Praying for College Students

IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN!
Young people gather by the thousands. They talk, dream, search for meaning, and envision their future lives. For some, it is an adventure and the first taste of independence. For some, it is the launch of life-changing choices. For others, it is lonely and fearful.

These gatherings happen all over our region, starting in August and September.

It is called the first semester of college.

POSSIBLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF MY DAY
There is a community college near my home*. I pass by it daily. It has beautiful grounds, gardens, open spaces, and distinctive architecture.

I often stop there. I park in the lot if it is empty or in the nearby shopping center. I do this not because I am sentimental about college, nor am I trying to find the courage to sign up for a class. No, I use those few minutes to pray for the college.

SWEET, SIMPLE AND STRONG
I do not pray flowery theology King James prayers— I am only talking to God.

I ask God to bless the school. For Him to give it a good reputation, give it a good relationship with the community and governments.

I ask God to bless it with safety and keep the students, teachers, and staff safe. I ask God to protect them from injury, illness, or violence.

I ask God to bless the students. I ask Him to keep bad influences away from the students, give them success in their studies, and give them healthy relationships. I ask God to guide them in wise life decisions.

I ask God to bless the teachers, to give them excellence and the respect of the academic community across our region and beyond.

As a follower of Jesus, I pray for people’s hearts and souls. I ask God to lead the students, the teachers, and the staff to seek and find God. I ask God to deliver people from guilt and to fill them with His joy. I ask that He blesses them to know Him and Christ, who died for them.

WHY?
I do not do this because I lead a prayer ministry. I have been praying for this college long before that. I pray because I know God blesses those around me through prayer, so I pray. I pray for the college because the need is great, and the opportunities are even greater.

THE NEED
Students need prayer. Christians on campus (students and staff) need the protection of prayer, protection against compromise, and protection against evil. They need prayer for protection against things and activities that injure them. They need prayer to hear the Holy Spirit’s cautions and directions. They need prayer for strength during social pressure. They need prayer for the courage to stand up for righteousness and truth. They need prayer to find healthy friendships and godly mentors.

Though college is exciting, some are lonely and struggle with depression and discouragement. Some are hurt inside for so many reasons. So, they need prayer.

The Christian clubs and communities on campus need prayer. I wonder if their mission is much different than a missionary in a remote country – (I wonder if a gospel worker in a third-world village has it easier).

THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GREAT!
For many, the fleeting time in college is when they are most open to the gospel. Those searching for meaning need prayer. Faithful Jesus followers need prayer to be humble, to be loving, and to boldly share the gospel.

IS IT YOU?
Who is praying for the campus near you? What if God inspired this article for only one person — you? Do not wait for a committee to organize a prayer ministry or a prayer walk event. God is not waiting for some structure, machinery, organization, or something like that to do prayer. He said, “And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. (Ezekiel 22:30 ESV) He is looking for someone to stand in the breach. If God calls you to pray for the college near you, answer the call and pray. If no one will join, be the “one” to stand in the gap.

BUT TWO ARE STILL BETTER THAN ONE*
Praying alone in my car is not my first choice. Jesus sent the disciples out in twos*; if you can find a “Prayer Budd,” that would be better. Praying with a “Budd” for the campus will help you stay faithful for the long haul. It will help you be accountable to the prayer mission and regularly pray. And a “Prayer Budd” will give you confidence so that you can safely prayer walk the campus if allowed.

Resources
Here are some resources to help you get started.

• BCM/D Collegiate Ministries Missionary Jessica Senasack is a great contact for you If you want to connect with a Maryland/Delaware college in any way,  Email her at [email protected]
• Every Campus — This site is full of campus ministry tools and vision. Several campus ministers highly recommend it. https://everycampus.com/
• College Day of Prayer —  Though there is a designated day of prayer, February 29, this site offers a multitude of resources for prayer support for colleges year-round.
• Waymakers.org — This is one of the most helpful one-page tools I have seen and used personally. I keep a stack of these prayer-walking guides in our prayer resource center.
• Workofprayer.com — This site lists prayer bullets that you can pray as you walk and scriptures.
• Cru Prayer-Walking — These resources will help guide you as you walk.
• Every Student Sent — this site is “a community-based platform connecting students to existing ministries, churches, and each other in order to propel them towards Gospel-centered mission as they navigate and engage culture during college.
• Praying for College Students this Fall.— This is a great 2020 article (though still relevant!) by Gary Gramling from the Texas State Baptist Convention.
• Moms in Prayer — if you want to pray for an elementary, middle, or high schooler, Prayer ministry Moms in Prayer has some good resources.
• Navigators Prayer Walking — This one-page printout is short, sweet, and great.
• The World Network of Prayer — This has many suggestions on this page to help you start prayer walking in general.
• C. S. Lewis Institute This site has an article giving biblical references to support prayer walking and some suggestions on praying spontaneously during your walk.

 

*The college near my home is Howard County College in Columbia, MD. If you attend or work there, I’m praying for you.

*After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.” (Luke 10:1 ESV)

*And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12” ( ESV).

Adron Dozat serves as BCM/D prayer ministry missionary and facilities specialist

Feature photo: Licensed Adobe Images EFStock