The Story of MHOP

2019

It all began at a prayer conference in 2019. It was a difficult season of life for Darnell and Donna Robinson, full of questions, disappointments and hurts, but they were at the conference to worship and pray.

This is where God gave Darnell the vision of a 24/7 prayer house and resource center in Milwaukee! Afterward, Darnell and Donna talked about what God had shown them that day.

It turns out, God had given Donna the same vision!

They knew just where to have it, too: the rundown, trashed house they owned on Appledown Ave.

Transforming that property took months. It was stuffed with trash and drug paraphernalia, it was dark and discouraging. Darnell remembers praying through difficult times while cleaning and renovating that place, infusing it with prayer from the beginning.

Cleaned up, painted, and stuffed with prayer resources, the Milwaukee House of Prayer finally opened in September 2019.

2020

In early 2020, they were invited to visit a house of prayer in North Carolina. When they got to the house of prayer, God showed them more of the vision of what the Milwaukee house would be like.

Here, Lisa Koons invited Darnell and Donna to pray about being city coordinators with 24/7 Prayer International, which they did. They joined the 24/7 Prayer International team in 202.

The Milwaukee House of Prayer has many resources making it a catalyst for more and better prayer in Milwaukee. Darnell and Donna curated over 20 interactive themed prayer stations, tucking them into every nook and cranny of the home. Other house resources include

• A large space for people to gather and pray

• Themed prayer hours for drop-ins and regulars

• Prayer slots where intercessors claim ongoing, weekly prayer

• Counseling

• Guided tours of the prayer stations

The Milwaukee House of Prayer exists to empower Milwaukee and beyond to more and better prayer. You can join the vision! Sign up for our email newsletter, or click through a photo tour of the house.

Throughout the pandemic, we kept the lights on, the bills paid and the doors open thanks to generous donations from people like you.

The Robinsons

Co-Founders Darnell and Donna Robinson were saved and married in 1990, after having been born and raised in Milwaukee. They raised their three daughters here, served in the military, and became ministers and youth pastors in the city.

Before the Milwaukee House of Prayer, their ministry included Sidewalk Sunday School for local children, a daycare for local families, youth ministry, church planting, and pastoring at local churches.

Though Darnell and Donna would not have seen it without God’s intervention, becoming city coordinators of the Milwaukee House of Prayer was a natural next step.