Praying for Your Student
As a father whose oldest child is 6, it is hard for me to imagine my children leaving our home and going off to college. As a member of the student development staff here at Covenant College, I have the joy of getting to know and work with your children as they do just that. As a parent it is easy for me to imagine that each of you desires and longs for good for your sons and daughters. As an RD, I have the privilege of partnering with you as I also, to a smaller degree than you I am sure, desire good for them. As I think about this longing for my kids and yours, I recently came across this quote:
"When we depend on organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do."
- AC Dixon
The reality is that the growth and good I desire for my children, and for yours, is beyond my ability to bring about. There is only so much that you and I can do, and only so much that Covenant College can do. Therefore, as a fellow parent, let me urge you to pray fervently for your children. As someone who lives with your child, here are a few practical suggestions for how you can be praying:
1. Pray for your child’s relationships with their roommates and hall-mates:
One of the blessings of living in a residential college setting is the opportunity to learn in community. This means working through your academic learning with others but also means learning by being in a community. It can be hard when sinners live together in close proximity and share the stresses of school and adjusting to new environments, but the fruit of learning how to work through hard things and sharing life with other believers is a beautiful thing worth wrestling through the hardships (Psalm 133). These lessons and friendships can not only make college a good experience but serve students well down the road in life. Please pray for the ups and downs of these relationships and that growth and bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood will result.
2. Pray for your child’s relationships with members of the opposite sex:
College is a combination of wonderful excitement and mass confusion in this area. Students are coming from all manner of different backgrounds and experiences and the reality is that many students will find a spouse on this campus and many students will not. In both situations there are joys and frustrations. Please pray that God will use this opportunity to grow your child in their understanding of being a brother or sister to members of the opposite sex and to give direction, purity, freedom from fear and anxiety, peace, encouragement, and grace to these interactions.
3. Pray for your child’s friends:
This could also encompass the two above categories but Proverbs and other scriptures speak often of the importance of our companions. Pray for wisdom for your child in who they choose to spend time with. That they would make friends who encourage them in their faith and that they would be friends who do that for others.
4. Pray for their involvement on campus:
It is really important for students to be involved in campus life either on their hall, through a club, a service group, or some other avenue of connecting with and getting to know others. Pray for discernment for your child as they seek to make these decisions and balance various things going on in their lives. Pray they would be willing to let some opportunities pass, but be bold to take advantage of others.
5. Pray for mentors for your child:
In addition to friends and other students, pray for the leaders on your student's hall (RAs, DCs, and Building Council members). They are upperclassmen students who desire to serve your child and walk alongside them. If your child is in one of these positions, pray for them and their work as these provide excellent opportunities for God to work in and through them. Pray for faculty and staff who interact with your students, and for pastors and other members in the local church where your child attends. Pray that one or two of these people would be equipped by God to connect with your child and speak the truth of Christ into their life regularly.
6. Pray for your child’s church involvement:
It can be easy for students to think they get what they need in Bible classes, chapel, and hall prayer times. Sleep can feel very urgent on a Sunday morning, so please pray that your child will connect with a local congregation. It can be scary and intimidating at times, but is a great means of grace in their lives.
7. Pray that God’s spirit makes your child’s heart and mind alive to the Scriptures and the gospel:
Being surrounded by people who profess the same thing you do can easily lead to assuming the gospel of Christ in our lives and taking the scriptures for granted. Pray that in chapel, class, church, and personal devotions, the Holy Spirit will awaken your child’s heart and mind to the truths of God’s written word and the work of Jesus, the Living Word.
8. Pray that their identity would be found more and more in Christ:
Students deal with issues such as physical appearance, religious reputation, academic or athletic prowess, good relationships, bad relationships, future goals, past achievements, etc. All of these and countless others are calling to students (and to all of us really), and asking your sons and daughters to place their trust and hope of joy and fulfillment in them. Pray that your child will hear the voice of Christ calling loudly above all the others, and that they will grow in the joy that Paul knew in Philippians 3 of being united with Christ and found in him.
9. Pray that your child would grow in Christ-likeness:
I had a student once say in a conversation we were having, “I know that college students are supposed to be selfish.” It is easy to see why she would think that; students are asked what they want to study, what they want to be, which classes they want to take, where they want to live, what is going to set them up best for this summer or next year or the rest of their lives. These are not wrong things to think about, but pray that as they grow in their understanding of what Christ has done for them, they will grow in his likeness, being quick to forgive and slow to anger, considering the interest of others before themselves, and looking for opportunities to serve others and show them the love of Christ.
10. Pray that your child would learn from his or her mistakes:
Part of growing and learning is making mistakes along the way. This will likely come as no surprise to you but your children will make their fair share of poor decisions. Whether it is playing video games instead of studying, behaving in a way that they or you wish they had not, or failing to think through their class schedule as well as they should have, these are some of the best opportunities for speaking truth in love to students here at Covenant. Pray that these times of frustration, disappointment, and even embarrassment would help them to grow in their understanding of the grace of Christ, mature as the young men and women they are, and would guard them from larger frustration, disappointments, and embarrassments in the future.
11. Pray that they would know God more:
Finally, and encompassing all of these things, pray that your child would grow in the knowledge of God and in doing so, may increase in glorifying God through his or her life. Pray for your children as Paul did for the Colossians:
“May you be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:9b-10.
I know this is a long list and you do not have to pray all of these things for your son or daughter. Each student is unique and needs specific prayers, but please do pray for your child, waiting expectantly for God to answer those prayers according to His will. I pray that God will give you wisdom and insight, leading you as you pray for your children. Thank you for sending them to Covenant and giving us a chance to get to know them and pray for them with you.
Kevin McAlvey
Resident Director, Founders Hall
Exam Cram Bags
It is that time of year again! It is time to order an Exam Cram Bag for your Covenant student. The Exam Cram Bag is a tradition here at Covenant, as parents use the Exam Cram Bag to encourage their children as they study for their fall semester exams in December.
The Exam Cram Bag is a grocery bag filled with granola bars, crackers, candy, fruit juice, hot chocolate mix, chewing gum, microwave popcorn, peanuts, cookies, trail mix, pretzels, and other goodies. The Bag also has a note of encouragement, from you, that you send in with your check. What a blessing it is to our Covenant students!
For $20, the Exam Cram Bag is not only a blessing – but a bargain. Over the past several years, it has become a tradition for the athletes to help purchase all the grocery items and then work with Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to “stuff” all the bags the night before distribution. For their help, the SAAC will be able to use the small proceeds to assist with future community service projects.
So, are you ready to order? Ordering is very easy. Write a note of encouragement, including your student's first and last name, and send it back with your check for $20.00. The check needs to be made out to “Covenant College” and returned with the note by Friday, November 30.
Please send all your information to:
Covenant College
Exam Cram Bag
c/o Athletic Department
14049 Scenic Highway
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
If you have any questions, you may call Athletic Director Tami Smialek at 706.419.1169. Thanks for your support!
Prayer Requests
• Praise for the abundant blessings and mercies of the Lord that He is faithful to provide every day
• Prayer for all in the Covenant community to speak in such a way that edifies those listening, guarding their language and speaking words that glorify our Father
• Prayer for professors and students as they meet to discuss preregistration for the spring semester
• Prayer for performances in the music, drama, and athletics departments - that students will have energy and that the community will be moved in good ways
• Prayer for high school seniors who are making decisions about college - that Covenant would attract the students God intends for us
Upcoming Events
November 5-9
|
Global Gospel Advancement Week |
November 8
|
Covenant Jazz Ensemble Concert |
November 10
|
Undergraduate Philosophy Conference |
November 14-17
|
Theatre: "As You Like It" |
November 15
|
Covenant Chamber Orchestra Concert |
November 21-25
|
Thanksgiving Break |
December 6
|
Christmas Concert |
| View Covenant's Online Calendar |
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