Michigan—Fall Week of Prayer at Great Lakes Adventist Academy (GLAA) was held September 24–29, with Mark Farrell, a pastor. Taking time to spend with your personal Savior, Jesus Christ, is the most important thing you can ever do, and during the GLAA Week of Prayer everyone learned how to have a personal, practical relationship with Jesus Christ. Courtney Tait, a senior, best summed up the week when she said, “I was really impressed by the way Pastor Farrell presented everything. Not only did I learn fascinating proofs for the Bible, I was also challenged to revitalize my personal devotional life.”

Farrell came all the way from San Francisco, Calif., to speak to us. He is an uncle to Ronnie Bedford, a junior. At 37 years old, Farrell works for Stanford LifeFlight, a rescue program, and volunteers as a pastor. Farrell earned his degree in nursing at a community college in Tennessee.

During Week of Prayer, Farrell sought to teach everyone “how to have a practical relationship with God.” The reason he chose this theme was because “eighty percent of young people leave the church after high school,” he said. During the week, Farrell gave many biblical examples of how to have this relationship, and gave students the five components to having a relationship: Communication, Understanding, Trust, Love, and Loyalty.

This Week of Prayer was a huge spiritual renewal for GLAA; several students gave their heart to Christ for the first time. On Friday night, at vespers, many students committed to having a personal devotional time with God every day, and during Afterglow everyone signed a pledge to God of what they would do to make a difference this year.

The week ended with a church service at the Cedar Lake Church. Farrell challenged everyone to seek the deepest experience with God. “We should desire to see God,” said Farrell. Everyone was greatly challenged.

Nadine Betat, Great Lakes Adventist Academy senior