During a time of crisis and unforeseen circumstances for Ukraine and its people, the ETSU Campus House Christian Student Fellowship has taken steps to send love and aid to the crisis through a prayer vigil held on March 3.
The candlelight vigil, hosted at the Campus House (829 W Pine St), started at 8:30 p.m. and was open to the ETSU community, acknowledging the ongoing crisis of Russian invasion on the civilians of Ukraine, Campus House opened its doors to any student wishing to pray for the welfare of those whose lives are at risk through the crisis.
Campus House has been providing warm welcomes to students through the promise of inclusion and belonging since the establishment of the ministry. As a student-led and centered organization, the staff consistently operates around the mission of bringing not only members of the ministry closer, but also providing outreach to the community and campus life to incorporate the teachings and faith of the organization.
With this mission in mind, the March 3 vigil was an event that took little deliberation in its decision, as there are many individuals inside and outside the ministry and surrounding organizations whose families are directly affected by the crisis in Ukraine.
“We believe it important to ask God to bring an end to the aggression and we also wanted to demonstrate solidarity with our Ukrainian friend,” said Mike Luzadder, lead minister of the Campus House.
Living in an area free of global conflict for the time being, the Campus House has taken the fortunate circumstances given to Americans and pushed for a center of spiritual refuge for Ukrainians.
“It was of particular interest because one of the students who regularly attends the Campus House is Ukrainian,” said Luzadder.
In the height of the vigil, 20 students and several members of the larger community gathered around a common goal of sending love and understanding in the direction of those struggling.
The ministry not only accepts prayer requests for events like this, but also host events throughout the week to spread complicity and togetherness through the spirit of ETSU’s campus, such as free lunch every Tuesday, World Café International Fellowship, and even weekly Bible studies.
Those wishing to directly aid in the global crisis can access the following platform to provide solace to a Ukranian member of the Campus House whose family remains in the center of conflict overseas, visit atlant-support.com.
