Point Prayer Cards

At our November chapel (held the Thursday before Thanksgiving week) we created a number of opportunities for students to engage in meaningful ways in the worship experience. They could go to a table where there were cards on which thankyou notes could be written. They could go to a different place and receive the Lord’s Supper. They could go to another table and think about their commitment to follow Jesus.

Yet another table had cards upon which they could write prayer requests. As I write this I am looking at a stack of well over 200 cards where Point students wrote prayer requests down in November. The 15^th to be precise. I’ve read through and prayed about these requests.

Here are a few observations:

·         I was stunned by how many of our students have lost close loved ones to death – parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. Their notes reflected a kind of hurt that is heart breaking.

·         Many students prayed for “help from God” in some form or fashion. Perhaps the most moving way that was said was “God, I just need you.”

·         It was encouraging to see how many of the notes either were completely or at least contained a word of thanksgiving in them.

·         We had lots of prayer requests written in Spanish! It is amazing to realize just how diverse our Point community really is.

·         More than a few mentioned parents – both Moms and Dads – who are serving in some branch of the military overseas.

·         We have athletes who wrote words like these: “Lord, please put your hands on my teammates who are hurting.”

·         What about this one? “Lord, help me to seek you fully and to live a life as an example, a light, and in a way pleasing to you?”

·         “Thank you for a second chance, for Point, and for not giving up on me.”

·         “I don’t deserve all your blessings, yet you continue to bless me.”

·         “I need to pass my classes. Please help Lord.”

·         “Thank you for all the good people who work for Point.”

·         “For bringing me to Point University and for the constant support from friends and family.”

This list could on and on, but hopefully what you’ve read above gives you a kind of inside portrait of what happens at Point every day. Just like is true for all of us, Point faculty, staff, coaches, and students aren’t perfect and don’t life in a perfect world.

But reading through these prayer requests again reminds me of what an amazing kingdom outpost Point really is. Students who have the courage to ask for prayer like these students did on the night of 15 November will have the courage to change the world.

As our traditional students plan to return to campus next week and our online students begin new classes starting on Monday, could I encourage you to join with them in praying that God would watch over them, encourage them, strengthen them, and challenge them to be the people He made them to be!