University of Valley Forge -- Making Missions Prayer a Priority

College students at Christian colleges and secular colleges (through Chi Alpha) can frequently be found taking missions trips to somewhere in the U.S. or around the world – often an experience that results in giving them a heart for missions.

But what might be a bit unusual is to witness college students who are not only passionate about missions experiences for themselves, but maybe doing one better — spending hours in prayer for missionaries!

When longtime missionaries, Nick and Marcae Robertson, came to the University of Valley Forge (UVF) in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, as missionaries in residence, their ministry had a life-changing impact on many students.

Owen Thorpe, a 20-year-old majoring in Family and Youth Studies with a minor in Intercultural Studies, admits he thought missions wasn’t something that personally involved him until he started interacting with the Robertsons.

“I came into college with no real awareness of missions and the magnitude of importance it has in our lives,” he says. “Growing up I've heard different missionaries speak, but it was something that never really affected me personally. I thought it was cool that those missionaries were serving Jesus in that way, but I didn't think I had to be involved.”

But since then, Thorpe has become very active, having gone on a missions trip to Puerto Rico last summer and is headed to Africa this summer.

“Their (the Robertsons') passion for missions has certainly influenced a new level of missions here at UVF,” says Alyssa Chandler, 23, who is majoring in Ministry Leadership with a minor in Deaf Culture Studies. “Since their involvement on campus, there have been more opportunities for students to open their hearts to the nations. I have been impacted by the focus on missions at UVF as my heart has a deeper passion for those who don’t know Jesus or have never even heard the name Jesus.”

Many schools and Chi Alpha groups have fall missions conventions for their students and UVF had strong missions support, but Nick and Marcae brought their passion and experience to give greater impact as an ongoing emphasis.

“In addition to our fall missions convention, we have weekly prayer meetings, a missionary guest being a part of every segment,” Nick says. “We also help send out missionary teams — 11 different teams this year from UVF — to different parts of the world. Plus, weekend street outreaches in downtown Phoenixville and Philadelphia give students practical experience in sharing their faith with the lost and being led by the Holy Spirit in evangelism.”

However, one event stands out. This year, the Robertsons hosted the second annual Missions Emphasis Week in March.

“Missions Emphasis Week obviously has a focus on missions and missionaries, but Friday night we culminate it with something we call Night for the Nations — an all-night prayer meeting,” Nick says. “It runs from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday. This year we had eight guest missionaries share, who we then prayed over, and 11 different UVF short-term missions teams who led us in prayer for the people and countries they were going to serve.”

Nick says that more than 100 students participated in the Night for the Nations.

Thorpe says that it was during the first missions emphasis week that God began to speak to him.

“I remember hearing about God’s heart for all nations and hearing the statistics about unreached people groups and the billions of people without access to the gospel,” Thorpe says. “Every Christian has a role to play whether going, praying, giving. That's when I first was burdened for missions.”

That burden was followed up with an unexpected encounter with a missionary who told him to never not go on a missions trip because of fear of fundraising — if God was leading him to go somewhere, He would provide.

“He spoke exactly what I had been dealing with,” Thorpe says. “I signed up . . . and no joke, less than a week later, I was fully funded, whereas most people it takes months . . . I think God was showing me that nothing is too great for Him . . . give Him my yes, and He’ll do the rest.”

“Having students engaging in prayer for the nations is one of the best things we can do,” Nick says. “Whenever we have a missionary come, we always ask how we can pray for them, and then surround them with students leading out in prayer over them. Students often don’t have much money to give, but prayer, especially in a corporate setting, seeking God together, is definitely impactful.”

Chandler agrees, noting how God makes His presence felt.

“This (the all-night prayer) has been a powerful time and allows for students to come together and intentionally pray for the nations and pray over those who are going out to serve those people groups,” she says. “Although the night is organized in structure, it is most definitely Spirit-led as through worship and prayer there were many times God's presence was powerful and produced a natural hunger to call upon His holy name.”

Thorpe, who attends missions prayer nights, including the all-night prayer, says it has been an awesome experience.

“I truly believe the Holy Spirit is speaking to hearts on this campus about His heart for all nations,” he says, “and the work Dr. Robertson has done to bring this to light has been amazing and powerful.”

“UVF,” Nick states, “is a Spirit-filled, loving community that makes disciples who will then make disciples not only here in America, but around the world.”