Prayer in InterVarsity
Prayer has always been central to the life of InterVarsity. Keith and Gladys Hunt write about the early days of IVCF: "The daily prayer meeting (DPM) was the touchstone for a chapter. The strategy was to win people for Christ through prayer and Bible study...Whenever a student inquired about having a chapter on their campus the staff asked, "Are you meeting regularly to pray for people on your campus?" If a campus group did not have a vital DPM, they probably weren't ready to become a chapter."[1]
While we don't always meet daily (although it's happened in certain quarters), chapter members do gather regularly to pray for each other, the campus, and the world. Our main prayer meeting time is:
Mondays, 8pm in Cobb Hall: Prayer meeting with AAIV and GCF.
prayer resources online
Intercessor is a quarterly leaflet from InterVarsity, listing prayer topics forwarded by staff around the country. You really feel part of a larger community when you pray for fellow students in North Carolina selecting new chapter leaders, or for IVCF chapters in Colorado doing chapter camp at Bear Trap Ranch. Then you feel humbled when you see your region listed—and realize IVCF students, staff, and alumni around the country are praying for you.
Praise and Prayer, a similiar quarterly journal from IFES. Pray for student witness in our sister chapters around the world. You can also get P&P emailed to you, and search for country-specific topics posted by that country's movement leaders.
The Kalendar. "Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant [Name], may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with him attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen." [2]
The Daily Office. An Episocopal/Anglican adaption of the monastic prayer services.
books about prayer
Daring to Draw Near, by John White. White looks at various conversations with God in the Bible (Abraham, Moses, etc.) and draws lessons for our own prayer life. Full of practical and helpful advice, several IVCF folk have recommended this book.
Too Busy Not to Pray, by Bill Hybels. A practical book on finding time for God (and efficiently using that time). Hybels is pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, and has lots of first-hand experience with being busy.
On the same topic as Hybels, but taking a slightly different tack, is Klaus Issler's Wasting Time with God.
Although it's not from IVP (not to imply anything bad, just trying to make a transition!), I really liked Walter Wangerin's Whole Prayer. If you like Wangerin's style of storytelling and imagery as I do, this book will deepen and enrich your understanding of prayer.
As always, chapter member's suggestions for books and links are most welcome.
[1] For Christ and the University, IVP, 1991, p.79.
[2] Book of Common Prayer, 1979, collect Of a Saint (I)