- A Prayer for Acadia Divinity College

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your everlasting love and your unfailing faithfulness throughout all generations. You are the God of history, the God who calls, strengthens, chastens, and restores his people. In remembering the founding of Acadia Divinity College, we thank you for the fact that every institution is sustained and founded by your grace and for your glory. We thank you for the faithful professors, staff, students, volunteers, and ministers who have passed through here over the many years.

Father, we recognize that our history, just like that of the church, is full of both faithfulness and failures. We have had times when we have reflected your love and truth and times when we have failed you. Grant us the humility to look back with honesty and the boldness to speak the truth about our history and learn from it. Protect us from the pride that looks only at successes and the despair that sees only failures.

We pray for ADC at this time. Grant wisdom and strength to our faculty, curiosity and humility to our students, and perseverance to our graduates in their ministry. As we seek to equip leaders for your church, help us to listen well, especially to those who have too long been silenced or unheard. Let us be taught in matters of understanding, let our commitment to justice and reconciliation grow stronger, and let us have the ability to develop relationships that reflect humility, respect, and love. Strengthen in us a vision of your kingdom which is bigger than us, bigger than our traditions, and bigger than our institutions. May all that we teach, all that we say, all the ministries we engage in, and all the graduates who come out of us reflect the reconciling love of Jesus Christ.

May ADC remain an institution in which minds are formed, hearts are changed, and lives are prepared for your service. In your grace, may we remain true to our mission until the time comes when nations, tribes, peoples, and languages will assemble around your throne and worship the Lamb.

This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

Amen

Rev. Dr. Seidel Abel Boanerges, Associate Professor in the Abner J. Langley and Harold L. Mitton Chair of Church Leadership