Student Engages Wide Audience at Prayer Summit

Ben Hoekstra ’17 of Andover, Minnesota, recently spoke alongside Chaplain Bill VanGroningen, Ph.D., at the Christian Reformed Church’s recent Prayer Summit conference at All Nations Christian Reformed Church in Lake View Terrace, California, from April 13-15.

Pastors and prayer leaders from across the United States and Canada gathered together to unite through prayer, in hopes of spurring a renewed movement in CRC churches across both nations.

“It was a unique and amazing opportunity to co-present at a conference with a member of Trinity’s staff,” Hoekstra said.

He and VanGroningen spoke of both the advantages and disadvantages digital natives face in regard to prayer and the technological landscape. They focused on the advantages of global connectivity and the possibility of praying over social media, but also the disadvantages of identity issues, the challenge of vulnerability, and loneliness.  

Hoekstra, head of the recently reinstated Prayer Ministry on campus, was grateful for the experience to share some of his insights.

“The ability to start a conversation about a topic that’s not necessarily being talked about yet was a meaningful experience to me,” Hoekstra said.

Hoekstra also presented his portion of the presentation at this year’s OPUS event.