Michigan—Recently, students had the opportunity to both host and attend the annual Great Lakes Academy Student Week of Prayer. Eight students volunteered to get in front of the whole student body and tell what Jesus meant to them by exploring His character.

As soon as the Week of Prayer started, a different atmosphere engulfed the campus. Even the speakers felt the power of the Holy Spirit working among them. Jordan Reichert, a sophomore and the first student to speak on Mon. morning, said, “Once you get up there, it isn’t you. I felt like a totally different person.”

The Week of Prayer speakers each told their testimonies in a different way, yet the central theme was the same—"The Characteristics of Christ." Reichert ended his sermon about acceptance by singing a song by musical artists Peter, Paul, and Mary entitled, "Don’t Laugh at Me," which talks about the fact that regardless of our imperfections we are all the same in the eyes of God.

John Musslemen, junior class president and an Acadia staff member, wowed the crowd by doing a push-up using only one arm. While he started out his talk apparently trying to get the audience to be impressed with his abilities, the ultimate goal of his talk focused on the humility of Christ. Andrew Fisher, a junior, commented about Reena Dollente’s talk, which focused on God as our Father, and her personal experience of losing her father to cancer. He said, “Reena was very brave to tell her story like that.”

Many students were blessed by the Week of Prayer, which also included topics like “Perseverance,” “Choices,” “Love,” “Forgiveness,” and “Giving.”

Rachel Ballast, a junior, said, “It made me think about things in a new way, and I realized that other people are going through the same stuff I am.”

Charles Smart, GLAA computer teacher, said he thought the Student Week of Prayer was very important. “I believe that when students get up front, they can get messages across in ways that we (teachers) could never dream of.”

Week of Prayer meetings were held twice a day during the week of Jan. 30 through Feb. 3; once right before lunch, and again in the evening after recreation time. Immediately following the presentations, those who wished had the opportunity to come up to the front of the chapel and join a prayer session.

Jeremy Hall, GLAA chaplain and junior Bible teacher, summed up the experience best when he said, “It was one of the most high-impact weeks of prayer I have seen in six years.”

Michael Haus, Great Lakes Adventist Academy student correspondent