Our Instructors
Mark McGovern
Co-Founder, Pray the Bay
Mark is a passionate leader, church planter, and pioneer of Pray the Bay. He serves as Lead Pastor at Experience Church and has witnessed God answer impossible prayers alongside his wife Amanda and their three children. Mark is contending for a praying church in a revival that sends laborers to bring in the Bay Area’s greatest harvest.
Thay Freitas
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Pray the Bay
Thay burns for Jesus. Her Brazilian fire, boldness, and energy are infectious. She is passionate about raising Gen Z to the fullness of their calling. She serves as a Young Adult Pastor at Experience Church in San Francisco and as the Executive Director of Pray the Bay.
Derik & Sarah Scott
Regional Directors, Pray the Bay – Peninsula
Derik and Sarah Scott, Bay Area natives, lead Rise City Church in Redwood City. Sarah ministers through prophetic worship, while Derik equips others to pray, leading a monthly 24-hour prayer gathering. They are passionate about strengthening churches in prayer and worship.
Matt Gersonde
Regional Director, Pray the Bay – Monterey
Matt leads Refuge Bible Church in Salinas and is passionate about seeing churches become houses of prayer. After receiving a clear word to “Go” at the Asbury prayer gatherings, he has been committed to equipping and uniting communities in prayer and worship.
Corey Russell
Guest Instructor, Dwelling Place DPS
Corey Russell is a passionate leader dedicated to awakening the Church to the beauty of Jesus, intimacy with the Holy Spirit, and the power of prayer. With over 20 years of ministry experience, he has written nine books, released six prayer albums, and discipled many through his online courses. Corey serves on the pastoral team at House Denver and lives in Denver, Colorado, with his family.
David Thomas
Guest Instructor, Dwelling Place DPS
A key leader in the revival movement at Asbury University, David’s impactful preaching and unwavering leadership helped ignite spiritual growth and community revival.
Lee McDerment
Guest Instructor, Dwelling Place DPS
Lee McDerment is a pastor and worship leader with over 20 years of ministry experience. He has served at NewSpring Church since 2000 and now leads as Campus Pastor in Greenville, SC. Lee is passionate about activating people in their prophetic calling and grounding them in the Word of God. He is a husband to Ali and a dad to Gray and Lucy.
Pete Portal
Guest Instructor, Dwelling Place DPS
Pete Portal is an author and speaker based in Cape Town, South Africa. Since 2009, he has lived in Manenberg, where he disciples young men coming out of gangsterism and addiction into faith, freedom, and wholeness. Pete helps lead Tree of Life Church and serves on the 24-7 Prayer South Africa board. He and his wife, Sarah, are passionate about living out Jesus’ love in the community.
Zack Hensley
Guest Instructor, Dwelling Place DPS
Zack Hensley has been in full-time ministry for over 23 years. He is a pastor and teacher passionate about helping people discover God’s reality and build their lives around His presence. He has led churches, ministry schools, and prayer rooms nationwide. Zack and his wife, Carrie, are passionate about equipping the Church to know and enjoy Jesus deeply.
