Amazing Grace Academy students spent Sept. 30–Oct. 4, 2024 engaged in Prayer on FIRE, a combined week of prayer and weekend prayer vigil hosted by the academy and church.
The FIRE acronym called students to worship in faith, with the right intentions, relationships and endurance. "During our final day of week of prayer, I sat with a student who had been brought to tears through prayer," recalled Ryan Rogers, Palmer Adventist Church pastor.
That morning, students sat in silent prayer for eight minutes, a long time for kids to be in the same room and not talk. During prayer, one student felt God communicate His love for the first time. Rogers was greeted with the words, "I heard Him, Pastor. I heard Him. He spoke to me during prayer, and He told me that He loves me." Rogers felt privileged to sit with the young person as they processed for the first time that there is a God who loves them. Prayer is powerful!
AGA's week of prayer ended with a three-day prayer vigil, during which school and church families were encouraged to join in prayer for the growth and strength of their school. A prayer room provided 11 prayer stations where prayer warriors could interact with God. Stations provided ways to be thankful, praise God, intercede with a prayer wall and a prayer chain, encourage others, meditate in silence and walk with God.
On Friday morning, approximately 70 AGA students rotated in groups through the prayer room. "Most of the kids were very excited about the prayer room and were eager to check out all the stations," said Marta Beaubien, Palmer Adventist Church member and coordinator. "I was surprised by how many students wanted to participate in the forgiveness stones station which involved writing their sins with chalk on a rock and then washing them in water, symbolizing Jesus's forgiveness."
"The kids really enjoyed the interactive stations of the prayer room and couldn't wait to visit again on Sabbath," said Karen Carlton, AGA principal.
God promises, "Call to Me and I will answer you" (Jer. 33:3). AGA students challenge you to join them as they continue to pray for the growth and spiritual strength of not only their school but others in Alaska and throughout North Pacific Union.