The 2004 Prayer Summit offered life-changing messages for participants, according to Janet Lui, SCC prayer ministries coordinator. Two personal stories reflect the “radical prayer” approach advocated by speaker Derek Morris, Calimesa church pastor and adjunct professor, Southern Adventist University.
Just before the summit, James Rogers of the Rolling Hills church sensed God's leading in his decision to attend an Adventist university. He says:
I have loved doing art projects ever since I was little. When a recruiter came to my high school and spoke to us about The Art Institute of Los Angeles (AILA), I decided to look into attending. My mom encouraged me to go to an Adventist college. She supported my decision to go to AILA, but I could tell she was worried that I might leave the church.
The first two years I really enjoyed myself. People would ask me to go do things on Friday or Saturday night, but I would always decline and tell them about my beliefs. By the end of my third year at the institute, though, I was only attending class twice a week, but working 40-plus hours.
I started questioning whether art was my calling. My parents urged me to stay in school, but I couldn’t shake my feelings about not wanting to stay at the institute. I was losing sleep and knew I could not continue like this, but I did not know what to do.
When we were invited to attend the Prayer Summit, I really wanted to go since I had been told that the meetings were very good and you would walk away blessed. We attended on Sabbath and the evening meeting had the biggest impact on me. In his message, Pastor Morris told us that we needed to pray radical prayers.
Afterward, I prayed more earnestly than ever before. “God, You know the uncertainty in my life right now. I need to know right now what You want me to do. I can’t continue going to my current school.” A tremendous burden lifted. I felt that I no longer had to worry; that God was taking care of the future.
The answer came that night. A small voice said, “Tomorrow, look at Southern.” In the morning, I looked up Southern Adventist University online. That evening I told my mom that we needed to talk. Over dinner, I couldn’t even tell her without crying. Later, when I told the rest of my family, they said they would support me 100 percent. Switching was not easy. I had to withdraw from the institute and risk owing my loan money immediately. I had to sell my car and register with Southern only three weeks before school started. God did not let me down. I experienced more miracles in those three weeks than I can count. I know that God brought me to Southern and that He’s going to keep me here until He is finished with me.
Lui noted that one couple at the Summit experienced the blessing of touching others’ lives with prayer. Strolling in Descanso Gardens on the Sabbath afternoon prayer walk, they met a young couple and learned that they were to be married next year in the Gardens. Fulfilling the afternoon challenge, they asked the young couple if they could pray for them. The couple agreed and, following a prayer of blessing, the engaged couple left holding hands and full of joy.
“God was present at the summit and left His signature card in the lives of all who shared this experience,” Lui said.
