About Pray in the Desert | Our Story

Our President, Alena Van Dyke, candidly shares her story and some of the ways God revealed his dream for a house of healing and prayer to be birthed in New Mexico. We call this dream: Pray in the Desert. (This is the 25 minute version...)

Quick summary:
On Mother’s Day 2019, the Lord gave Alena a vision for a house of healing, prayer, and worship in New Mexico. Since then, she has pondered God’s dream in her heart and lifted up his promises in prayer. After spending a season at IHOPKC to immerse herself in intercession and learn the logistical ins and outs of the prayer movement, she returned home to Albuquerque, confident that now is the time to gather believers to pray, heal, and worship Jesus in the beautiful New Mexico desert.

In 2021, the Lord started whispering to Paul and Stephanie about shifting their lives to operate in a new ministry direction. As they prayed and sought the Lord, they found their hearts deeply connected to New Mexico and its future. They also started to connect the dots and suspect this “new” God-dream being revealed was the same direction Alena had received years before. They picked a date on the calendar in October 2021 for their first prayer event and put out a fleece.

Stephanie prayed that if this was the same word God had given their long-time friend, Alena, that God would orchestrate her being present for the event, even though she lived in Kansas City at the time. In a whirlwind, the Lord not only brought Alena into town for the event but moved her back home to Albuquerque before the first scheduled Day of Prayer and Healing.

In February of 2023, Lou Engle prayed and prophesied over Alena that now is the time for this God-dream she has carried, prayed for, and wept over, to come to birth. We believe in faith, that Lou’s words were true to the heart of the Father and he is moving things in New Mexico “for such a time as this.”

Join us for prayer events, healing, retreats, and more at prayinthedesert.com