Praying for the Families of the Victims of the Shooting at Davis College

News Ten Now Video of the prayer service (News 10 Now)

Today students, faculty, and staff of Davis along with members of the community came together and pray for the victims of the shooting on Friday. Several members of the Media were there including News 10 Now and the Press and Sun Bulletin. The video above is from News 10 Now's coverage of the prayer day. The Press and Sun also had another article about the prayer event. Many students and Mrs. Novak hope to be able to go back to the American Civic Center to continue to help those who want to learn English.

Special Chapel for Campus and Community on Monday 4/6/09 -- All Are Welcome

Dear Friends, Students, Faculty, Staff and Trustees,

In addition to the community services scheduled this week on Sunday and Wednesday, there will be a special chapel service on Monday, April 6, 2009 at 10:30 AM in Lowe Hall at Davis College. Our campus will gather together to pray for all of those affected by Friday's tragedy. We will be joined by crisis-trained chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team who have already deployed to Binghamton. We are grateful for their ministry on our campus and in our community as they seek to provide the comfort of Christ. You can read the statement issued by Franklin Graham on the website at www.bgea.org

Friends from our local churches and the Greater Binghamton community are invited to join us for Monday's chapel -- all are welcome. If you cannot join us in person, join with us in prayer. Pray for for the shooting victims and the families of those who died. Pray for the law enforcement officers and community leaders. In particular please remember Professor Bonnie Novak and our five Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) students. This group has been going to the Civic Center, the site of the tragedy, on Wednesdays this semester. The students are anxious to know about the people they taught and befriended at the Center, and at the same time, they will be coping with many different emotions in the coming days and weeks. We covet your prayers on their behalf.

In Christ,

Dr. Dino J. Pedrone
President

Prayers for the Binghamton area

Most likely you have all seen or heard the news about the shooting in the American Civic Center in downtown Binghamton. The location is a little less than 3 miles from the campus of Davis. In fact several of the TESL students work there on Wednesdays. A few hours after the events began unfolding Dr. Pedrone sent out an email. Below is the text of the email.

Dear Friends,
Today tragedy struck the American Civic Center on Front Street in Binghamton, New York when a gunman took the lives of innocent people, and ultimately lost his own life. We have received many phone calls and emails from friends wanting to know if our campus is safe. Yes. We praise God that none of our students, faculty or staff were at the location.This is indeed the grace of God -- on Wednesdays, our Teaching English as a Second Language students are at this very location helping to teach English to people who are new to our country. It is a place where our students use the skills they learn in the classroom at Davis College, while helping people.
Today, Friday, our ladies were on campus for a conference and the men were involved in a campus work-day. After checking with (TESL) Professor Bonnie Novak, we are relieved to report that none of our students were scheduled to work at the Civic Center today. At the same time, our hearts are heavy and our thoughts and prayers are with those directly affected by this horrific event. Earlier today our TESL students gathered with Professor Novak in the Cafe and had prayer for those involved before they knew all that was happening. Our campus will continue to be in prayer to support all of those affected.
Sincerely in Christ,
Dr. Dino Pedrone
President

Keep the Binghamton area in your prayer as it goes through this hard time. Pray that God will open doors and that His loves and love of His Son Jesus Christ that we celebrate this weekend and next will bring more people to Himself.