Michigan—On Jan. 30, Great Lakes Adventist Academy (GLAA) students and faculty attended the first of eight meetings planned for this year’s Student Week of Prayer.
The Student Week of Prayer is planned and presented by students, under the leadership of the Student Association (S.A.) officers. Students were involved with every aspect of the program, including speaking, conducting song services, providing special music, and leading out in prayer. Even the theme song for the week was written by Mary Ellen Barlow, S.A. sergeant at arms.
Listening to their peers deliver the messages made the Student Week of Prayer even more special for students. “There is just something about hearing your fellow classmates stand up and share a message from their hearts that touches you in a way others can’t,” said Andrew Sorensen, one of the speakers. Other student speakers included: Katy Van Arsdale, Michelle Roderick, Tim Gotshall, Devon VanGessel, Samantha Sawyer, Jessica Weaver, and Eric Paddock.
This year’s theme was “Becoming the Body.” The speakers focused on things students and faculty should remember, and do, to become a more unified school family, working together as the body of Christ. Brad Smith, S.A. pastor, said, “It was neat how there were so many different types of people speaking. It just confirms our theme. Everyone was working together, regardless of their differences.”
“I think that ‘Becoming the Body’ was something we needed to hear. But now that we’ve heard this, we all individually need to earnestly try to apply it in our everyday lives; by doing this, we will all be working toward the same goal and be that much closer to ‘Becoming the Body,’” said Leslie Erhard.
The Student Week of Prayer was a blessing for both those who participated and those who listened. “I was really inspired by the down-to-earth way they presented their talks,” said Eric Eskildsen.
The Student Week of Prayer is another way God is working in the lives of those on the GLAA campus.
Stephanie Smart, Great Lakes Adventist Academy senior
