicate ourselves to prayer, to the service of our Lord, to His authority over our lives, and to the ministry of evangelism. Matthew 9:35-38; 22:37-39, and 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:9-15 and 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10; Colossians 2:6-10; 1 Peter 3:15.
•We believe that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end; and that we must have concern for the physical and spiritual needs of our fellowmen. Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10.

Our History

In May of 2017, God placed a burden on the heart of Tonya Skelly to have a city-wide prayer gathering. After witnessing the violence, racism and drug use continue to rise in her community, Tonya knew there was only one answer. 
Jesus. 
Tonya felt that if believers would come together to pray in unity, God would certainly hear our cries. In June of 2017 a small conference was held with the mayors of Rowan County, key leadership from the Christian community, and a wide variety of pastors. The keynote speaker for this event, Tom Phillips from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, spoke on revival saying, “Even a pinprick of light dispels darkness.” This only encouraged Tonya more to follow the path God placed in front of her.
In July of 2017, Pray Rowan was officially formed with a committee of 25 people. After 2 more months of hard work, October 7,2017 marked the first Pray Rowan prayer gathering. Over 500 people were in attendance that day on the courthouse steps, many of whom have not missed a prayer gathering to this day. 
This turnout proved that God was hearing our prayers. God moved in many mighty ways to answer those prayers in more ways than we could have ever asked or imagined. Relationships bloomed despite diversity, and Rowan County kept showing up for the Lord month after month to praise him and thank him.In November 2018 the interest in Pray Rowan grew, with additional counties joining our mission towards monthly prayer gatherings. Thus, Pray Ecclesia (501c3) was formed. Covid took its toll on us for 2 years, shutting down the schools that we had met in. God was at work however, bringing us a grassroots revival!
In August of 2022 we held our first Pray North Carolina event in Raleigh on the capitol steps. In 2023 we returned to the capitol on October 14th for our second prayer gathering. There were people from all of North Carolina’s 100 counties in attendance. 
May God grow this ministry bigger than we could have ever asked. May every county in the state and beyond hold monthly community prayer gatherings. As we go into our 8th year, we pray that our ministry stays Kingdom focused in humble submission to His calling.

Visit our Donation page for more information about our organization.