Nestled under the trees between the Balyo and Davidson dorms is a tiny little building known to Corban students as the prayer chapel. Students are welcome to visit, pray in a “pew,” write in the community prayer journal, and for the first time in Corban history, participate in monthly prayer themes set up by ASB Ministries Coordinator Carrie Bernard.
According to Bernard, this is Corban’s first year instituting themes for the prayer chapel.
“We usually start advertising a little bit before the beginning of the month,” said Bernard, who notifies students of prayer chapter themes via the “Toilet Paper” in bathroom stalls across campus as well as in ASB’s multi-weekly emails.
“The first of the month I try and post a short description of the event and what students can pray about it and do while they are there,” she said.
In September, ASB’s prayer theme centered on prayer for local schools. They planned Corban participation in “See you at the Pole,” a nationwide prayer event, and sponsored a 24-hour prayer.
In November, the prayer chapel hosted “Operation Uplift” a campus-wide movement of prayer for our nation’s troops. Students were invited to post profiles of soldiers they knew within the chapel.
In the wake of several tragic deaths and illnesses, such as the campus-shaking passing of Professor Beth Bartruff, and the fatal diagnosis of Sara Swenson, ASB introduced the theme “Hope for Healing.”
“We took prayer requests for anyone struggling with an illness … and they were available for students to look at in the chapel,” said Bernard. “We also had encouragement cards available to anyone that wanted to send a card to Sara Swenson, a current student battling cancer.”
March was, alliteration-appropriately titled “Mission Madness.” Where, much like with the troops, students where encouraged to post profiles of missionaries. In addition, information on Corban’s ongoing spring break missions’ trips was posted.
For April, ASB plans to focus on prayer outreach for Japan.
“There hasn’t been a ton of participation but I feel like it’s okay because the people that do come appreciate it,” said Bernard regarding the prayer chapel themes. “I think it’s worth it for the people that do appreciate it … so we decided to try it out and see how it goes!”