Stephen Lowe ’16 is a young man of vision. He has a unique gift for coming up with ideas and then seeking help from others to implement his plans and carry them through with practical details. Since 10th grade, when Stephen began leading songs in chapel, both teachers and students have come to realize the leadership gifts he carries in our student body.
Last fall, when the Syrian refugee crisis was at its worst and much in the news, Stephen had an idea to conduct a 24 hour prayer vigil at Eastern Mennonite School for refugees fleeing Syria. Stephen brought his idea forward to be vetted by the National Honor Society and school administration. After receiving enthusiastic approval from both groups, a committee of seniors went to work in order to make the vision a practical reality.
On January 29-30, 2016, the vision for prayer about Syria and the refugee crisis settled into the school building, beginning 7:00 p.m. on a Friday evening and ending 24 hours later. There were three worship services, hymn sings, and a prayer-through-art event facilitated by EMS art teacher Barbara Gautcher.
A highlight of the prayer vigil was a sermon from J. Daryl Byler ’74, who is the Executive Director of the EMU Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. From years of experience living in the Middle East and a lifetime of learning how to pray, Daryl helped attendees understand why we pray. Prayer helps us remember who God is, Byler stated. It helps us remember who we are, it helps us remember who our neighbor is, and prayer, Byler concluded, helps prepare us for action.
Byler cautioned his listeners at the prayer vigil to not expect immediate results from hours of prayer. But Stephen Lowe, the week after the event, was well aware that sluggish peace talks about the Syria refugee crisis started up again in Geneva, Switzerland, at almost the exact moment the vigil ended.
