I decided to follow God at the age of 25. At the time, I was
attending a church in Illinois with my husband. The congregation had been
praying for my salvation for years. I’m not sure if they were so excited that
they finally “reeled in a big one,” or if they were so desperate for teachers,
but my hair had barely dried from my baptism before they committed me to life
service in the Sunday School department.
I remember standing in front of my new class of 4- and
5-year-olds wondering what on earth I was supposed to do with them. Most of
these children were already quoting John 3:16 while I was left at the front of the class, wide-eyed and
trembling, screaming in my head, “John?!
Which John?! There’s four John’s in this book! What are they talking about?!!!” I didn’t think I was going to last much
longer than that one class, but God had other plans for me.
I grew up spiritually with those little people at a pace
someone who had never touched a Bible could handle. I learned simple Bible verses and simple ways
to apply them to my life. I also learned
that simple prayers uttered in childlike faith hold unbelievable power. I never really learned to pray any other way.
Over time, I learned all the big Christian words, I studied
Apologetics, I read books by authors who knew the Bible inside and out, and I
heard incredible prayers by my brothers- and sisters-in-Christ that sounded
like rich, vibrant poetry. But my
prayers never changed. When I tried to make them sound “all grown up,” they
never felt right – it was just not how He raised me.
In the last 21 years of talking with God, I’ve experienced
His “no, this is not My best for you,” His glorious “yes, your will and Mine
are one,” and the frustrating, “Wait, the time is not right and one day you
will understand.”
It didn’t matter that my prayers were simple – He heard and answered each
one.
Will you join me in prayer for the college today? Will you
add your simple prayers, your profound prayers, and your heartfelt prayers to
mine to lift up the students, the staff and the program for God’s blessing
before the new school year?
Please pray for the new students as
they’re packing to leave for college. Living away from their families is such a
big adjustment for them. Many of the students never thought attending a college
was an option, so they may not feel emotionally prepared to leave home and live
with strangers for a good part of the year. Pray that God calms their fears, readies
their minds for new schedules, new ways of doing things and new things to
learn, and stirs up excitement in their hearts as He reveals His plan for their
futures.
Pray for the returning students as
they’re about to start either their major area of study or their internships.
They already know the stress of college, the joy of making new friends, and the
personal satisfaction of gaining in wisdom and knowledge. Pray that God helps
them recall all they learned in the last year or two so they start school with
confidence in their many abilities. Also, pray that these students bring real
benefit and blessing to their internship sites.
Pray for the parents of our
students. Letting go is hard. Pray that God brings them comfort in their
sadness at saying good-bye, peace in their decisions to trust the staff at
Shepherds College with the well-being of their children, and security in
knowing that we place our faith in God and He is in control of this special
school.
Pray for the faculty and staff of
Shepherds College. We know the value of
the lives being placed in our care. Ask God for stamina to get through the
tough, homesick days at the beginning of the year and all the important days of
learning and growth that follow. Ask Him for sensitivity and discernment to better
meet the individual needs of the students as they’re adjusting to this new phase
in their lives. Ask Him for patience and wisdom as we face each day head on
with all the challenges, adjustments, insecurities, excitement, enthusiasm,
melancholy, happiness, busyness … everything that He chooses to pour into it.
Finally, please pray for Shepherds
College as a whole. Our school is unique and we’re breaking new ground with
every step forward. Pray that God blesses our efforts to bring a much needed
service to people with intellectual disabilities. Pray that our campus provides
a comfortable, welcoming and safe place for students to learn and grow towards
Appropriate Independence. And most
importantly, pray, that in everything
we do, we bring glory to God.
“Whatever you ask
in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you
ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14
Thank you, dear friends.
Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.
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