Princeton Christians Intercede with Students Across the Nation
By Jon Garaffa, Princeton ’20
On February 28, students from Princeton University participated in the Collegiate Day of Prayer. Held annually on the last Thursday of February, the Collegiate Day of Prayer organization seeks to impact the next generation spiritually, encouraging all to pray for the students at our nation’s campuses.
Participating ministries at Princeton included: Princeton Christian Fellowship, Worship House, Manna Christian Fellowship, and Christian Union. Each ministry adopted a residential college, which is Princeton’s system for housing and dining for underclassmen. Then, they prayed for the students of that college. This model of praying for specific institutions also mirrors the overall model of the nationwide initiative, where entire campuses are adopted by organizations and individuals.
According to the Collegiate Day of Prayer (https://collegiatedayofprayer.org), 4,944 campuses were “adopted,” or prayed for, by 2,754 campus ministries, churches, and individuals who signed up. The organization’s statement on the Power and Potential of United Prayer states, “As the students go, so goes our nation! If we win the spiritual battles across our nation, but neglect our college campuses, all our progress will be undone in a generation. Therefore, students today need our support and earnest prayers…Without a greater degree of genuine, unified prayer, our hopes and dreams for this generation may never be realized.”
At Princeton, students and staff welcomed the opportunity to set aside time to intercede in unity.
“Prayer keeps our minds focused on the kingdom and our true purpose,” stated Brian Foster ’21, a leader among the Christian community at Princeton. “Sometimes, the stresses of the university life get in the way and take our minds off what’s important. In this way, prayer helps us reorient ourselves onto the right path.”
In addition to regular prayer times directed by ministries, a residential college has also been hosting prayer meetings. Forbes College, located farther away from central campus than other residential colleges, is known for having a particularly tight-knit community.
“Prayer is the central discipline for Christian life,” stated Foster. “As Christians, we seek to have a relationship with the Father, and to do that, we need to communicate with Him. Prayer is the primary way.”
As believers at Princeton continue to pray—on a regular basis and through events like Collegiate Day of Prayer—it is their hope that the university will experience transformation for the glory of God.
