On the campuses and universities of America this day begins like every other day but ends in a life altering choice. What day is that? The National Collegiate Day of Prayer, which is the oldest organized prayer meeting in America, occurring on the last Thursday of every February since 1823.
Trickled throughout American history our colleges and universities have been continually blessed and transformed by significant seasons of spiritual awakening. Many of the early records of our most prestigious universities tell the tale of God’s desire to awaken, revive, and impact the next generation of world-changers.
Consider this excerpt from the National Collegiate Day of Prayers’ website (http://www.collegiatedayofprayer.org/about/history):
Henry C. Fish in his Handbook of Revivals gives us another account of the ongoing success of this special day of prayer. He says, “In the year 1823, the last Thursday of February each year was agreed upon as the day for special supplication that God would pour from on high His Spirit upon our Colleges and Seminaries. And what have been some of the results? In the years 1824 and 1825, revivals were experienced in 5 different colleges; in 1826, in 6 colleges; in 1831, in 19… In one of the colleges it is stated that a revival started on the very day of the concert of prayer. In 1835, not less than 18 revivals were reported by different colleges.” By the end of the 19th century, these repeated student awakenings had radically transformed the culture and moral climate of many of our largest universities. As a result, many of America’s ministers at this time were encouraging their congregations to send their children to college, if they wanted to see them safe and soundly converted.
But what does this look like today?
In North Carolina many of our campuses ministries united together to host outdoor prayer meetings, on campus grounds, under tents, lasting 24 hours. The combination of day and night prayer, the public setting, and the Grace of God create the perfect set up for His miraculous power to impact lives. And that is exactly what He did. Consider one campus (though I could boast of what God did on many campuses I will tell of just one).
Current stats for the Collegiate Day of Prayer 2017
http://www.collegiatedayofprayer.org/
1,898 campuses have been adopted for prayer
1,209 campuses remain unadopted
1,977 campus ministries, churches, and individuals are signed up to pray from 1,062 cities, 50 states, and 9 countries.
On one University, situated in rural North Carolina, we united the Christian groups together for 24 hours of prayer and evangelism. As nightfall approached, cold statues, or memorials, guarded the campus, heralding the achievements, controlling the vision, and expounding the legacies of past founders. But we set up a living memorial. A 20×30 white tent without walls, decorated with eclectic lights, gently hanging inside the tent, inviting the students to encounter the Light of the World. The worship team enthusiastically sang familiar songs, the coffee and snacks refreshed the team, while tables were set instructing students on the different prayer topics for the U.S. and the Nations. Then, 20 students, all wearing t-shirts that advertising “free prayer”, scurried back and forth, like busy beavers, skillfully praying for all that came near.
One of the unsuspecting students, an athlete, saw this wild scene in the middle of the campus as she walked to the library late that night. And though she was internally drawn to the tent, she continued on her way, hiding herself in the library to prepare for her big test. But the Lord had another test—the biggest test—patiently waiting for her. Upon leaving the library, after midnight, she again was drawn to the tent. She describes that she was deliberately being drawn to the tent, but in the natural was fearful and ended up standing in the dark, frozen, and unable to move; pulled to the tent by His Gentle Love, and pulled from the tent by gripping fear.
Then, exhausted, but enthusiastically, upon catching site of her, two praying students leap into action, running at her like righteous “prayer ninja’s” coming to the rescue. After dialoguing with her and learning of the intense battle that was raging they asked if she had any prayer needs. The student athlete described a debilitating sports injury that had held her back from competing successfully, and constricted her from doing simple things such as touching her toes. The ordinary students reached out their hands in faith, opened their mouths in prayer and created the stage for the “Good Father” to alter her life. Then the power of God shot through her and she let out a piercing scream, which ripped though the night air like a roaring jet plane, bringing everyone out of the tent over to the now hysterical student. With joyful tears and laughter she was able to touch her toes and then hear more about the God that had just healed her. Today, God is on the move, let us prayerfully run to keep up. Truly the best is yet to come.
In the Modern Day harvest field for Christ.
The Atkinson’s
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