For a group of ACU professors, Friday Chapel has become an opportunity to gather in community of prayer.

Throughout the year, surveys are given to students and faculty about their concerns and hopes for ACU’s campus. A survey was administered among the faculty over Christmas break and addressed a need for time of prayer amongst professors was mentioned.

Several professors showed interest and wanted to get a time set aside for prayer amongst teachers. So, Friday Chapel has become the time allotted for faculty prayer.

“There are a lot of transitions and uncertainties permeating the ACU community right now, and we want to provide a way to share our concerns with each other and to take them to the Father together.” said Dr. Eric Hardegree, professor of chemistry and biochemistry. “We can lessen our cares by sharing them, and we can cast all our anxieties on Him.”

Dr. Neal Coates, professor of political science; Hardegree and Dr. Jerry Taylor, assistant professor of Bible, are alternating every Friday to lead the prayer time. This time allows the faculty to pray on their own or any of the three professors are willing to pray over them. Coates, Hardegree and Taylor plan on setting up devotionals occasionally as well.

The professors are gathering in the auditorium of the Margaret and Herman Brown Library on Fridays.

“It is a very informal event, but we wanted to set up a room for people to come and pray,” Coates said.

Last Friday was the first time the prayer event took place. The announcement just went out in hopes that many faculty members will join together for a time of healing and praise every week.

“It fulfilled the purpose for that group,” Coates said in response to the meeting last week.