On January 24, 1975, in an article entitled “Pray for Geneva,” The Cabinet posed the following questions: “Who does pray for Geneva? Is Geneva worth praying for? Can we survive without a strong program of prayer? Do we need any more prayer than what we have?” Fifty-one years later, these are still valid questions! The following are just a few examples of the way prayer has been a necessary and integral part of Geneva College since its founding.

The annals of Geneva history over the decades tell of countless times of prayer sponsored by the founding denomination, the trustees, the administration — prayer at every chapel service, convocation, and at innumerable other events and times of need in the college community, the country, and the world.

In October 1847, the Presbytery of the Lakes, at a meeting “constituted with prayer,” resolved to found a literary Institution upon scriptural principles, making the Bible … the textbook.” Geneva Hall was formally opened on April 20, 1848.

When the College was preparing to move from Ohio to Beaver Falls in 1880, The Cabinet reported on the progress of the new building (Old Main): “Every step, thus far, has been taken … after earnest prayer to Him whose direction and blessing alone can give success….”

In June 1892, the Board of Trustees reported to Synod: “Many prayers have been offered for the increase of spirituality in the College. Sometimes God is pleased to answer our prayers by fearful works.” Two of President Johnston’s children, ages three and six years, died of scarlet fever within hours of each other. “It is our hope and prayer that this sad event will yet be glorified as marking an epoch in the religious life of the College….”

Fall 1923 found a new president and several changes in faculty. Christian Nation, a publication of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, reported: “Students have gathered from all directions … How important that the atmosphere may be distinctively Christian. Geneva will measure up only if she is undergirded by prayer….”

The following February, President Pearce appealed to Covenanter pastors to make a special prayer for Geneva College. “The annual Day of Prayer for Colleges means to the Covenanters the one day in the year when special prayer effort will be made for Geneva and when pastors will quicken the desires of their congregations for a larger, stronger and more worthy Geneva, a college more capable of service to Christ and country….”

Fast forward to more recent decades…

In the wake of the shooting of four students at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, Geneva set aside a special day of prayer and mourning on May 11, with classes cancelled at the request of Student Senate.

On May 3, 1982, a special day of prayer and worship was held on campus. A campus-wide worship service was scheduled because of a desire to give thanks for the Lord’s help during the past semester, and to pray for the Lord’s blessing on the Geneva community throughout the summer. There was a revised class schedule for the day, with a worship service held in the fieldhouse. Prayer groups, organized on the basis of special interests, met in various places in the morning, and from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the lounges of the major dorms. The faculty and staff met for prayer in the Aberdeen Room from noon to 1:00 p.m.

Beginning in the late 1990s the College community was encouraged to join together at the flagpole in front of Old Main to pray for the campus, students and faculty, and our nation at “See You at the Pole” events held in September. Likewise, for many years the College has sponsored National Day of Prayer breakfast events in May for the campus and the community; prayer breakfasts for faculty and staff held prior to the beginning of the fall semester, and veteran prayer breakfasts in November.

On September 11, 2001, the majority of the campus community was at Chapel when news of the terrorist attacks broke. Chaplain Russell asked Sam Siple, director of public relations and marketing, to announce the news to the assembled students and faculty. Classes and all formalized activities were canceled around 10:30 a.m. The Crisis Team called for a prayer vigil to be held, which was attended by hundreds of students. A few days later, Geneva students and staff congregated around the flagpole outside of Old Main to lift their voices in supplication to God for our nation on the National Day of Prayer set aside by President George W. Bush in response to the September 11 terrorists attacks.

And, most recently, Provost Melinda Stephens announced a September 25, 2025, campus prayer meeting in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Her email said, “The events of this week have caused significant distress in our community… Therefore, we are scheduling a time for people who would like to pray as we close the school week. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to gather in the President’s Dining Room … for personal or small group prayer. We will close together with the Lord’s Prayer and the singing of Psalm 117B.”

Prayer in smaller groups has also played a part. Examples include weekly student prayer meetings, dorm prayer meetings, faculty prayer prior to beginning classes, and many more. McKee Hall currently has a dedicated room called the “Prayer Nook” for individual and small-group prayer.

In the 1950s, faculty member Dr. Roy Adams and others formed what was to become known as the “Aberdeen Prayer Group,” open to all faculty, staff, and administrators committed to praying for the campus, the community, the country, and all of creation. For almost 60 years the group met weekly for prayer before the start of the day’s classes, disbanding around 2008. The “Evening Prayer Group” began meeting in Fall 2008 in the Fern Cliffe parlor three times per month for 20-30 minutes. The faculty-led Chapel Prayer Team distributed prayer requests by email from around 2011 to 2015. In recent years, Geneva’s intranet has been used to share prayer requests. Departmental prayer meetings are held on a regular basis for enrollment, for new students, and other campus needs.

In May 1998, Peter Croisant, WGEV faculty manager, felt led of the Lord to turn a vacant room at WGEV into a prayer room. In the works for months, it was dedicated by Chaplain Tim Russell in September. The room was open from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, making it more available than the empty classroom in Old Main that had been opened for use the previous spring.

Prayer was again answered by “fearful works” on April 8, 1976. Senior mechanical engineering student Philip Ruhl died when the van transporting the Genevans to a concert was involved in an accident. According to a classmate, “Phil had been praying for spiritual renewal on campus for some time, and his life, prayers, and death had a profound impact on us all.”

“Who Prays for Geneva? Do we?” Returning to the question posed in The Cabinet, let’s all determine to emulate these examples of faithful prayer shown throughout Geneva’s history.

This article originally appeared in The Cabinet, February 5, 2026.