Students making their way from Hillside Residence Hall on Monday mornings have an extra blessing sent their way. Carissa Luginbill, a senior major, greets students passing through on their way to class and wishes them well in their activities for the day.
Luginbill is the founder of 鈥淧ray Like No Other,鈥� a 7:30 a.m. informal prayer meeting that takes place whether there鈥檚 two or 50 in attendance. The meeting, open to all in the campus community, lasts less than a half hour to accommodate those attending 8 a.m. classes.
鈥淚t’s wonderful to have student leaders offering more聽spaces for prayer on campus,鈥� says campus pastor . 鈥淕atherings of this sort strengthen the campus聽community in direct and indirect ways. I’m always grateful for students stepping up in ministry to and with one another and there is plenty of opportunity for others to join in or begin other gatherings.鈥�
鈥業n community鈥�
On a recent rainy day, Luginbill, with fellow student leader Jolee Paden, shared prayer concerns from their lives, other students and the broader Harrisonburg community. In addition to prayer requests, they also emphasized gratitude for the potential they see in fellow students, for the abilities and opportunities they have been given, for the rain, and for 鈥渁 sense of rest.鈥�
Pray Like No Other was created, she says, because she saw few times set aside for students to pray together.
Paden, a pastoral assistant with , agrees to prayer鈥檚 importance: she says prayer is a 鈥渇oundation of faith,鈥� the practice of which, in her opinion, wasn鈥檛 happening regularly enough for students.
Student leader welcomes others
鈥淏eing in community together and supporting each other more鈥� is Luginbill鈥檚 vision for the prayer meeting. She says prayer is 鈥渁 way to get to know each other on a deeper level.鈥�
Prayer is not only an important part of the Christian faith, but 鈥減rayer with others is extremely important,鈥� Luginbill says. Group prayer allows participants to 鈥渆xpress our joys and concerns with one another鈥� and 鈥渁llows us to be human and realize we can鈥檛 do things alone. It helps me realize I can鈥檛 do things alone and I need to put my trust in something bigger than myself. Prayer, for me, is a way of humbling myself, asking for what I need, expressing my concerns, rejoicing in things I can鈥檛 do alone and celebrating who God is.鈥�
Luginbill sees a link between her social work major and her leadership style: 鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 seen myself as an outgoing leader. I鈥檓 more about leading by example. I like opening a space and then being there to welcome people.鈥�
Luginbill is still considering where her education and experience may take her. She will help to lead a cross-cultural trip to Lithuania with Professor after graduation, and is considering voluntary service. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping as this year goes on I will gain some clarity as to what鈥檚 next,鈥� she said.