History

In the spring of 1992, God inspired Bill Leonard with a vision to reach Atlanta's technology community for Jesus Christ through an evangelistic prayer breakfast. The concept was simple yet powerful: Christians in tech and those serving tech companies would sponsor tables, inviting friends and associates to hear a Christian business leader share their faith story and its impact on their business practices.

Bill reached out to Heinz Wegener, CEO of Wegener Communications, and Larry Dean, CEO of Servantis Systems, who both readily agreed to sponsor the inaugural event. Polly Harper, Wm Leonard & Co’s marketing director, began recruiting table hosts and inviting her extensive network to the Atlanta Athletic Club for the first event in October 1992.

Over 350 attendees gathered that year, and the overwhelming response encouraged the team to establish the High Tech Prayer Breakfast (HTPB) as an annual event. Since then, the HTPB has grown steadily, filling the ballroom at the Cobb Galleria Centre with nearly 2,000 guests during the tech boom of 2001. Celebrating its 30th annual event in 2022, the HTPB continues to thrive. Its industry-specific model has been successfully replicated in cities like Washington, DC, Dallas, Nashville, and Chicago, impacting countless lives through faith and fellowship.