Prayeradigm Shift Impacts UCA Students

By Eden Wiltison

UCA Senior

Joined with other schools from across the Pacific Northwest, students spent the weekend participating in early morning prayer, personal time with God, and group sessions with the main speaker, Kevin Wilfley, a recently retired pastor. With these diverse activities, everyone was brought together through powerful prayer and bonding moments.

Lydia Gillham, UCA junior, Prayeradigm leader, and a returning participant, shared that she felt drawn back to this retreat due to the impactful spiritual atmosphere she had experienced last year. Gillham said her favorite part of Prayeradigm was authentically connecting with other people outside of their comfort zones.

 “I felt a spiritual impact through the other students here,” Gillham responded, when asked what impacted her this year. “Seeing other people being changed and challenged so drastically really made my heart happy and full.”

Zury Sanchez, UCA freshman, stated that her older sister had attended Prayeradigm retreats since her sophomore year, and ever since she has always wanted to attend herself. Sanchez added that she had recently been going through a rough time and needed to spend time with God. The topic of the retreat discussed the two components of prayer: God’s part, and our part, a topic that Sanchez found relevant. 

“I always thought it was God’s duty to fix everything we were going through,” said Sanchez, “but I learned that even though He knows what we need, it is our choice to give it to God.” 

Sanchez added that she would absolutely attend Prayeradigm again.

“I recommend it to everyone. It was so life changing and I feel like everyone needs God in their lives.” 

Ellasyn Smith, UCA Sophomore, attended Prayeradigm for the first time this year, commenting that she was drawn to go due to other students having life-changing experiences and her wanting to deepen her relationship with God. 

Smith plans to attend next year, stating that it was a spiritually high moment for her. She added, “I would love for others to go; I think everyone should experience it too.”

The weekend retreat consisted of the same daily schedule, including waking up early, yet everyone was eager to get up every morning and achieve a deeper spiritual connection with God. 

The retreat concluded with students sharing their testimonies and spending many hours in worship. This recurring event at Camp MiVoden is a highlight for many students and plans for next year’s Prayeradigm retreat are already in place.

Following Prayeradigm Retreat, Upper Columbia Academy experienced something incredible during its Student Week of Prayer. Forty-seven students stepped forward, committing their lives to Christ.

“There is nothing more powerful than a generation saying yes to Him,” said Jeff Deming, UCA principal. “We continually keep our students in our prayers as they continue to grow in their faith.”

Learn more about what UCA offers students at ucaa.org