By Karen Shaner, SCBC Collegiate Ministries
Published November 22, 2006
Vaughn Bowen (left) and Athena Jenkins.
As many of the students expressed their concern for lost loved ones, Jennifer Danford, ministry assistant and wife of campus minister Kendal Danford, had the idea to form a prayer group.
Jennifer said, “It was like this ‘ah ha’ moment, that I’m not the only one who has lost family members.” She also had an idea to create a prayer tree that would serve as a centerpiece at meetings. Students write the names of lost loved ones on various colored leaves and hang them on the tree. When someone accepts Christ, the students write their name on a green leaf that represents their new life in Christ. The tree is not only a colorful addition to the group, but it’s also a good visual reminder to pray for the lost.
The group has seen much fruit from their prayer meeting since its inception. Vaughn Bowen, semester missionary at the BCM, has seen God change the life of one of the students.
Athena, a senior at FMU, has been attending BCM for about two years. She wasn’t a Christian when she started coming to the prayer ministry and began praying for her family and friends. Vaughn would give Athena a ride to BCM and Athena began to open up to her. Athena said she hadn’t accepted Christ because she “didn’t want to give up control.” She knew how much she wanted God, but she didn’t want to give up everything else.
A few weeks ago at a BCM meeting, guest speaker Rob Vernon gave a powerful testimony of God’s grace in his life. After a plane crash, he had to get a prosthetic leg; he now walks with a limp. Athena also walks with a limp because of cerebral palsy and said she really could relate to him. God got Rob’s attention with the accident, and after that experience, Rob gave his life to Christ.
Following the meeting, Athena realized that she really needed God. Jennifer prayed with her to accept Christ. The next week, with great joy, Athena wrote her own name on a new green leaf.
