Biolans bowed their heads in Monday morning’s chapel in observance of the campus-wide Day of Prayer.
President Corey led Monday’s chapel, guiding the beginnings of Biola’s Day of Prayer with encouragement and inspiration. With the main theme of “redeeming the time, Corey began his address with an excerpt from Shakespeare’s “King Henry IV,” quoting King Henry’s son, Hal. He said that many 18 and 21-year olds often feel like Hal, knowing they are called to greatness yet living counter to the call. Corey challenged the student body, staff and faculty, to rise up to the call of greatness and “redeem the time.”
“You may sometimes feel like Prince Hal – a little bit young, and a little bit reckless,” Corey said. “But I believe in you.”
Corey said each individual student is a leader within a world of thought, and that leadership should be prefaced and doused in prayer.
“We as a community desire to live lives of dedication in our relationship with God in prayer,” he said.
Corey finished his address with a challenge to students to become serious about their walks with God. Chapel concluded with communion.
There were many other opportunities for students to dedicate the day solely to prayer. Students were invited to pray at the Bell Tower at 7:15 a.m., attend chapel to partake in communion, visit the 24-hour prayer place in the AS conference room, join the lunch fast at the Bell Tower, and conclude the day with an evening of worship.
Students found the Day of Prayer chapel encouraging. Many were excited about the 24-hour prayer room, and felt compelled to take on Corey’s challenge to redeem the time.
“It was really good for where I’m at now, since I’m trying to branch out on my own,” freshman Amanda Sears said. “It called me to make a bigger impact on the world for Christ.”
Yukhe Lavinia, a junior, liked Corey’s request that students choose this day to linger in chapel to come together as a body to pray.
Students found the gathering itself heartening too.
“It’s really encouraging seeing the whole body come together in worship,” said junior Katie Macleod.
As a bright reminder for prayer, many of Biola’s walkways were infiltrated with chalk messages such as, “Have you prayed today?”
Junior Christie Lloyd-Jones was encouraged not only by Corey’s words, but also through the entire experience of her morning, beginning with her walk to chapel.
“As I was walking to chapel, I was praying for God to guide me through my day,” she said. “It was great to have Him answer my prayer in chapel, and to have Him remind me that I do need to have an attitude of confession.”
