The lights dim as quiet music fills the room. Conversations silence, heads bow and hands lift as college students stand shoulder-to-shoulder and prepare their hearts and minds in readiness for what is to come.
Then, in unison, a chorus of voices fill the space and lift in praise to the One who has brought them all here tonight — to Prayer Room at the University of Mobile.
A Glimpse of Heaven
What is now a university-wide time of prayer and praise led by students started over 20 years ago in the Alabama School of the Arts. Before each performance, students would gather for a special time of prayer and worship they called “Prayer Room.”
“Prayer Room is the title that was given for the time that we would take to spend in the Lord’s presence and align our hearts before leading worship,” said Emma Heathershaw, a graduating senior and music major. “It has always been a really special time for us, and it was something that we wanted to bring to the entire campus community.”
At the last Prayer Room of spring semester, students — along with faculty and staff — moved freely around the room and prayed over friends and strangers.
Embraces were exchanged, tears fell in awe and wonder of the Lord’s goodness.
Remembrance & Provision
The theme for this particular Prayer Room was remembrance and God’s provision, based on Joshua 4. In this chapter, God mandates the Israelites, His chosen people, to build an altar of stones as a monument that future generations can look upon and remember the Lord’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to them.
Abbie Maggio, assistant professor of worship leadership in the Alabama School of the Arts, said she encouraged students to look around them and see how the Lord was working in the hearts of their generation.
“This idea of the provision of God is one that multiple students said they had been thinking and praying about,” Maggio said.
Student leaders encouraged their peers to remember how God had provided for them by writing a word on their own stone of remembrance. One by one, individuals approached the tables stationed around the room, took a stone from a basket, and wrote down a testament to how God had provided for them.
Heathershaw said her testament was that “The Lord is my Keeper.”
“I remember when I was praying and believing in God to provide something for my family. I got to witness the Lord answer my request and provide in a really beautiful, special way. This, on top of many other examples, has just been another way the Lord has kept me,” she said.
Heathershaw said her biggest take-away from the night focused on remembrance and provision was this question: Will we remember His Son?
“When we are praying for an answer, when we’re looking at the lost, when we walk out of here, will we remember His Son? When we leave this room and there isn’t any music, will we remember His Son?
“Because that’s what it comes down to — that we remember the biggest way God has been faithful and provided for us is when He demonstrated His love by sending His Son, Jesus,” she said.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally published by the University of Mobile.
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