Riverside, Calif., Sept, 2001-- Within a few hours of the terrorist attacks on America's eastern seaboard, La Sierra University students and staff rallied to pray not only for the victims of the destroyed planes and buildings, but for their families, for medical and rescue personnel, government leaders, and even the faceless attackers.

Sam Leonor, MDiv, campus pastor and chaplain, lowered the United States flag to half-mast, as a large crowd of students, administrators, and faculty watched solemnly and quietly on the campus mall in front of La Sierra Hall, then bent their heads in prayer.

They were taking part in a nationwide prayer chain scheduled for noon PST, at Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
Many people in the La Sierra crowd held hands or silently wept with arms around each other, as campus leaders prayed.

John Jones, PhD, professor and dean of the School of Religion at La Sierra, prayed for a spirit of love and understanding between peoples of different culture and religion. He prayed for Muslim, Christian and Jew alike, that all would resist any temptation to stereotyping or scapegoating, or to lash out against any group.

Lawrence T. Geraty, PhD, president of the University, said that the La Sierra community would undoubtedly be touched in a personal way as we learned of victims or their families with whom we're acquainted or related, or plans changed or canceled. (Indeed, former La Sierra student Elias Lopez survived the attack on the World Trade Center. His story is recounted in the Sept. 12 Riverside Press-Enterprise newspaper.)

Geraty said, "What happened today may turn out to be for our generation what Pearl Harbor was for the World War II generation. It reminds us that the world has become much more complicated. In our revulsion at these despicable acts, we must not forget that on a smaller scale, such acts are daily fare for many people groups around the world. Like it or not, our world is becoming smaller and we are being drawn into a world family with its issues and problems. In the meantime, let us not rush to judgment. Let us not condemn the majority of people in troubled areas of the world who are just as desperate for peace and freedom as are we. Let us reach out in concern, love, and understanding for all. Let us be channels of healing to a hurting world."

Ella S. Simmons, EdD, provost of the University and vice president for Academic Administration, reminded the assembled group that student missionaries were trying to fly to their new assignments, and that freshman students were preparing to travel to La Sierra in anticipation of orientation, testing, and the spiritual retreat taking place within days. She prayed, "Lord, please help us to remember that this world is not our home, that it cannot afford us safety, security, or peace...Help us also to remember why we have been called to La Sierra, to understand and to do your will for us in this world...Remind us, Lord, that as we cry and mourn with the victims and families of the victims of today's terrible tragedy, that we will realize that violent crashes are not always airplanes crashing into buildings, but can be pills and drug-laden needles crashing into human bodies, and/or problems that destroy families...that we have responsibilities to these people also..."

Pastor Leonor read the Twenty-third Psalm, before the solemn group dispersed to their offices and classrooms. Some of the La Sierra University personnel were present at California Baptist University's candle light vigil that evening, showing their solidarity with the Christian community in Riverside. At that service, CBU students added their prayers to that of their president's, lifted candles in the dark, and sang praise songs of hope, faith, and love.

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by Christy Robinson