Prayer Walking brings victory

I had an amazing experience prayer walking through the campus of Old Dominion University. As part of our leadership retreat at the beginning of the year, the leaders paired off and spread out over dorms, buildings, malls, and sidewalks to pray over the coming New Student Outreach weeks and student body as a whole. Before the Good News track at InterVarsity's summer conference at Rockbridge, I had never really participated in prayer walking other than my personal prayers as I walked to classes.

I stood with my staff worker, Kristen McCrillis, in the middle of the quad and felt led to pray for the football players whose stadium was in sight. Next thing you know the coach and 60 football players came marching down the middle of the quad towards the field. We were both hit by the timing of our desires and what we were seeing. Our prayers started general and went more specific to prayer for one man on that team who was struggling to stay strong amidst the temptation around him. The team won our first game in 69 years that next weekend!!

Since I am the Large-Group coordinator, we decided to go pray over the room where we have Large Group. It was a Saturday and surprisingly the 250 people lecture hall was open, but completely black...we couldn't find the light switch anywhere. So we began praying in the dark, interceding on behalf of all students who will walk in that room.

We prayed that they would find Jesus, learn more about Him, that they would have peace, comfort, and joy for life. We went on for a good thirty minutes until the point where we were both crying and felt God completely cover that room. Four years ago, our chapter had five students. Last year we had a consistent 30 people at Large Group. However, our first Large Group brought in 96 students!!! I was awed at God's power and plan for InterVarsity to impact our campus. With Him I know great things will happen.

Jana is on leadership at Old Dominion University and enjoys break dancing in her free time.