A Campus of Prayer

More than a few dedicated moments throughout the day, Taylor is committed to a lifestyle of prayer. Students are initiating a culture of prayer within their residence halls, classrooms, and sports teams. Additionally, with 140 active small groups on campus, student involvement is widespread. University-led events like See You at the Pole in the fall and the upcoming Collegiate Day of Prayer in February further encourage the Taylor community to live lives centered on prayer.

Student-Led Prayer Across Campus

The student-led group TU House of Prayer (TUHP) is driven by a shared desire to pursue the Lord wholeheartedly alongside one another in worship and prayer.

"Our first response should always be prayer. I think of it like, 'Let me spend this time advocating for you on behalf of God and what He wants,'" reflected senior Peyton Fiegel.

Fiegel has been a part of TUHP since its very beginning two years ago. As sophomores, she and three friends—Adeline Heuser, Evan Smith, and Jessica Veith—wanted to increase intercessory prayer on campus. What started as a few friends gathering in the Memorial Prayer Chapel grew into a community of dozens of students who meet regularly throughout the semester for worship, testimony, and prayer training. Later partnering with Greg Dyson, Campus Pastor and Vice President for Spiritual Life & Intercultural Leadership, TUHP began offering prayer during Chapel each week. Now, every Wednesday, as Chapel bands lead their peers in worship, student prayer teams wait outside Rediger to offer dedicated prayer and support for those in need of it.

"There’s a profound safety in Christ that allows us to bring our cares and burdens to the Lord alongside our brothers and sisters," shared Dyson. "It has been a joy to watch such powerful prayer warriors hold one another up."

TUHP has also organized several prayer breakfasts—times for students to gather and share in worship and praise. With a heart to encourage Taylor employees as well, Fiegel and Smith are coordinating a faculty and staff prayer breakfast this spring semester.

"Prayer is something we all need, not just students," Fiegel said.

On February 21, TUHP will host a prayer breakfast in the Memorial Prayer Chapel for faculty and staff from 8 am to 9:30 am. Following worship led by students, Dyson will share a message on surrendering to the Lord, based on Nehemiah 4:1-6. Student prayer teams will pray with and over the attendees in a beautiful display of the community of faith.

Joining Millions of Voices in Prayer

The Office for Spiritual Life & Intercultural Leadership is bringing the Taylor community together on February 26 for the Collegiate Day of Prayer—a global initiative in which over 3,500 ministries and individuals will devote time to praying for thousands of campuses and over 250 million college students worldwide.

The day will begin with a sunrise prayer open house outside Euler Science Complex. At noon, a student-led band will help foster an environment of worship and prayer—at the same time as Christians across the world. Throughout the day, classes will dedicate time to pray, and all of campus will be encouraged to fast from something of personal value, whether food or social media, and replace the time with prayer.

"We lean deeply on 1 John 5:14-15: 'And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him,'" Dyson said. "We pray for our community, our families, our leaders, and the world."

Dyson describes the vision for the Taylor community: "Give God what He so deeply wants—more of you."

Spring semester at Taylor will also include Spiritual Renewal Week, a five-day Chapel message series from two speakers. Further, the As We Pray annual tradition will invite Taylor alumni, parents, and friends to pray for the campus community for a full week. Current students will also participate by praying for one another’s requests in a dedicated Chapel service.

"After students graduate and when they reflect on this special time in their lives, my desire is that they will say, 'I learned how to draw close to the Lord, how to pray deeply, and how to live abundantly well for Christ,'" reflected Dyson.