Spiritual Encouragement

ACL seeks to encourage members in their faith. This support is displayed in a variety of ways across the Association.

Prayer

How could one small initiative bring so much love, joy, peace, and faith to ACL?

ACL’s Spiritual Encouragement Team began the prayer initiative at the end of 2020 to provide support and care through a confidential prayer ministry. Prayer volunteers spanning the globe lift up prayer requests to the Lord. You can reach out in your time of need and be assured that you will be supported in prayer.

We all face challenges unique to the spaces in which God has called us, but he has said, “Fear not, I have overcome the world.” Each day the Spiritual Encouragement Team along with prayer volunteers pray for you, seeing the privilege, responsibility, and opportunity in this call from Christ.

Thank you for allowing us to pray for you! Your prayer request will be kept confidential and lifted to the Lord.

SUBMIT A PRAYER REQUEST SUBMIT PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE

2016 Conference Devotions — Starting the day with Devotions at the 2016 ACL Conference at George Fox University

Reference Point Devotional

A devotional, Reference Point, is written by ACL members and distributed 10 times a year as a way to spiritually uplift fellow members. Members can submit a devotion for consideration by clicking the button below. Visit our archives of devotions for further inspiration.

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New Territory

2025 Reference Point Devotional

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

I recently participated in a Walk & Talk as part of my institution’s Spiritual Renewal Week activities. The event pairs a staff or faculty member with a student for 30 minutes of strolling across campus, chatting, and praying. I had never volunteered for the event before, but it sounded like a great opportunity to support our students, so I signed up. Then, being an introvert who had just signed up for an event that involves being paired with a stranger and talking to them for half an hour, I immediately regretted having done so. While simmering in my uncertainty about how the event would go, I heard the Renewal Week preacher mention that she had been praying for all of the events of the week including the Walk & Talk conversations. I was reminded and reassured that the Lord was going before me and would be with me during the event. I ended up having a good conversation with a student who really needed a listening ear and some encouragement, and I was honored to have the opportunity to pray with her at the end of our walk. As we were parting ways to head back to our regular afternoon plans, she commented that she had never participated in the Walk & Talk before and was really glad she decided to give it a chance. It seemed I was not the only one who had experienced a bit of trepidation about trying something new.

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Faithful Words Devotional Book

A word for librarians from The Word who is FAITHFUL and TRUE

Faithful Words is a beautiful 206-page hard-back collection of member-authored Reference Point devotionals from the last eight years produced and printed in the summer of 2022 with the goal of building the principal balance of the Legacy Endowment fund. It is sure to be a blessing to you or a colleague or friend. With each $25 increment of donation to ACL, you are eligible to receive a copy of the book. Would you or someone you know benefit from having a copy of Faithful Words? It would make for a great Christmas gift or as a tangible donation to your local public library.

Get your copy today!

Additional opportunities:

During the National Library Week, the ACL President sends out a daily call to prayer highlighting different specific prayer needs.
On the ACL Discussion List prayer and support for personal and work-related requests are often shared that demonstrate a caring community.
The Christian Librarian seeks to include articles from a Biblical worldview that are helpful to those in the library field.
The ACL Annual Conference strives to encourage spiritual community with daily prayer walks and devotions, and occasionally, a concert of prayer or hymn sing.

Contact the Spiritual Encouragement Team at encouragement@acl.org with any questions.