SMA challenges student body to 30-day prayer

Waxahachie, TX - September 29, 2011 - The Southwestern Missions Association (SMA) launched the Live-Dead Challenge on Friday, September 23. The 30-day challenge is a call for the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) student body to tithe a tenth of their day to God in prayer. In addition to the Live-Dead Challenge, SMA has incorporated 24-hour, on-campus prayer throughout the challenge.

The Live-Dead Challenge describes its purpose as helping participants to develop daily disciplines, better understand the principles of dying to self, connect with the modern-mission field, and learn to pray for unreached people groups. Participants are asked to set aside a tenth of their day, 2.5 hours, for prayer. SMA provided students with the Live-Dead journal, a daily devotional about missions and unreached people groups.

Student responses have been positive. SAGU sophomore Christina Perez says, “It has been a challenge to put aside time every day. Through Live-Dead, I have seen the power of journaling and reflecting on what I have written. It is amazing to see the unity that Live-Dead has created among the student body.” Aaron Bodey says, "This is the first time I have committed time daily to God without any other distractions.”

SAGU Director of Missions Chad Germany introduced the Live-Dead Challenge to the SMA officers during the summer. After prayerful consideration, SMA decided to present the challenge to the student body. SMA hopes that the spirit of prayer will continue long after the official challenge has ended. SMA Vice President of On-Campus Ministries Natassia Giles says that the accomplishments of the challenge and its continuation afterward will be "the result of the response and leadership of the students that participate."

During the day (6 a.m. - midnight), prayer is held in the Jeter Prayer Room; from midnight - 6 a.m., prayer is held in the dormitories. Each dormitory is assigned one night of the week, where students commit to praying during specified shifts. Friday night is All-night Prayer and is held in the Jeter Prayer Room.

SAGU Residential Assistant Erin Neal participated in Kendrick dormitory’s 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. prayer shift on Monday night. She says, "I had only planned on staying for an hour and a half, but I ended up staying the whole time."

Click here for more information about Live Dead or visit their Facebook page.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The University was established in 1927, and now offers more than 60 associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.