Regent University

yesterday we arrived at pat robertson's regent university to face a closed down campus surrounded by more police (via foot, vehicle, horse, and helicopter) than were riders. we stood on the sidewalk beyond campus property in a silent vigil, holding up literature, waiting to welcome dialogue with any students who might venture off campus to speak with us. when students began to come our way, the police stopped them. i am not sure what the police told the students, but it must have been effective because the students did not feel able to continue on their way to speak with us. we sang songs in peaceful vigil and stayed for several hours. one of our riders held up his cell phone # and students called us; we made plans to meet them across the street at a 7-11. the students invited us to a bible study that night and we invited them for dinner and dialogue the following night. afterwards we peacefully re-entered our bus and drove away.

i was one of the riders who was able to attend the bible study. it was at the 1st baptist church and was very energetic and welcoming. i learned some wonderful things from the speaker and we all praised jesus with the praise band as brothers and sisters in christ. the students were more than loving and hospitiable, even giving us rides back to our hotel. it was an enjoyable night, spent in loving fellowship.

today we returned with further intention to dialogue with students. students wanted to talk with us and we wanted to talk with students. before we could even cross the steet towards regent university, about 7 or so regent students (the same who had spent time with us at the bible study) walked up and down the line of riders. they embraced each one of us with tears, sometimes bowing on their knees, and asking forgiveness from us on behalf of all christians who have ever contributed to the horrible names, violence, and wounds that we have suffered from the christian community. these were conservative christians, who acknowleged our differences in beliefs, yet understood that christ came to love and not to hate. we were all in awe and tears as we embraced the beginning of a newly formed community of mutal love.

as we continued toward the campus, there were more police on site today than yesterday. a new yellow tape was wrapped around the campus property, a visible line that the police were there to protect. we again stood in singing vigil. when we saw students in the distance, 6 of our riders announced that they were going over to speak with the regent students. on their way over, all were arrested. it was a miserable picture to watch, students being denied access to peacefully speak with other students. after our riders were taken off campus we boarded our bus and left regent university.

i have never seen as many police in my life. how could 32 proven peaceful young adults pose such a threat to regent? below is a quote from the book "Homosexuality and Christian Faith" edited by Walter Wink.

“SOME SAY THAT THEY ARE A THREAT TO THE FAMILY, BUT NONE TELLS US HOW. SOME FEAR THEY MIGHT ABUSE OUR CHILDREN, BUT NO FACTS HAVE EVER EEN ADDUCED TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE ANY MORE LIKELY TO DO SO THAN HETEROSEXUAL PEOPLE ARE. DO HOMOSEXUALS THREATEN TO INVADE OUR HOMES, STEAL OUR PROPERTY, RAPE OUR DAUGHTERS? WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT HOMOSEXUAL MEN ARE MURDERED BY HETEROSEXUAL PEOPLE JUST FOR BEING GAY; WHAT WE ALSO KNOW IS THAT THERE IS NO RECORD OF A HETEROSEXUAL BEING MURDERED FOR NOT BEING GAY. WHY, THEN, I WONDER, IN A WORLD OF VIOLENCE, STARVING CHILDREN, CRUEL TYRANNIES, AND NATURAL DISASTERS, ARE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE SO STEAMED UP ABOUT THE HARMLESS AND OFTEN BENEFICENT PRESENCE OF GAYS AND LESBIANS AMONG US?” pg 78

the above question remains to be answered. one thing is for sure: regent university must not only be remembered for it's show of police force, but for its christ like students who follow in the way of jesus letting love be the law of thier life. i have faith that those students will continue to positively influence the world around them as they have made a difference in my life.