The sign out front announced Fresno Adventist Academy’s upcoming week of prayer. During a staff meeting, both Rico Baluga and Courtney Ray, physical education and chaplain/Bible teacher respectively, had similar thoughts: “If you were a neighbor and saw the marquee, what would you think?”

The suggestion was made that the students and staff go out into the community and offer to pray with the neighbors. Ray called Baluga and said, “Let’s act on this!”

“At first I said no,” says freshman Gabe Weist. He wasn’t the only hesitant one; others felt shy, too.

Freshmen and sophomores went out the first afternoon armed with prayer request cards. Completed cards were brought back to school for continued prayer by the classes. If no one was home, the cards were left for pick-up the next day. That’s when the juniors and seniors, in groups of four, continued the door-to-door outreach.

They met Ed outside working on his car. When asked if he had a prayer request, Ed quickly answered, “Yes! I need a job.” They prayed with Ed and kept the prayer request card for follow-up. “Afterward, it was like, wow! This is a good thing,” says Matt Novielli.

It was just the beginning. “Some neighbors called the school to report that their prayers were answered. Others who had missed the students called asking for prayer over the phone,” Ray reports.

The students also asked if there were any needs. The overgrown lawns were obvious. Ed said he needed major help in his backyard. Richard and Peggy Lindstrom, struggling with handicaps, were overwhelmed with their homeowner responsibilities.

“These students are angels!” Peggy says. Not only was the front and back yard overgrown, but Peggy had not been able to clean house for some time. “One time she cried and is constantly thanking us,” says Victoria Novielli, a senior.

“She thanks God for us,” adds senior Jill Yoshida. The girls do the inside work while the guys tackle the yards.

Every Friday, the seniors use either their Bible class or PE class to continue with the mission. “'Practical Evangelism' is where God wants my PE class every Friday,” Baluga says. And Ray’s Bible classes could be renamed “Basic Instruction — Be Living Examples.”

“This helps build our character,” explains senior Troy Goertz. “We definitely want to pass it on to the other classes,” adds Tony Contreras.

When students called Ed to set up his lawn clean-up appointment, he shared the good news — he had a new job!

When the freshman class heard, they were thrilled. “God is real and answers prayers!” says Caleb Flores.