Beginning Sept. 6, SMU via U ARISE will host Arise and Pray, a 40-day prayer movement, to pray for college students at SMU and across the nation. It will be located at the U ARISE building off McFarlin Boulevard.
U ARISE and the Arise and Pray Movement carry a mission to help students who are struggling and help them find their identities.
“Prayer is the one thing we can all do that we know will make a difference in the atmosphere of the college campus,” said Vicki Garza, U ARISE president and co-founder, in a press release. “By coming together in one accord with one voice, we believe we can touch the heart of God to intervene in the lives of these students. Just as importantly, by praying with a focus to help others, we are the ones who ultimately see a transformational change in our own hearts and lives.”
Each day covers a different prayer topic including addiction, sexual brokenness, worry and perfectionism.
Prayer Captain for Arise and Pray Audrey Addo said, “I believe in the power of prayer and I know prayer can change things. I’m a living example of the power of prayer and the love of Jesus.”
Addo said prior to college she didn’t know her identity because of rejection and a dysfunctional family and was seeking love in the wrong places. After searching, she felt the only way to fill the void was to embrace who she was created to be in Christ. She has felt true joy ever since, Addo said.
Each evening, a Christian leader will lead prayer at 6 p.m. at the U ARISE space.
Speakers include leaders such as: Paul Dhinakaran of Jesus Calls, Stephen Rankin, current chaplain and interim dean of student life at SMU, and Stephen Baldwin, famous Hollywood actor.
As an alumnus of SMU and campus pastor at the House of Zerubbabel (HOZ), Matthew Esquivel said in a press release, “We are committed to partnering with and training other ministries to encounter God through day and night prayer. We are excited to be partnering with Arise and Pray to bring unity to college campuses this fall.”
U ARISE is a health and wellness student resource. Its goal is to create a network of student leaders on campus who are resources to other students in crisis.
To see a complete list of the prayer topics or to find more information on Arise and Pray, visit www.ariseandpray.org.
