Sterling College's 24-Hours of Prayer: A Unified Campus Initiative on September 14-15

Sterling College recently hosted its inaugural 24-Hours of Prayer event, commencing on Sunday, September 14, at 3 p.m. and concluding the following day at 3 p.m.

The event witnessed participation from over 80 individuals, including students, staff, faculty, administration, and alumni, all of whom came together with a shared purpose. This diverse group, representative of the entire campus community, contributed to the event's success, embodying a spirit of unity and collective faith.

The inception of the 24-Hours of Prayer was spontaneous yet divinely inspired. The idea germinated during a conversation between Sterling College's head volleyball coach John Harding and FCA area representative Jack Dillard, sparked by a shared desire to deepen the involvement of students with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and to nurture a campus culture centered on prayer. With the support of the college administration, including Vice President of Athletics Justin Morris, President Scott Rich and Campus Pastor Jose Carrillo, the event quickly materialized.

"Sometimes we never move because it seems like a lot of work, or others may not be interested, or we wait for the perfect time. From the top down we thought we had the support and affirmation to go for it, so we did," Dillard said. "It seems like it came out of nowhere, but really I think the Lord has been working on our hearts for some time and putting this together for us to implement in His time."

Participants dedicated themselves to continuous "prayer shifts" throughout the 24-hour period, embodying the college's aspiration to be a "light for God's kingdom" across all facets of campus life, from athletics to the arts. This initiative underscored Sterling College's commitment to aligning with God's will, fostering an environment where prayer is seen as vital to the institution's identity and mission.

"Prayer is a vital component of who we want to be at Sterling. It is important for us to be praying for our students, for our athletes, for the faculty and the staff, so that we are discernibly different and able to be in line with what God's will is for us," Harding said.

The outcome of the event was not measured in tangible metrics but in the spiritual impact it had on the participants and the college community at large. The event served as a reminder of the power of prayer in discerning God's purpose and direction for Sterling College, its students and its faculty. It also emphasized the importance of being "discernibly different," a community committed to living out their faith in every endeavor.

The success of the 24-Hours of Prayer has set a precedent for future iterations. Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing enthusiasm for future events and suggesting expanded involvement, including off-campus participants. Plans are already underway for a similar event to kick off the spring semester, with the hope of involving a broader network of family and friends globally.

"We would encourage people continue to lift up Sterling College as we seek to provide our students and employees a place to fulfill their spiritual calling, academic purpose and make an impact on our community and beyond," Morris said.