Multnomah students spend considerable time in corporate prayer and praise, but students spend little time in individual prayer and praise during days of prayer and praise. As a college, Multnomah should allocate more individual prayer and praise on days of prayer and praise.

Some students have suggested using the afternoons of days of prayer and praise for solitary worship and prayer, but by the afternoon, most students have to go to work or do homework. They are unable to spend the afternoon devotionally with God. The college should set aside one day of prayer and praise for individual time with God.

These days would use a trust-based system similar to the one used now on days of prayer and praise. Students would fill out and return an attendance form when they have completed the specified amount of time in solitary devotions. The administration could encourage this devotional time by announcements in chapel and flyers around campus.

The announcements could suggest creative places to go to be alone with God, such as parks in Portland. Or they could suggest ways to commune with God, such as going on a hike. Or they could suggest key devotional passages that would facilitate private Bible study.

Schedule the day in warmer months such as September or May so students can pray outdoors at a city park or on campus.

Of course, enforcing student participation in an individual day of prayer and praise is impossible. Yet the college has no way to enforce 100 percent participation under our present system.

Individual time spent alone with God, in addition to corporate worship, can enhance an individual's relationship with the Lord. Mornings spent one-on-one with God will revitalize students.

These school-sponsored events might cause students to pursue regularly scheduled mornings or even days alone with God. These days would encourage a desire in students to seek a closer, more meaningful time with the Father.

The administration should do more to encourage students to be still before God and spend quiet time with Him. Life can be hectic in college, and sometimes students need an opportunity to slow down and remember why they came to Bible college.

A half hour alone before corporately meeting on days of prayer and praise is not enough.