On April 1st, 2025, 111Project hosted the Oklahoma Prayer Gathering for Kids at Coles Garden in Oklahoma City. This event was originally scheduled to follow the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast on February 18th but was postponed due to severe winter weather.
The purpose of this gathering was clear: to unite in prayer and advocacy for the children of Oklahoma. On March 28th, Oklahoma reached a major milestone as Murray County became the 77th and final county to launch 111Project’s CarePortal, marking a significant step in statewide expansion alongside Florida. It was fitting that this achievement was immediately followed by a prayer gathering of leaders from across the state, ushering in the next phase of our mission.
We had the honor of welcoming numerous state, church, agency, and organizational leaders who helped guide the event. Each speaker addressed a key aspect of child welfare, as represented in the Circles of Care graphic, which includes The Child, The Family, The Church, The Community, and The Government. Chris Campbell, Executive Director of 111Project, posed the thought-provoking question to each speaker: “What keeps you up at night, praying about this particular issue?” After sharing their insights, we spent dedicated time in prayer over each focus area as a united body.
The Prayer Program:
- Worship led by Trent Langrehr of People’s Church and Alison Goodnight of Norman Bible Church.
- Welcome Message by Chris Campbell, Executive Director of 111Project.
- Focus on The Child led by Jimmy Bennett, Pastor of New Beginning Worship Center and former foster youth.
- Prayer for Children led by Oklahoma’s First Lady, Sarah Stitt.
- Focus on The Family and Prayer for Families led by Oklahoma Lt. Governor, Matt Pinnell.
- Focus on The Church led by James Swain, Executive Director of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children.
- Prayer for The Church led by Jamel Crawford of Oklahoma Assemblies of God Compassion Ministries & Minister Development.
- Focus on Community and Prayer for Oklahoma’s Urban, Suburban, and Rural Communities led by Dree Hogue, 111Project’s Church Engagement & Eastern Oklahoma Director.
- Focus on Government led by Tricia Howell, Former OKDHS Child Welfare Director.
- Prayer for Government led by Chris Campbell, who also honored Tricia Howell with a certificate of appreciation for her role in bringing CarePortal to Oklahoma and her dedication to child welfare.
- Closing Litany for Children led by Fr. Nathan Carr, Vicar at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Pre-Gathering Prayer 
Welcome led by Chris Campbell 
Focus: The Child led by Jimmy Bennett 
Prayer for Children led by First Lady of Oklahoma, Sarah Stitt 
Focus: The Family/Prayer for Family – Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell 
Focus: The Church led by James Swain & Prayer for Churches led by Jamel Crawford 
Focus: Community/Prayer for Urban, Suburban, & Rural Communities led by Dree Hogue 
Focus: Government led by Tricia Howell 
Prayer for Government led by Chris Campbell 
Closing Litany for Children led by Fr. Nathan Carr 
Our incredible guest speakers! 
IPHC Crew (International Pentecostal Holiness Church & COMPACT Staff) 
With over 130 attendees representing many different church denominations, the event was a powerful display of unity. People from across the state came together, lifting their voices in worship, prayer, and petition on behalf of vulnerable children. While Oklahoma has made significant progress, there is still much work to be done. This gathering was a poignant reminder of the power of collective faith and action in transforming the future for our children. James Swain, Executive Director of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, made this powerful statement as he encouraged attendees to continue pressing forward in this important work of serving children and families in need:
“I am deeply committed to us, as the body of Christ, taking a big swing at meeting the needs of children in our state. We can do this, but we must do it together.”
We want to thank everyone who made this event possible, from our guest speakers, to our attendees, to Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children for providing delicious pastries for our attendees, and to Coles Garden for the stunning venue.
The full livestream can be watched at the top of this blog post or by going to our Facebook page’s VIDEO LIBRARY.
Everyone Can Do Something
Are you wondering how YOU can get involved? We believe everyone can do something. Go to 111project.org/learnmore to discover ways you, your family, or your church can play a role in helping see that every child has family.
Support the movement! Consider becoming a 111Project Pathway Partner – a monthly supporter of our mission. Your monthly gift can be the steady support that keeps our programs running and ensures every county in Oklahoma is maintained long-term. Go to 111project.org/donate to learn more.
Lastly, be sure to check out our upcoming events across the state! Specifically, mark your calendar for our 1Day1Night Family Advocacy Conference in Oklahoma City on August 28th with keynote speaker, Tori Peterson, bestselling author of “Breaking the Patterns that Break You,” and her memoir “Fostered.” We hope to see you there – you definitely do not want to miss it!
