Mission & Vision
Empowering the Next Generation Through Prayer
Helping youth deepen their faith and build confidence in prayer through God’s guidance.
Who We Are
About PEW35
At PEW35, our journey began with a deep passion for guiding young people in their faith. From high school years spent immersed in prayer and service to decades of teaching youth, our founder, Pat Kunkel, has followed God’s calling to inspire the next generation.
The pivotal moment came in 2014, when Pat encountered a group of remarkable 6th-grade students. Their kindness, inclusivity, and intentional love for others reflected God’s design for how we are called to live. Inspired by their example and following years of prayerful discernment, Pat left teaching in 2016 to fully dedicate himself to PEW35 Ministry.
PEW35 is built on obedience to God’s call. We are here to equip students in middle and high school with the confidence to pray boldly and to live purposefully for Christ. With tools like the Encouraging Prayer phone app and our annual Elevate Day of Prayer, we aim to empower students to make prayer a central part of their lives.
Through stories of biblical figures like King David, Moses, and Noah, we are reminded that God doesn’t require perfection—He requires faith and obedience. At PEW35, we embrace this truth, partnering with churches and ministries to guide students in prayer, encouragement, and worship.
We invite you to join us in this mission and be part of a movement that transforms lives through prayer. Together, we can equip the next generation to walk boldly in their faith.
What We Believe
Our Mission, Vision, and Beliefs
Mission Statement
"Building Confidence in Prayer"
We are passionate about helping students in middle and high school grow their prayer lives and deepen their faith. Focusing on students along the I-35 corridor and beyond, we aim to empower youth to embrace prayer and live out God’s calling for their lives through innovative tools and events.
Vision Statement
"Raising Up the Next Generation of Christians in Prayer, Encouragement, and Worship"
We are called to teach students the practical application of prayer, help them strengthen their relationship with God, and cultivate a spirit of worship that magnifies His name. Through initiatives like the Encouraging Prayer app and the Elevate Day of Prayer, we aim to create a lasting impact on youth and their communities.
Doctrinal Statement
"The Word of God is our foundation, guiding us to live by faith, share His love, and fulfill the Great Commission.
- We believe in the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God.
- We believe in one God manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in salvation through grace by faith in Jesus Christ.
- We believe in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to live for Christ.
- We believe in Christ’s commission to share the Gospel and make disciples worldwide.
Meet Our Team
Dedicated to Building Confidence in Prayer
At PEW35, we’re a passionate team committed to empowering students to deepen their prayer lives and strengthen their connection with God. Learn more about the people who make it happen:
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers!
Everything You Need to Know About PEW35 and Your Prayer Journey
We know you might have questions about PEW35, our mission, and how you can be part of this growing prayer movement. Whether you’re wondering how the prayer app works, how to grow in your prayer life, or what we believe, we’ve got you covered. Explore our most frequently asked questions below!
No, you don’t need to go to church; you just need to have a desire to know the Lord better and make a commitment to do your best to pray for your partner every day.
A group of people working to do what God has called them to do. In this case, a group of people building a phone app and hosting a day of prayer, both for students.
No, though there are MANY churches that partner with PEW35 to help students continue growing in their relationship with Jesus.
WOW – this is a GREAT question. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough server space to answer this one completely; however, there are two places that will give you a good starting point to understanding what we believe. First, and most importantly, the Bible. If you don’t have one, contact us and we’ll put you in touch with a local church/ministry that can provide you one. You can also click here to read our doctrinal statement – these are the beliefs that we feel are most important and central to what we are doing.
YES, that’s the point of the app, improving our prayer life and encouraging others who are doing the same. MANY Christians admit that they don’t feel they know how to pray. PEW35 believes that this is really a lack of confidence and that we can gain confidence through practice, so… sign up and start practicing!
Another GREAT question. Prayer is simply interacting with God. Like all skills, we learn best by doing and we won’t ever be perfect at it, so go ahead and just start talking to Him and listening to Him, and don’t worry about the format – He’s a smart guy and will know what you’re saying 🙂
The E in PEW35 is for Encouragement, and it’s our hope that prayer partners will encourage each other through the good and bad times. There are also times when you will want and need someone who is physically present with you. PEW35 has MANY partner churches/ministries willing to provide you support in your time of need. Two of our favorite online resources are: gotquestions.org and nwm.onlineprayerworks.com
Unbelief and lack of belief are very common, and if you’re experiencing one of these – you’re normal. Pray. Ask that God will reveal himself to you. Ask your prayer partner to pray this prayer on your behalf as well. And read – if you don’t have a bible get one. If you need help getting one contact us and we’ll put you in touch with a partner ministry that will get you one. When you read the bible HIS truth and love will overcome your lack of belief.
Yes. One of the cool stories in the bible is about this guy who was an army general (the Romans called them centurions and one of their tasks was to keep Jesus and his followers under control). This general… well just click here to read it!
For sure NOT. The app is only a tool to help. I think of it like this. If I’m on the way home from work and think to myself – “Maybe I should go to the gym” I can quickly shift my thoughts to hanging out at home being lazy, BUT, when my buddy Jerry calls and says “Hey, wanna meet me at the gym?” I’m a lot more likely to go. The phone app is a way for you and your partner to encourage each other in developing your prayer life, but NOT necessary – just start praying!