Get Involved or Volunteer with Interfaith Outreach

The national outreach campaign will use PRAYER IN AMERICA as a catalyst to bring people – no matter what faith they espouse – together in interfaith dialogue. It will stimulate discussion about the role of prayer from contemporary perspectives. The emphasis will be on ecumenical dialogue – respectful of the unique contributions different religious groups have made to the shaping of the religious history of the United States. For faith leaders, the production offers a strategic opportunity to build bridges to interfaith community engagement – using media to open communication with today’s media savvy audiences. Like the production, the campaign will be multi-faith and inclusive – offering a broad-based approach that will appeal across interfaith lines.

Target Audiences

The primary target audience for the campaign is faith leaders who function within diverse arenas including schools, seminaries, departments of religion, interfaith organizations and coalitions, and faith- and community-based organizations. Faith leaders have the authority to engage audiences in discussions about public prayer, magnify issues, and inspire change. Specific audiences include clergy; lay leaders; seminarians; professors in sociology, religion, and philosophy disciplines; graduate/ undergraduate students in religion classes at secular universities; and leaders of interfaith, multicultural, and immigration-related organizations. The campaign is designed to build public will along with community engagement, reaching various faith traditions and houses of worship (churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples).

Campaign Objectives

• To increase public awareness of, and build interest in, the two-part documentary series, PRAYER IN AMERICA, and the national outreach campaign as a means to advance interfaith dialogue about the role of prayer in public life.
• To develop and distribute media tools and resources to support community utilization of PRAYER IN AMERICA among key target audiences and promote long-term use within communities.
• To build upon local strengths, support coalition building, and establish sustainable interfaith dialogue in collaboration with public television stations and their local partners. Projects will increase awareness of interfaith groups and motivate them to establish ongoing discussions after the initial screenings or facilitated workshops.
• To enable local faith leaders and communities to formulate meaningful interfaith dialogue and increase public understanding about topics such as:
  • The role of prayer or spirituality in their town or city
  • Controversial and potentially divisive issues
  • Prayer in relation to culture
  • The role of faith in pushing for civil change
  • Values of religious freedom and democracy
  • The role and impact of prayer in American history and in people’s everyday lives
• Encourage media to recognize the importance of prayer in American life and culture.

You can get involved right now by:

• Submitting your own "day in the life" prayer testimonial; or
• Applying for a pre-broadcast screening version of PRAYER IN AMERICA