Virginia Tech Updated Prayer Request

This was sent out yesterday by Robert Howe, International Student IV staff worker at Virginia Tech:

Greetings from Virginia Tech – let me update you on what’s happened since Tuesday morning:

· We’ve seen incredible demonstrations of campus unity, not only in the university-sponsored convocation and candlelight vigil, but also at a noon prayer gathering on the drillfield on Wednesday. I believe that our ongoing, united prayer efforts, which gave us such a sense of community even before April 16, will be the starting point for campus healing and renewal.

· We are still tired – I was hoping to sleep in this morning, but I awoke at 8 am to the sound of an interview in my living room between my roommate/coworker Wes and a reporter from Christianity Today! We’re doing our best to handle the media attention and our unexpected public relations role.

· Sadly, the missing student I mentioned in my last e-mail, Lauren, was one of the victims. She was a very close friend to some of the people involved with our ministry. We also grieve for the disproportionately large number of international students and faculty who died.

· The impact on the Korean community is deep – there will be a Korean Students Assembly tonight at a local church. Friday night, the InterVarsity chapter will meet together for worship and fellowship with Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, a group with many Korean-American students. Please pray for God’s love to take away all shame and guilt from Korean community members, and that as a united international community, we would all identify with the sinfulness that led to this tragedy as well as a common hope in one savior, Jesus Christ.

· Towards this end of international unity, I am hosting an open gathering tonight for international students to come and share a meal, their stories, and their prayers and worship songs. Pray for God to give us hope, peace, and clear direction about what healing steps to take next.

Thank you so much. If you are receiving this e-mail as a forward, know that I appreciate your prayers as well, and the support we’re receiving from all over.

In Immanuel, God with us,

Robert

Robert A. Howe

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship @ Virginia Tech

International Student Ministry