Building a Movement: How Prey.com Is Transforming Faith & Community
Introduction:
This video explores the remarkable journey of Steve Gatena, founder of Prey.com, a revolutionary app designed to connect people with faith-based content and foster a global community. Through a candid conversation with Matt Gray, we uncover the surprising origins of Prey.com, its rapid growth, and the core principles driving its success – a story of serendipity, relentless commitment, and a deep understanding of how to tap into the human desire for connection and purpose.
Key Points & Arguments:
From Naval Academy to Prayer App: Steve’s story begins with a challenging youth, born to a single Jewish mother and a Catholic father. His initial rejection of organized religion, fueled by a computer-focused upbringing and a stint in the Air Force Academy, ultimately led him to a profound realization: there was a significant gap in the market for accessible, engaging faith-based content. His early experiences producing YouTube videos for major corporations laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial vision.
A Twist of Fate & a Pivotal Podcast: A pivotal moment occurred when Steve’s business partner died in a tragic plane crash, forcing him to confront his own beliefs and seek guidance. This led him to a random podcast hosted by a Texas pastor, Matt Chandler, from Flower Mound Texas, which dramatically shifted his perspective and inspired the creation of Prey.com.
Building a Community, Not Just an App: Gatena emphasizes that Prey.com isn’t just a platform for audio content; it’s a movement centered around building a global community of believers. This is reflected in the development of features like Prayer Calls, group prayer channels, and the broader vision of connecting people through shared faith experiences.
The Power of Edutainment: Gatena’s approach emphasizes a key insight: combining educational content with engaging entertainment, a tactic exemplified by the brand’s unique storytelling approach to Bible in a Year.
Relentless Commitment & Strategic Partnerships: The Prey.com success is rooted in Steve’s unrelenting commitment to the vision, coupled with strategic partnerships within the entrepreneurial ecosystem – from YPO to Venture Capital firms. His focus on cultivating meaningful relationships and leveraging the wisdom of mentors is a crucial component of the company’s growth.
The Importance of User-Focused Design: This entire process is centered around the design of creating customer first thinking around how to use these tools in service to the customer as Steve like so many great entrepreneurs does which is a fantastic point of leverage for growth.
Actionable Things You Can Implement Next Week:
- Identify a “Community Need”: Like Steve, take inventory of areas where you see a gap in community engagement – is there a passion you share? A skill you can teach? A problem you can solve?
- Seek out Mentors: Reach out to someone you admire and ask for a brief informational interview. Don’t ask for advice; instead, ask about their journey and what advice they would give to someone starting out.
- Start Small with Content: Begin a small project that aligns with your values and passion. Whether it’s a blog post, a podcast episode, or a simple online community group, start building something!
- Explore Community-Building Platforms: Investigate platforms like Meetup, Discord, or Facebook Groups to connect with individuals who share your interests.
Concluding Paragraph:
Steve Gatena’s story is a testament to the power of embracing serendipity, a relentless commitment to a vision, and a profound understanding of human connection. Prey.com’s journey demonstrates that impactful businesses aren’t always built on meticulously crafted plans, but often emerge from unexpected moments of inspiration and a genuine desire to connect people with something larger than themselves. By applying the principles of community building, strategic partnerships, and a user-focused approach—as exemplified by Gatena’s story—you can also embark on a journey to build your own thriving community, fueled by purpose and driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the world.