Covering Our Students in Prayer: Fall 2025
This last week, hundreds of new students and their families will stepped onto campus and begin their journey at Vanguard University. As they experience the warmth and welcome of our community for the first time, returning students will rejoin us, ready to continue their pursuit of learning and growth. Will you join our faculty and staff in lifting up both new and returning students in prayer as they step into this new academic year?
Michael J. Beals, PhD, president
“Father, in heaven, as we do at the start of each academic year, we ask for Your grace and guiding hand to attend every aspect of the life of Vanguard University. I pray that students, both new and returning, would be full of joy and confidence knowing that you are with them as they pursue Your call on their lives. For the training and anointing of every faculty member to be released as they guide their students in the transformational learning process. For staff members in athletics and across every department to find joy in the various ways that they serve students and help them toward their goals.
We live to glorify You, and pray that we will do so in unique and special ways this year, in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Kayli (Cotten ’06) Hillebrand, DLd, dean, Student Success and Academic Services
“Father, as these students transition into the Vanguard community, may they experience an overwhelming sense of your delight and love. May they sense your Spirit as they walk across campus, meet staff and faculty, and begin their studies in the classroom. Help them to feel welcomed, known, and find their place at VU from the very start. Guide them as they navigate the newness of this season and orchestrate moments where you confirm they belong here in ways that could only come from you. Set their hearts and eyes steadily towards you. Thank you for entrusting them to our care. Amen.”
Jeff Bussell, director, Athletics
“Lord, I pray that our student-athletes would have boldness in their identity, that they would not be driven by insecurity, performance, or fear of failure, but would walk confidently in who God has made them to be. I pray for the power to persevere, that when the year gets difficult, through injury, loss, or weariness, they would draw strength from Christ and press on with resilience and courage. I pray for a culture of love where we genuinely care for one another, speak life, show grace, hold each other accountable, and serve as one united family across all teams and roles. Lord, give us sound minds, clear, focused, and grounded in truth, calm under pressure, emotionally steady, and free from anxiety, panic, and distraction. Amen.”
May they sense your Spirit as they walk across campus, meet staff and faculty, and begin their studies in the classroom.
Mike Wilson ’83, PhD, dean, College of the Arts and Sciences
“Thank you, God, for Vanguard University, for the students you bring to us, and for the opportunity they have to pursue higher education. Please protect, empower, and guide them so that each one—whether graduate, professional, or undergraduate—will grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, for you are the source of these treasures. Shake us awake this year, O Lord, so that we may see your glory and hear your voice and be transformed into the people, corporately and individually, you want us to be.”
Heather (Rachels ’02) Clements, director, Alumni
“God, we thank you for being our ever-present help in time of need. Would you bring peace, courage, grace, patience, and help to our incoming class? We ask that you continue to walk with these students, leading and guiding and directing their paths. Lord, we pray for their families to be at peace, their roommates and friendships to be easy, classes to be insightful, and chapels to be powerful. We know you are with us, and we thank you for that promise. We stand in awe of who you are. We pray you are glorified in what you see in us and in Vanguard. Amen.”
I ask your Holy Spirit be supernaturally present during this time. May they grow in their awareness of you while they embark on their academic journey.
Sharon “Smitty” Saalinger ’63
“Vanguard incoming class, this wonderful prayer comes to mind: “Lord, I pray for ears that hear your whispers. I pray for feet that walk toward you. I pray for a mouth that speaks your truth. I pray for a heart that loves like yours. May this be true for all of the incoming class to Vanguard this year. May God draw us to him.”
Tammi (Samuelson) Opoka ’00
“Father, we thank you for your faithfulness to this school and all that you’ve done to bring it to where it is today. As you fill this campus with the exact people you have chosen to do mighty things throughout this year, we pray your blessings over each one. When students step foot on campus this year, may the presence of the Holy Spirit be felt deeply. As it says in Luke 2:52, just as Jesus did, may students grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man. Stir each heart to be focused on your kingdom this year. And may your work be accomplished through each willing heart this year. Amen.”
Dellareese Cofield-Martinez, associate dean, Student Engagement
“Lord, I pray that our campus will be a place where every single person knows that they are seen, valued, loved, respected, and deeply welcomed here. May no one feel invisible, overlooked, or pushed to the margins. May every voice find a place at the table and may every story be honored.
You know the unique burdens each heart carries. May we lift one another up, speak life, and have peace, refuge, growth, and joy. May Vanguard be a place where uniqueness is celebrated and unity is nurtured; where ‘love your neighbor’ is more than a verse–it’s the atmosphere; and where the beauty of plurality meets the wonder of curiosity, together fostering harmony.
Lord, have Your way in us and through us. Amen.”
Kent Ferrin, director, Campus Safety
“We pray that you will keep us safe from emotional and physical threats, and that you will guard against those wanting to create havoc in our lives. We pray for our world, our communities, our leaders, and our protectors. Help us to be humble and kind. We pray that we become the type of person that helps others, even when our desire is to turn away.”
