The Prayer That Rocked the State
-
AuthorPosts
-
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:14 amBeloved heavenly father; I thank You for Your blessings on those who endure insults, persecution, and evil spoken against them because of You. We rejoice with them, for great is their reward in heaven.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:31 amTulsa, Oklahoma, has almost 2,000 evangelical churches, ministries, training centers, and universities.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:32 amThousands of students come from around the world to study at the beautiful Oral Roberts University and the training centers housed in the city’s mega-churches.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:33 amMeeting around the teachings of Jesus and praying in His name are commonplace, making Tulsa a most unlikely location for any controversy regarding a prayer of blessing over a high school graduating class.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:34 amThe fallout occurred when E’Lena Ashley, a Tulsa public school board member, stepped up to the podium on May 20, 2023, and prayed a simple prayer of blessing in the name of Jesus over the new graduates of Tulsa’s East Central High School.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:34 amThe firestorm that followed shook the town and, ultimately, the state.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:35 amStanding before the students and their families, E’Lena unfolded the paper she thought contained her well-worded prayer of blessing.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:35 amShe looked down and realized she held the dry cleaner’s receipt for cleaning her commencement robe. 😫😂
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:37 amAfter the initial shock, she asked God for help: 🥹 “OK, Lord, it’s just You and me; help me to remember my prayer of blessing I wrote for these children.”
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:38 amShe took a deep breath and then prayed out: “I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that each one of you would walk forward from this moment in the excellence and love of God.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:39 amThat He would guide you, direct you, and draw you to your ultimate goal.”
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:39 amWith that, she proceeded to deliver her prepared commencement speech.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:40 amThe prayer lasted a mere 18 seconds, but that one mention of the name of Jesus set off a firestorm of adverse reactions far beyond reason, thrusting E’Lena into a vicious attack against her, personally.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:41 amThe local newspaper derided her with a barrage of negative articles. Social media trolls called her names and harassed her.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:43 amThe Tulsa public school superintendent and a fellow board member wrote open letters condemning her for violating the U.S. Constitution and the TPS students’ religious rights.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 12:52 amTPS Temporary Protected Status
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 1:37 amIn a matter of days, the threats of lawsuits began. The first threat came from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 1:37 amThe organization’s website says it actively pursues cases it perceives to be violations of the First Amendment.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 1:38 amHaving served the past 15 months as a new school board member, E’Lena was no stranger to controversy.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 1:39 amThroughout her board tenure, E’Lena proved that she is unafraid to speak up for the students she represents.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 1:40 amShe has refused to approve blanket budget proposals. After TPS uncovered an embezzlement scheme of over $343,000 by a Tulsa school administrator, E’Lena asked Gov. Kevin Stitt for a forensic audit of TPS, and the governor agreed.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 1:41 amShe advocates for more emphasis on the teaching of academic basics. She has called for the TPS superintendent’s resignation student performance has declined steadily during the superintendent’s eight-year tenure.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 1:42 amE’Lena’s goal is to hold the school accountable.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 1:46 amIt’s not like the school didn’t need prayer. As the most extensive school system in Oklahoma 69 schools, serving 32,569 students, TPS has a dismal record of student performance.
spiritdoc1Prayers: 40942Requests: 2422
August 12, 2023 at 1:48 amThe average reading proficiency in TPS is 16.7%; for math, it’s 4.6%; and for science, it’s 14.2%. Last year TPS reported over 30 incidents of weapons in school during the fall semester.
-
AuthorPosts
You must be logged in to prayer to this request.