Students praying for military, families
FREDERICKTOWN – Students at the Calvary Chapel Christian School are actively praying for military personnel involved in the war with Iraq. The children have adopted 50 members of the armed forces who have requested prayer through the Presidential Prayer Team (presidentialprayerteam.org), committing to pray for the soldier, sailor or Marine and his or her family.
“These are soldiers who have requested prayer,” said Shelly Staley, the first- and second-grade teacher at the school.
The participating students have signed certificates that state:
“I commit to pray daily for the individual U.S. military person whose name appears below and his or her family, thereby supporting the president and our great nation, the United States.”
The certificate lists the name of the military person, the branch of the military in which they serve and the number of children the person may have.
The school’s principal, Becki Cannon, said the teachers are helping the students fulfill their prayer commitment each day.
“It’s being done in the classroom by each teacher,” Cannon said.
The site also encourages individuals to sign up to commit to pray daily for the president, referring to 2 Chronicles 7:14, which states: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.”
The Presidential Prayer Team is not affiliated with any political party and receives no support or direction from the administration or any agency of the government.
Several of the students have family members serving in the military and the start of the war Wednesday night raised concerns for many of the children. “There are a lot of fears with the kids. We just keep redirecting them back to how God keeps us safe at all times, even scary times,” Cannon said.
Cannon said morning devotions on Friday focused on the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace found in the book of Daniel, where God was with them and kept them safe.
Cannon said the school has also identified an evacuation location if needed, with food and water available there.