Carey Jordan – Loveland, Colorado … In a letter of Apostle Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 4:6-7), we’re reminded to bring everything to God in prayer, with the promise that His peace will guard our hearts and minds. It’s a powerful encouragement, but what if we could take it further? What if we could create a culture where our children regularly pray with and for each other?
After careful planning, HMS Richards Adventist School in Loveland, Colorado, introduced a new tradition: a deliberate effort to end every Friday chapel with the Big Brother, Big Sister prayer time.
Following the ACTS acronym—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication—students of varying ages come together in pairs, purposefully bridging generational gaps to engage in intentional prayer. During this special time, students express adoration for God, share personal confessions, extend gratitude, and earnestly present heartfelt requests.
To facilitate this exchange, partners have prayer books to jot down their requests and track answered prayers. As the Friday prayer time concludes, students and teachers sing the short but beautiful song “Into My Heart” as a signal to end their prayer session and return to their classrooms to wrap up the week.
This new tradition not only deepens students’ spiritual connections but also cultivates empathy and understanding among peers. It’s a precious opportunity to spend intentional time in prayer with and for one another.
But this is just the beginning. The plan for next year is to expand the community of prayer to include the older students on the Campion Academy campus because HMS believes it’s their mission to pray for each other.
—Carey Jordan is principal at HMS Richards Adventist School. Photos supplied.
