Prayer Stations

What Are Prayer Stations?

Prayer Stations are welcoming places in public spaces where Christians offer to pray with anyone who stops by. A simple table and a recognizable banner invite people to share their concerns and receive prayer.

By listening with compassion and asking, “How can we pray for you?”, volunteers build relationships, offer encouragement, and create opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus. Churches can set up Prayer Stations on sidewalks, in parks, at community events, and throughout their neighborhoods.

How Prayer Stations™ Began

During preparations for the annual New Year’s Eve Outreach in 1992, Nick Savoca, then Director of YWAM New York, and his team were praying, asking the Lord what He would have them do as an evangelism strategy for their upcoming outreach in New York City.

In answer to their prayer, God very clearly said, “Pray for people on the street.”

Nick Savoca shares:

“God gave us the strategy for creating and setting up a Prayer Station to invite people to stop and receive prayer for their felt needs,” says Nick. “From the first day, people warmly responded and many were ready to receive prayer and subsequently open their hearts to the message of the gospel. This new Prayer Station strategy has proved itself to be one of the most effective, powerful and disarming street evangelism methods we have ever seen!”

Since then, more than a thousand Prayer Stations have been sent out across the globe.

Learn more about the ministry and its story at www.prayerstations.org.

Our Philadelphia Story

When we first arrived in Philadelphia in 2019, we discovered that Prayer Stations were largely unknown here. Having seen how effective they could be in other cities, we believed they could become a key to reaching the people of Philadelphia with the love and message of Jesus.

In 2022, we introduced Prayer Stations to the city. Pastors responded quickly and joined the vision. Our goal was to equip 100 churches with Prayer Stations throughout Philadelphia. Today, there are 107 Prayer Stations across the Greater Philadelphia area, with churches reaching into their communities each week to offer prayer and share Jesus.

Every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., our YWAM outreach brings together more than 20 volunteers from many different churches in Center City. Together, we listen, pray, and bring the Gospel to the people of the city. In 2025 alone, this team prayed with more than 17,000 people, sharing hope and the message of Jesus.

Our heart is to see the number of people reached double in the coming years as more churches take Prayer Stations into their communities. Each conversation is an opportunity to care for a neighbor, offer prayer, and share the hope found in Jesus. Come join us!