Media & Press
A prayer for the Brazil national team
The bestselling devotional, gifted to the most beloved team in football.
Stefania presenting copies of Oração to Brazil's national-team delegation at the team hotel, placing The Prayer directly into their hands.
At the FIFA World Cup 2026, Stefania Leão carried Oração, The Prayer, to the heart of the tournament and placed it into the hands of Brazil's national team and its fans. A tribute no other author has given them.
Wearing the famous canary shirt, she signed and handed out copies of Oração to the national team's staff, to fans outside the stadiums, and to supporters from every nation gathered for the tournament. Thirty mornings of scripture, reflection, and prayer, offered as a gift, one hand at a time. Football unites the world; this was her prayer over it.
The story the world's media picked up
The Christian PostCould this bestselling devotional boost Brazil's chances of lifting the World Cup?
A 30-day devotional by Stefania Leão and Alexander Debelov is being positioned as a spiritual companion for the Brazilian national team.
Christian Daily (Español)Devocional cristiano inspira a Brasil en el Mundial 2026
La búsqueda de la excelencia deportiva a menudo se encuentra con la necesidad de fortaleza espiritual.
The Christian Post (Español)¿Podría este devocional aumentar las posibilidades de Brasil?
La Oración: Levántate con Jesús, un devocional de 69 páginas y fácil lectura, podría ayudar a la selección brasileña.
Christian Tribune巴西拚世界盃第六冠，暢銷靈修書陪森巴軍團與耶穌同行
上帝為這一刻預備了我；若祂允許，我們將為巴西帶回第六座世界盃冠軍。
CVandaagBraziliaans voetbalelftal ontvangt christelijk dagboek tijdens WK
Het Braziliaanse nationale voetbalelftal heeft tijdens het WK een bijzonder cadeau ontvangen: The Prayer: Rise with Jesus.
Church TimesChurches in Mexico hold World Cup sticker-swaps
Faith and football met across the World Cup, from sticker swaps in Mexico to a devotional carried to the Brazilian team.
CB HeraldOne Nation Won the World Cup. One Book Was Given to All 48
Four days after Spain lifted the trophy, the story still traveling the world isn't about who won the biggest World Cup in history, it's about a small book that belonged to everyone who lost, too.
AP NewsOne Nation Won the World Cup, One Book Was Given to All 48
Moving quietly through record crowds, passed from one hand to the next, was The Prayer: Rise with Jesus, an award-winning devotional its creators didn't come to sell.
Moments from the World Cup
Watch the moments
Food Outreach
Serving Communities with Compassion
Stefania Leão meeting a neighbor with food and compassion on the streets of San Francisco.
Every cent of royalties from The Prayer helps fund direct outreach to neighbors experiencing homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area: food, water, personal connection, and copies of the book, carried one hand at a time. This is personal, community-level engagement: meeting people with dignity, presence, and compassion.
The story the press is telling
Church TimesBrazilian author of bestselling collection of prayers donates all its proceeds to church projects
The Church Times reports on how every cent earned by The Prayer funds direct homeless outreach in San Francisco, where food, water, and copies of the book reach neighbors on the streets.
Des Moines RegisterFrom #1 Bestseller to the Tenderloin: Giving Away Books to San Francisco's Unhoused
The co-authors walk San Francisco's Tenderloin handing out free copies of The Prayer alongside food and water — and find neighbors choosing the book over the meal. "This is food for the soul, and they were starving for it far more than a meal."
Rádio Voz FMDevotions from hard times turn into bestseller
In this Rádio Voz FM interview, Stefania speaks about the food distribution initiative in the San Francisco Bay Area and how the mission grew from private prayer to direct community impact.
Press Coverage
Selected media coverage of The Prayer: Rise with Jesus, from international newspapers and Christian publications across nine countries.
Just Talkin' About Jesus · Podcast
From Single Immigrant Mom to Bestselling Author Stefania Leão's Story of Prayer
With host Jan Johnson
In this deeply personal conversation with Jan Johnson on Just Talkin' About Jesus, Stefania Leão shares the journey from arriving in the United States as a single immigrant mother to becoming an international bestselling and award-winning author. She discusses the faith and personal experiences that gave birth to The Prayer, the book's unexpected international journey, and how its success grew into a mission serving people in the United States and Malawi.
Online ArticleStefania schreef gebeden vanuit haar pijn: 'Ze hielpen mij voordat ze iemand anders hielpen'
CVandaag (Netherlands) interviews Stefania Leão about the personal pain behind The Prayer, and how the prayers that carried her through a difficult season went on to help readers around the world.
Online ArticleVan persoonlijk gebed naar het WK voetbal: hoe een dagboek de wereld over ging
CVandaag (Netherlands) traces the journey from a private prayer journal to the FIFA World Cup, including the Brazil national team story and the book distribution across Malawi.
From Pain to Purpose — with Stefania Leão
How a private journal born during one of the hardest seasons of her life became an internationally recognised book — and a mission reaching far beyond the page. Hosted by Dumo Xaba on the Author Affairs podcast.
Award-Winning Christian Devotional 'The Prayer: Rise with Jesus' Becomes #1 Bestseller in the U.S., Italy, and Brazil
A news wire report covering the commercial success and literary recognition of the devotional book authored by Stefania Leão.
When a Brazilian-born mother began writing to overcome a dark time in her life
A radio segment featuring Stefania Leão discussing her journey of faith and the creation of her 30-day devotional while living in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Book Spotlight: The Prayer: Rise with Jesus by Stefania Leão
A church media spotlight discussing the transformative power of the 30-day devotional and its impact on spiritual growth.
A Silicon Valley Founder, a Brazilian Author, and the Bestseller They Refuse to Cash
A feature article on the collaboration between Stefania Leão and Alexander Debelov and their commitment to using book royalties for humanitarian aid.
Online ArticleA book of prayer that traveled from a private journal to Brazil's national team, and now to families across Malawi
Over 1,000 free Chichewa copies of the #1 bestselling devotional have reached families across Malawi through Pastor Edward Mikwamba's ministry in Blantyre.
Online ArticleFrom TikTok to Bestseller: How Stefania Leão Traded the Feed for a Mission
Stefania Leão hit #1 in three languages, then donated every single dollar to San Francisco's streets and a Malawi village mission.
Online ArticleA Forbes 30 Under 30 founder, Alexander Debelov, used the biggest World Cup ever to fund free books in Malawi
Debelov and co-author Stefania Leão used royalties from their bestselling devotional, along with World Cup publicity, to fund free book distribution in rural Malawi and outreach in San Francisco's Tenderloin.
Online ArticleBrazilian devotional walks with Brazil toward the World Cup
Christian Tribune (Taiwan) reports on the World Cup connection and how The Prayer became part of Brazil's journey to the global tournament.
Online Article¿Podría este devocional aumentar las posibilidades de Brasil?
The Christian Post's Spanish edition covers the World Cup prayer book story for Spanish-speaking readers across the Americas.
Online ArticleDevocional cristiano inspira a Brasil en el Mundial 2026
Christian Daily's Spanish edition features how a Christian devotional inspired the Brazilian national team during the 2026 World Cup.
Online ArticleBraziliaans voetbalelftal ontvangt christelijk dagboek tijdens WK
CVandaag (Netherlands) reports in Dutch on the Brazilian football team receiving Christian devotional books during the World Cup.
NewspaperChurches in Mexico hold World Cup sticker-swaps
A second Church Times feature: churches in Mexico organized sticker-swap events inspired by The Prayer's World Cup story.
Online ArticleDevotions from hard times turn into bestseller
Vision Christian Media (Australia) features the origin story of The Prayer, written in a dark season and now a multi-language bestseller read on five continents.
Online ArticleModern prayer book rises to be top seller in 3 languages
Baptist News Global reports on The Prayer reaching #1 on Amazon in English, Portuguese, and Italian simultaneously, a rare trifecta for a devotional.
Online ArticleDevotions from hard times turn into bestseller
UCB Asia Pacific covers the international bestseller story, highlighting The Prayer's reach across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Online ArticleFaith on the Pitch: A Devotional's World Cup Mission
The Atlantean Tribune features the World Cup mission of The Prayer, where faith met the world's most watched sporting event.
Online ArticleHow a quiet morning prayer became a #1 bestseller in three countries
US Daily Review traces the path from one woman's private prayers to a multi-language #1 bestseller phenomenon.
Online ArticleThe Prayer: Rise with Jesus, a devotional transforming mornings
Posh Lifestyle & Beauty Blog reviews The Prayer as a lifestyle and wellness devotional that's transforming morning routines.
Press ReleaseAward-Winning Christian Devotional 'The Prayer: Rise with Jesus' Becomes #1 Bestseller in the U.S., Italy, and Brazil
A press release detailing the book's achievement as a #1 bestseller in three countries and its mission to support homeless outreach in San Francisco.
Press ReleaseAward-Winning Christian Devotional 'The Prayer: Rise with Jesus' Becomes #1 Bestseller in the U.S., Italy, and Brazil
Coverage of the collaboration between Stefania Leão and Alexander Debelov, highlighting the book's international success and charitable contributions.
Press ReleaseAward-Winning Christian Devotional ‘The Prayer: Rise with Jesus’ Becomes #1 Bestseller in the U.S., Italy, and Brazil
A news release announcing the book's bestseller status and its availability in five languages, including Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and French.
Press ReleaseOne Nation Won the World Cup, One Book Was Given to All 48
Moving quietly through record World Cup crowds, passed from one hand to the next, was The Prayer: Rise with Jesus, an award-winning devotional its creators didn't come to sell.