Just days before the stars of Hollywood graced the red carpet leading to the Dolby Theater for the 96th Oscars, 75 film industry colleagues joined together with one bold yet simple task— to pray.

Beyond praying for God's presence/influence in the Hollywood as a whole and for the award nominees, we also prayed for (and with some of) the numerous crew members, teamsters, and security working behind the scenes to prepare and ensure that things go smoothly. Overwhelmingly amongst these is the pervading sense of fatigue and depression they feel as they struggle to manage their calendars, family relationships, and personal finances in a volatile industry. Just months ago the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) exited their months-long strikes, and while they saw their demands met by the studios, the strikes also prevented tens of thousands of IATSE and day-to-day workers from being able to work. Production has yet to ramp up again, so the unrest continues.

One security worker was nearly moved to tears when we approached, as she was standing at her spot hoping someone would come and pray with her regarding several significant challenges she is facing!

Often, the film/TV industry can be seen as a cold machine—and in some ways that may be true—BUT at its core, many beautiful people work together as artists and technicians to craft the entertainment consumed worldwide! It's an honor to serve alongside and to be a help and encouragement whenever possible!