Mercer remembers terror victims, prays for peace

Two candles burning Wednesday morning in Newton Chapel called for the Mercer University community to remember worldwide terror victims and compelled them to act for peace.

On a day that brought more bloodshed near Paris, about 80 students and faculty members paused to remember lives lost in violence across the world.

Campus minister Craig McMahan cautioned those gathered not to lose sight of the plight of others while living in the secure bubble of the university.

"We must grieve because it is part of our world. It is part of our human family that suffers," McMahan said.

Somber and almost haunting strains of organ music began the 30-minute service in honor of hundreds who have recently died.

Shrouded in a room of stained-glass windows, he recalled 147 people slaughtered at the University of Garissa in Kenya in April, spoke of 224 airline passengers blown out of the sky over Egypt, and mentioned dual suicide bombers killing 43 on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon on Nov. 12.

As news networks were reporting the latest details of a deadly overnight raid in the aftermath of the weekend carnage around Paris, McMahan paused for the 129 killed and nearly 400 injured in the coordinated attacks in France.

He urged the congregation to pray for the countless other innocent victims who died at the hands of others.

Eimad Houry, professor of International & Global Studies at Mercer, read from the Quran, Chapter 5, Verse 33.

"Whoever slays a soul for other than a soul, or for corruption in the land, it shall be as if he has slain mankind all together," Houry said.

Every Muslim is admonished to pray this before reading the holy book: "I seek refuge from the influence of Satan, and I seek solace in the kindness and mercy, the graciousness and mercy of God," he said.

Houry pointed out the Quran teaches 99 attributes of God, with graciousness and mercy the most important.

"If every human being emulated those qualities, we would have a better world for all of humanity," he said.

Mercer student Bekah Fulton, whose home is near Houston, Texas, read a passage from the Hebrew Bible: "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Chinekwu Obidoa, assistant professor of International & Global Studies, shared from the Beatitudes.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted," Obidoa read from the book of Matthew. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God."

McMahan echoed that last phrase as he challenged the men and women of different ages and backgrounds to become peacemakers in this world.

In the deep despair of recent weeks, he said he felt almost hopeless.

"How does one human being stand against what seems to be such a surging tide of violence in the world?" he asked.

Then he remembered all the individuals who made a difference over the course of history. McMahan urged people to work for peace in a tangible way and widen their world view to sense the "hurt and the suffering that is in so many places."

A congregational rendition of "Let There Be Peace on Earth" closed the service.

"Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me."

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 and follow her on Twitter @liz_lines.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 10:21 PM with the headline "Mercer remembers terror victims, prays for peace ."