HAYDEN - Dr. Charles Bwalya Musonda isn't shy when it comes to explaining what brought him from Africa to North Idaho.

The directive came from none other than the man upstairs.

"This is the place you're going to plant your house of prayer," came the message from God one day in 2008 when Musonda was driving on Interstate 90 and passing through Coeur d'Alene.

Later, came another command from God, while Musonda was in Glenwood Springs, Colo.

"One morning, the Lord woke me up and told me to go to the Northwest," he said.

Not one to argue with the almighty, Musonda, a missionary from Zambia, left the Golden Breath of Life Prayer Center he founded in Golden, Colo., and headed to Hayden.

Along with a team of assistants, often referred to as "gatekeepers," the enthusiastic, outgoing Musonda opened "Immanuel Awakening House of Prayer" at 31 W. Honeysuckle Ave. last month.

There, they'll pray 24 hours a day, for the community, for America, for the world, for pretty much anything, anyone, any time.

"Yes, the Lord brought us to establish a house of prayer," he repeats with a big smile.

Padma Rutley of Coeur d'Alene, a gatekeeper with husband Thomas, beams with excitement as she confirmed God's approval.

Prayer, she said, changes lives.

"Dr. Charles Musonda was called by God to this region to come and pray for America," she said. "And he double-checked and double-checked with God and was told to come here."

"It's just amazing how this all happened," she added.

Time to pray

Hidden away down a flight of stairs, below a salon, Immanuel Awakening is a maze of offices, hallways and rooms.

There's a sanctuary of sorts for singing, a healing room, and of course, a place to pray.

Rutley said they're still finalizing things and moving in furniture and decorations, but they wanted to open the house of prayer sooner, rather than later.

"A lot of this is by faith," she said.

It's funded by donations, with a "covering" from Golden Breath of Life Prayer Center in Colorado. There will be a staff of five.

"The real covering is the Holy Spirit," Rutley said.

All are welcome, 24 hours a day, at the nondenominational center. Padma Rutley would love to see churches come together in prayer and cry out to God, to worship God. It's about being one nation, under God, trusting in God.

"We can pray with them and for them and create that unity, rather than God's children turning again each other," she said.

Already, Musonda's arrival has made a difference at New Life Community Church, where Rutley attends services.

"It's really been ignited," she said.

They particularly hope to inspire the youth of the area.

"They're the next generation that's going to run this country," Rutley said.

Gatekeepers

Musonda said the Gatekeepers will be like the watchmen of the Old Testament, keeping an eye on people and their surroundings.

"They'll look for danger," he said.

Musonda plans to be on site midnight to 8 a.m. Other staffers will man the house of prayer morning, afternoon and evening. He's hoping volunteers step up, too. He wants to have a night of prayer on Sundays.

Since Immanuel Awakening opened, Musonda said it's been "amazing."

Already, many people have arrived, unannounced. There have been nights of singing and worship and prayer, with seats in the small sanctuary filled.

"It's just a wonderful response," he said.

People can stop in to pray for personal needs. That might be dealing with a difficult family situation to a struggling marriage to a need for a job.

"Let God do the healing," said GateKeeper Travis Tombre.

Musonda pastored for seven years in Zambia. He has several degrees and diplomas in theology, Bible studies, practical ministries and leadership courses, and was the head of missions at Christian Life College in Chicago. He and his wife, Monica, have eight children.

He said he was called to the U.S. "to pray and prepare the church for the awakening that must come to America."

God, he says, has told him to stay - and pray - in North Idaho.

"That's what we will do," he said. "We'll be praying for the will of God."