May 1 Start the month out by lifting President Scott Rich in prayer.
2 Pray for Sterling College students as they take a deep breath this weekend and prepare for finals which begin Monday morning.
3 Scripture focus: Philippians 2:5-8 "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
4 Pray for Paula McCormick as she grows into her role as the Student Accounts Coordinator. Ask the Lord to bless her deeply as she serves our students and their families well.
5 Pray for Renee Dodson, Executive Assistant for Academic Affairs and President's Office, as she ensures every detail of the Commencement weekend is in place to provide our graduates and their families with a wonderful experience.
6 As students complete all their final exams, many will pack up their cars or catch a ride to the airport to travel home for the summer. Pray safe traveling mercies to over them.
7 Pray for alumni who have recently experienced car accidents, surgeries, or broken relationships. Life can be very difficult, but our God promises to be with us in the midst of trials. Pray for peace, comfort, and joy even in the tough times.
8 This morning is the Graduate Breakfast, hosted by the Alumni Office and the Career Services Office. Pray that the graduates enjoy a delicious meal and fun fellowship. Also, today is the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ask the Lord to bless the Board with wisdom and discernment.
9 Graduation is today! The culmination of many years of hard work concludes today as our graduates walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Thank God for them and pray for them as they begin a new chapter in their lives.
10 Scripture focus: Romans 14:11 "It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
11 Three mission teams leave for their destination this week. A total of 23 SC students and a few sponsors will serve God's Kingdom work in Egypt, Romania, and Thailand over the next two weeks. Pray for safe travel, that all who take part in this work will bring glory to God, and represent Sterling well.
12 Pray for Carol (Ramsay) '69 Sibley, member of the Sterling College Board of Trustees. Today is her birthday!
13 As students return home for the summer break, pray that the Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will work in them to grow in their faith, make wise choices, and have positive interaction with their families and friends.
14 Happy birthday to Randy Magee '77! Randy serves on the Board of Trustees. Pray that his special day is filled with great joy.
15 Today is a campus Jumpstart Day, where dozens of students who will be attending SC this fall will officially enroll and begin their Sterling experience.
16 Ask the Lord to provide for the financial needs of Sterling College through the generosity of our alumni and friend donors.
17 Scripture focus: Luke 9:23-24 "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.'"
18 Recruiting continues for the 2026 fall semester. Pray for all who recruit and for all students who need to be at Sterling College but have not yet made that decision.
19 Two track & field student-athletes and head coach Mason Blevins, will be in Asheville, NC today and tomorrow, competing at the NAIA Championships. Pray for safe travel, performances at the top of their God-given talents, and that they would honor Him.
20 Today begins a very important, annual audit of the Sterling College retirement program. Pray for clarity and wisdom for the auditors and peace and organization for the business office staff during this process.
21 The Sterling College maintenance team, grounds crew, and housekeepers will be busy this summer making repairs, cleaning, and preparing for the fall semester. Pray that all their tasks will go smoothly and that each employee in this department finds time during the summer to get some disconnect and down time.
22 Non faculty employees do not have the summer off. Pray these employees of the college will be able to slow down a bit to renew and restore over the summer.
23 Many SC employees will be traveling in some capacity for the college over the summer: recruiting, church relations, fundraising, alumni gatherings, and other official business. Pray that they will represent Sterling College well and honor the Lord in their words, thoughts, and actions.
24 Scripture focus: 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”
25 As students who have committed to attend Sterling College this fall prepare for this new, exciting, and potentially scary step in their lives, please pray for them and their families that any nervousness will be calmed and that all preparation goes smoothly.
26 Many students will work this summer. Pray that they display a strong work ethic, enjoy what they are doing, and do it to the best of their abilities.
27 The summer break is an important time of rest and renewal for Sterling students and faculty. Pray that they all use their time wisely this summer to be fully restored when the fall semester begins in August.
28 Pray for the Lord to bring new friends to Sterling College who deeply value Christ-centered, higher education and have a passion for financially supporting that work and mission.
29 Pray that the Lord would bless Sterling and the surrounding area with the right amount of rain.
30 Thank God for how He has sustained Sterling College for nearly 139 years.
31 Scripture focus: Romans 5:6-8 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
