Mount Olive Laymen’s Academy (MOLA) witnessed a profound spiritual awakening during its Week of Prayer held from October 6–11, 2024. United in purpose and prayer, MOLA teachers partnered with Southern Cebu Mission (SCM) Education and Communication Director Pastor Jesreel Mercader, SCM Administrative Assistant Mrs. Marchie T. Lagra-Mercader, and Junior Pastor Ivan Ray Remotigue to lead a campus-wide revival that touched hearts and transformed lives.
MOLA is a values-driven educational institution located in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, Philippines. It is known for its commitment to holistic education that nurtures students academically, spiritually, and socially. It officially came under the administration of the Southeastern Caraga Mission (SCM) of Seventh-day Adventists in 2024. This transition occurred following the formal organization of SCM in 2024, which was previously part of the Northeastern Mindanao Mission (NEMM) before a territorial realignment or bifurcation.
Each day unfolded with a sacred rhythm: one-hour morning and afternoon sessions led by Pastor and Mrs. Jesreel Mercader at the auditorium, followed by intimate homeroom Bible studies facilitated by homeroom advisers alongside Mrs. Marchie Mercader and JP Pastor Ivan Remotigue. Dormitory worships—both morning and evening—were shepherded by Pastor Remotigue, creating a spiritual canopy over the boarding school community.
In a setting where students live, learn, and grow together, prayer becomes more than a ritual—it becomes a refuge. “I believe the Holy Spirit worked in a mysterious way as we, God’s workers, labored as one to bring our students closer to Him,” shared Pastor Jesreel Mercader. “The Week of Prayer was not merely about promoting physical wellness—it was about empowering every student to choose Jesus as their Guide and Personal Friend,” added Pastor Ivan Remotigue.
Themed “SOAR: Living Life with Celebrations,” the program emphasized joy, healing, and spiritual renewal. For boarding students—many of whom face emotional distance from family, academic pressures, and personal struggles—this week offered a sacred pause, a chance to reconnect with God and rediscover their purpose.
Prayer, in the context of a boarding school, becomes a lifeline. It anchors students in faith, fosters resilience, and nurtures a sense of belonging. Through shared worship, quiet reflection, and heartfelt intercession, students experienced the nearness of God in their dorm rooms, classrooms, and hearts.
The culmination on Sabbath was nothing short of divine. Twenty precious souls publicly declared their commitment to Christ through baptism—an outward symbol of inward transformation. Teachers and students alike rejoiced, not just in numbers, but in the visible evidence of God’s grace at work.
The MOLA Week of Prayer stands as a reminder: when a school community prays together, lives are changed. In the boarding school setting, where every hallway echoes with stories and every dorm holds silent prayers, revival is not only possible—it is promised.
Romans 12:12 speaks about the call of Paul for us to pray earnestly in these trying times: "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer".
Ellen G. White, a pillar in Adventist faith wrote: “Prayer is the channel of communication between our souls and God. God speaks to us through His word; we respond to Him through our prayers, and He always listens to us. We cannot weary or burden Him by our frequent heart to heart communications.”
To all of you, students raising the banner of Jesus through Christian education, allow us to offer you a poem: “Books pile high, the deadlines press and weigh, your minds grow weary by the end of day. Temptations call, distractions cloud the view, while self-doubt whispers, “You’re not strong or true.” Some battle hunger, others fight for peace, in noisy homes where quiet finds no lease. Yet in the storm, a prayer becomes your shield, a sacred space where burdens start to yield. For every trial, each tear you’ve yet to cry, God hears your voice and lifts your spirits high.
(Marchie Lagra-Mercader/Southeastern Caraga Mission)
