President's Report: The Beauty of Prayer

By David Jamieson

UCC President

There is a wondrous beauty in prayer. As I travel across this conference worshiping with each of our churches and visiting each of our schools, I am struck by the intense power of prayer. Prayer can move mountains, it can save lives, and it can repair wounded relationships. Most importantly however, it can change our hearts. As you know, we have put a tremendous focus on prayer during the last two years. Through our Vertical prayer initiative, we have worked with members throughout the conference to refocus on prayer. 

Our recent executive committee happened to occur on National Day of Prayer. What a great moment to spend in prayer! I wanted to share with you an excerpt from our prayer that day, based on II Samuel 22: 29-31. 

“For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.”

The World

Overarching all the troubles and disasters on this earth is the beauty of our Creator, who is a God of glory, Lord of love. On this National Day of Prayer let us remind ourselves to pray often for our nation. To seek God’s path for our nation and for God’s love to soften the hearts of many people. We thank God that His promises in the Bible put love in our hearts for others and give us a peace that the world cannot give. These promises in His Living Word, the Bible. They are powerful and life changing. May we be mindful that as God’s children, we are part of the large family of God — the human race. As His children we are to Light Up The World.

Family

We ask you to bless all the families in America and help each parent to lead their home with love, discipline and selfless service. May the hearts of the children unfold like flowers before you and open to the sun above. We pray that our homes will be places where our children are taught discipline, sacrificial love, and selfless service. That they will discern between right and wrong and resist evil.  

Churches

We pray for our churches where individuals may seek the truth of your word. We ask you to mend broken people and bring peaceful relationships by melting the clouds of sin and sadness: Driving the dark of doubt away. We pray for churches to be led with the spirit of love and become beacons of hope to those who are hurting in their communities. May each member be a conduit of love and peace — giving and sharing immortal gladness and be filled with the light of day! May your Holy Spirit empower churches to work together to bring the light of God’s word — His Gospel to all! 

Nation 

As we think of this great nation, the wide-open spaces and the towns and cities, we thank you for raising this great nation to existence. We pray that all people in this nation might reflect and praise you. And while all is not perfect in America, we seek your wisdom for our nation’s leaders so that they may know what is right and have the courage to do it. We claim this promise: “If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. May you surround us with joy and may the beauties of your creation displayed in this great country call us to rejoice in you. 

Thank you Father that you will help all seeking people to find love, joy, and a song to sing as we march onward, victors in the midst of strife, joyful music leads us Sonward in the triumph song of life. We pray this In the name of Your Son, Jesus, our savior, AMEN!

David Jamieson

President, Upper Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

I wanted to share what happened at our recent executive committee in my President's Report with you, along with how God continues to bless in our Conference. We are also including additional information regarding the upcoming Biblical Sexuality Symposium, hosted by our Office of Education. We prepared the report as a pdf that will allow you to share it with your church, school, or friends easily. You can view my report by going to news.uccsda.org/president524.