The theme of chapel this morning was evident as students filtered in, greeted by the word ‘Pray’ written in large red letters across the screen. The All University Day of Prayer began appropriately with a word from the Student Missionary Union Director of Prayer Stephanie Goddu, who informed students that today is a “kickoff to nonstop prayer.”

Starting Thursday, Oct. 4, and continuing until Nov. 15, Biola will be in prayer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These 40 days of prayer will be broken up into four different themes, including students’ personal lives and relationship with Christ, the Biola community, the global church, and finally the unsaved. Each theme gets 13 days of prayer (with a break for Torrey conference), and each day the ‘House of Prayer’ will rotate, from Alpha to Hart to Sigma, etc.

“Our heart, our desire in all of this is for us to draw closer to God as a community,” Goddu said. To participate, students can sign up for 30-minute slots – 48 slots are available each day – which will ensure that every hour during these 40 days is filled with prayer. Signups will be available through BUBBS.

Students took quickly to the idea of joining together in prayer today as President Barry Corey invited them to take communion and pray with administration and faculty members in chapel.

“I think it’s cool that it breaks the ties between faculty and students, and unites everyone together as a community,” said sophomore Rebekah Wilson.

Tomorrow at 12:01 AM, SMU’s 40 Days of Prayer will officially begin. As Dr. Corey advised, “Let’s recommit to being people of prayer…for that is what God desires for his children.”