For Brent Long, prayer isn’t something the church should squeeze in - it should be something the church is built on. And in today’s connected world, that means creating tools that make prayer and testimony-sharing easy, accessible, and sustainable.
“Churches have the heart. What they’ve often lacked are the tools,” says Brent, CEO and System Architect of SteepleMate. “We built SteepleMate to bridge that gap.”
This final piece in our conversation with Brent unpacks the real-world strategies churches are using to cultivate a vibrant culture of prayer and praise - powered by technology, but grounded in the Spirit.
One of the simplest ways churches can elevate faith is by dedicating time during services for testimonies. SteepleMate makes this even easier by allowing members to submit stories of answered prayers ahead of time.
“We’ve seen churches do a ‘Praise Sunday’ once a month,” Brent explains. “It changes the mood of the whole congregation. You start seeing joy and expectancy return.”
These scheduled testimonies also help churches highlight what God is doing behind the scenes - especially in large congregations where it’s easy to miss those stories.
SteepleMate offers a range of tools designed to keep prayer central to the church’s life:
Mobile prayer submissions for members who prefer privacy or are unable to attend in person
On-site kiosks in church lobbies or prayer rooms for real-time prayer entry
Digital Marquee displays that show a live feed of requests and victories throughout the building
Prayer feeds and leader dashboards for pastoral teams and small groups to track needs and follow up
“The Marquee screen alone has been a game-changer,” Brent says. “You walk into a prayer room and see what your church is praying for. That level of visibility creates accountability and unity.”
Brent encourages churches to use SteepleMate’s group tools to assign prayer partners or create small-group prayer chains. This helps people form deeper spiritual connections outside of Sunday services.
“When prayer becomes part of a group’s identity, it’s not forced. It’s just how they operate,” Brent says.
With real-time updates, group-specific prayer feeds, and the ability to close the loop on answered prayers, SteepleMate helps small groups feel empowered and effective.
A major part of building trust in prayer culture is the follow-up. Brent built SteepleMate with built-in tools for pastoral teams to check in with members who submit requests.
“Sometimes all it takes is a message that says, ‘We’re still praying for you,’” Brent says. “It makes people feel seen.”
Whether it’s a pastor, ministry leader, or small-group leader, SteepleMate provides tools to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
When asked what the future holds, Brent’s answer is clear: more churches, more connected than ever, all through the power of prayer.
“We’re not just helping churches run smoother,” he says. “We’re helping them run deeper. Because when prayer becomes the core of your church, everything else follows—unity, faith, healing, community.”
With Brent’s vision and the tools his team continues to build, SteepleMate isn’t just managing ministry. It’s helping ministries thrive.