Our Story
Pueblo Incense House of Prayer (PIHOP) began with a simple desire: to gather around the presence of God in worship and prayer. What started in 2012 as a weekly prayer meeting among a few young adults has grown into a regional expression of day-and-night prayer. Over the years, PIHOP has become a place where people from all walks of life come to encounter Jesus, grow in prayer, and contend for God’s purposes in Pueblo and beyond.
The Early Days
In October 2012, a small group of young adults began a weekly prayer meeting at New Beginnings Church in Pueblo. Led by Zac Acosta, who now serves as our Director, the gathering wasn’t started with a grand vision—it was simply a response to hunger for God’s presence. As more young adults joined in, the prayer meetings began to multiply. Eventually, the group gave the ministry a name: Pueblo Incense House of Prayer—PIHOP.
​
In those early years, Zac and his wife Chelsea were enrolled full-time at The King’s University, receiving biblical training while helping lead and shape the vision for PIHOP. They were also deeply involved with prayer ministries in Colorado Springs and took frequent trips to Different Houses of Prayer for equipping.
Building Foundations
From 2012 to 2018, PIHOP held weekly prayer meetings and Encounter Services at New Beginnings Church. In early 2018, we moved to The Life Church to simplify setup and teardown. Around this time, some of our original leaders were called to missions work overseas, prompting a transition to a new senior leadership team.
The years 2018 and 2019 were foundational. With fresh leadership, PIHOP’s vision became clearly defined: to advance night and day worship and prayer in our region. We continued hosting at least four weekly prayer meetings and a weekly Encounter Service while laying strong foundations in vision, structure, and strategy.
Staying Faithful
When the global crisis hit in 2020, many churches closed temporarily. But PIHOP continued to meet, and it became a season of significant growth. Many people encountered the prayer room for the first time. In the years that followed, we formed new partnerships—first with the Vineyard of Pueblo, then with Pueblo Christian Center—to host prayer meetings in their buildings. While partnering with other churches wasn’t originally part of our plan, it helped us build meaningful relationships across our city.
In 2022, we hosted Brad Stroup from The Prayer Room for a “Culture of Prayer” conference. During his visit, Brad consulted with our team, offering practical strategies to strengthen the ministry. He also invited our Directors into a national network of pioneering Houses of Prayer, providing support and camaraderie as we continue building in our region.
Finding A Home
Following that conference, we sensed it was time to unify our prayer meetings under one roof. We started by hosting all ten prayer meetings in Zac and Chelsea’s basement. After a season of fundraising, we began renting a small building—but quickly outgrew it. In 2023, we moved into a new space in Pueblo West, which now serves as our home base.
Get Connected
At PIHOP, every prayer meeting centers on adoring Jesus, aligning our hearts with Him, and agreeing with His will. Each meeting features live worship and a prayer leader who guides the room in Scripture-based intercession. There are many ways to get involved in what God is doing through the House of Prayer.