Ohio students expand a yearly prayer gathering to a weekly event.
Prayer Reigns at
Westwood Junior High School
By Finn Laursen
CEAI Executive Director
I had heard that prayer had become an important part of school life at Westwood Junior High School in Elyria, Ohio so I recently went there to check it out for myself. After getting Principal Darren Conley’s permission, I showed up at 7:15 am and signed in as a visitor. I had been told they meet in the Library before school every Wednesday, so I headed that way.
Within ten minutes the library was abuzz with about 200 energetic junior highers ready to do business with the Lord. Student leaders assembled everyone in a prayer circle, introduced me, took prayer and praise requests, joined hands and spent some quality time in dialogue with the Lord.
As a former junior high teacher, counselor, and administrator I was personally blessed to experience the reality of what had happened in this city school over the last five years. I learned that Physical Education and Health teacher, Tricia Small, had felt lead to encourage students to start a prayer group 5 years ago at Westwood.
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| Principal Darren Conley sees the positive influence of the student prayer group. |
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Prayer Group Advisor Tricia Small has experienced school and community support grow along with student participation. |
What started with 5 students and a staff member has grown to over 200 meeting weekly lead by 7 student prayer leaders and supported by multiple staff members as well as occasional community members. In a student body of 400 students the regular turn out of over 200 is a clear blessing!
The seven prayer leaders below feel the daily prayer gathering has become an important part of the schooling community.
- Left to Right:
Dalton Geib, “Students are so dedicated to this group, they come once and see what we do and even return with their friends.”
- Stephanie Yonkers, “This group is great since some can’t go to church, but can come here and let God take a big load off their shoulders.”
- Michele Wright, “It takes a lot courage to learn to share in front of others.”
- Erin Ponting, “Many parents won’t take their kids to church so this allows them a chance to gather at school.”
- Raeshawn Stephens, “Morning prayer is phenominal because so many come and it helps us so we can pray openly.”
- Holly Houser, “Meeting like this so good as we can look to God to help us through hard times.”
- Jared Ocak, “I think more schools across the nation should have this as it so helpful to come together in prayer.”
Dear Christian Educators Family and Friends,
I plan to join thousands of others in Kansas on 5/25/08 as high school and college students gather for one purpose: to worship Jesus as King.
Make sure the students in your sphere of influence know about this once in a lifetime opportunity. Invite your church youth to participate and even consider joining me there.
Below is a description of the event….pass it on!
Finn Laursen, Executive Director
THE VISION
The PARADISE Gathering
PARADISE is a gathering of thousands of college and high school students on May 25 in the center of the nation. Called by the Father and empowered by the Spirit, they will assemble before King Jesus to worship Him in all His majesty from sunrise to sunset.
The multitude will surround “the foundation of the heavenly throne,” built in the center of a rural field.
Sixty members of Christian bands and worship teams will use their instruments and voices to lead the multitude in pure praise to the very Son of God. In humility, the musicians will be hidden so all focus will be on Jesus.
Interwoven with music will be times of absolute silence and awe in the presence of His majesty. At other times worshippers will connect with one another to unite their voices in deep prayer.
Nothing will be sold or advertised. The only name called will be Jesus. No agenda will be promoted. No one will become more famous. No organization will make money. The only cause will be His glory and reign.
Like Simeon and Anna, some members of the adult church long to see the full glory of Christ revealed before they die. They may follow the students to the center of the nation in order to intercede over them . . .
. . . and to wonder whether maybe, just maybe, an awakening back to Christ—for all He is today—is about to begin.
Click here to for more information.
Click here to download a movie flyer.
CEAI Receives $8900 Grant From Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for Wheelchair Rugby Project
Click Here to view the Press Release
CEAI is proud to announce that it has received a $8,900 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. The award was one of almost 100 grants totaling almost $800,000 awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations that help people living with disabilities become more fully integrated members of society.
CEAI has used the grant for the Quad Rugby Implementation Project, which seeks to introduce Quadriplegic Wheelchair Rugby to India. Headed by Jonathan Sigworth, a quadriplegic student at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, the QIP team brought 10 donated rugby wheelchairs to the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, India in January, 2008. During three weeks at ISIC the team trained therapists, coaches and players in the rules and tactics of the game, and assembled the special armored rugby wheelchairs. The sport was received with much enthusiasm as former athletes--including a professional hockey player--who had become quadriplegics through spinal-cord injuries, were at last able to play a high-speed, full-contact sport. The first exhibition game on January 15, 2008 was covered in television and print media. An article appeared in the Times of India, Delhi edition on January 15, entitled “When Rugby Plays Liberator”.
We salute the Hartford Chapter and the Reeve Foundation for investing their finances and efforts to improve the quality of life for those in India who have incurred spinal cord injuries.
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Jon is a member of the Connecticut Jammers Quad Rugby team, where he plays defense. Here he races (green jersey, in the center) ahead of his teammate Rick who carries the ball.
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Jon (on the left) encourages his teammate Prabhu during India's first Quad Rugby scrimmage. Therapist Vikram holds the ball.
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Shokut, a patient at the ISIC, was delighted to see that he could push himself in a rugby wheelchair. His daughter Angeli skips along with him.
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Jon goes over the Quad Rugby rules with Rajiv (left) and Pradeep, who serve as coaches.
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The two teams after India's first Quad Rugby match on Jan. 15, 2008. In red is the "Americans" team, of which Jon was the captain (with the ball). In green are the victorious "Indians".
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