April 12, 2011 – Nuevo Pueblo Solistahuacan, Chiapas, Mexico….Raul Lozano/IAD
Scores of Seventh-day Adventist schools and universities in South Mexico held a special day of prayer, praise, and gratitude last week. The event was part of Constant In Prayer, a spiritual revival and reformation initiative already in progress in the Inter-American Division (IAD). The initiative stresses constant prayer and study of the Bible as indispensable ingredients for spiritual growth.
It was the first time in the history of Adventist Christian education in South Mexico that had nearly 1,000 school administrators, teachers and 9,700 students throughout 40 schools put aside their regular class schedule to spend time in prayer and searching God’s Word.
Linda Vista University, an Adventist-operated institution in Solistahuacan, Chiapas, held a special program for its students and faculty on the Constant in Prayer initiative.
Pastor Mirto Presentacion, Publishing Ministries director for the church in Inter-America, spoke to the more than 600 students and university staff during the special program.
“I personally cannot revive or reform myself,” said Pastor Presentacion. “Revival and reformation is a work of the Holy Spirit. The way I can be revived spiritually is by praying to God and He will change my life for His glory–which has to come as an answer to prayer. That is why we are emphasizing prayer today. The church has provided a day that we can affirm our trust in prayer through spiritual revival.”
Students participated in a series of prayer activities, including a prayer trail with stops along the way where drama presentations were taking place, as well as prayer rallies, and more.
Students and faculty had an opportunity to share their faith at the town’s central park where a special program was held with music, prayer, and Bible readings to municipal leaders and people in the community.
“This is a very good program because it is what we need,” said Pedro Bautista, Nuevo Pueblo Solistahuacan’s municipal district’s leader. “With this prayer activity, we can expect God’s blessings, especially to lead this town.”
Elizabeth Santos, a psychology student, said she enjoyed the program and found it brought her closer to God.
For Eddie Hernandez, a theology student agreed. “This was a special program, like no other,” said Hernandez. “We were able to appreciate religion in a different sense, that it is not something mystic but practical, prayer is something we can do everyday.”
School administrators were happy with the program and are looking to incorporate more prayer programs in the university.
“As administrators we have spoken of building a prayer garden in addition to the already prayer rooms available at the dormitories,” said Benjamin Cruz, academic dean of Linda Vista University. “We believe that this new garden can motivate the need of a prayerful life in our institution.”
To view photos of theConstant in Prayer initiative in Linda Vista University, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/interamerica
For more on Linda VistaUniversity and its programs, visit http://www.ulv.edu.mx
