Mennonite Church USA encouraged to pray for Bluffton University
NEWTON, Kan.Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership and Mennonite Education Agency encourage Mennonite Church USA to join in prayer in response to a bus accident this morning in Atlanta that took the lives of four Bluffton University students, a bus driver and his wife and severely injured others.
The bus accident occurred in Atlanta as the Bluffton University baseball team was traveling to Sarasota, Fla., to compete in its first games of the season. As news of the tragedy spread among churchwide ministries, area conferences and congregations this morning, so did prayers of support and healing for those in the accident and the Bluffton University community.
Carlos Romero, executive director of Mennonite Education Agency (MEA), the education agency of Mennonite Church USA, shared this statement with other church leaders this morning:
“With you, I offer prayers for all who were traveling on the bus, for the families who have lost loved ones and for the families who wait for news, who may be en route to Atlanta now. I pray too for the entire Bluffton University community, torn by grief at this tragic news. I lift up especially president Jim Harder as he leads at this time of suffering.”
Mennonite Church USA’s 21 area conferences received a call to prayer from MEA to share with the denomination’s 935 congregations. Bluffton’s sister schools conducted on-campus prayer vigils.
“We lament the bus tragedy in Atlanta today that has taken the lives and injured members of the Bluffton University baseball team, the bus driver and his wife. We pray for the grieved and worried families and friends,” said Jim Schrag, executive director for Mennonite Church USA.
“We support the university and its leaders as they reach out to one another in mutual aid and love. The members of Mennonite Church USA are in prayer for the healing of the injured and the hope of God’s sustaining power for those who have lost loved ones.”
Eastern Mennonite University responds to Bluffton accident
By Jim Bishop
HARRISONBURG, Va.The Eastern Mennonite University community is reeling today with the news of a bus accident involving sister school Bluffton (Ohio) University’s baseball team, resulting in the deaths of six persons and serious injuries of many more.
“The thoughts and prayers of the EMU community are with the entire Bluffton University community during this very difficult time,” said President Loren Swartzendruber. “We will continue to pray for those injured and hope for their recovery.”
Dr. Swartzendruber commented from a D.C. airport where he was awaiting a flight to Florida to meet colleagues from EMU for a baseball game between Bluffton and EMU’s teams scheduled for Saturday in Sarasota.
Eastern Mennonite University and Bluffton (Ohio) University are affiliated with Mennonite Church USA.
Quick Response Within Community
Within hours of hearing of the crash in the early morning hours along Interstate 75 in Atlanta, Ga., EMU student life staff organized a community response.
The entire community was invited to prayers during a regularly scheduled Friday morning chapel service in Lehman Auditorium. In addition, a prayer station was set up in the Campus Center Greeting Hall with updates posted there.
Campus pastors, counseling center staff and student life personnel were available for support on a drop-in basis. Saturday's game between EMU and Bluffton has been cancelled.
EMU Students Arrive Safely
Athletic Director Dave King, traveling with the EMU team bus, reports that they have arrived safely in Sarasota. They will join with Bluffton alumni and friends in any services planned.
The EMU baseball team plans to meet with the Sarasota area Mennonite church community for a grieving service headed by Pastor Rocky Miller and Gene Miller, principal of Sarasota Christian School.
On Sunday, the team will be at Bayshore Mennonite Church where President Swartzendruber is speaking. The team will then travel to South Carolina to fulfill their playing commitments as previously scheduled during spring break.
EMU’s mid-semester break began Friday evening, Mar. 2. Classes will resume Monday, Mar. 12.
For more information on EMU, visit www.emu.edu. For information on Mennonite Education Agency, the education agency of Mennonite Church USA, visit www.mennoniteeducation.org.
