| United States Robert E. Rhoads, Sr. |
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Greetings
in Jesus' Name!
I would
like to ask you for your fervent prayers for Gallaudet University.
If you have been praying every now and then about the protests.
I thank you. Please be aware that I do not have all the
information and I am only sending out an important request is to PRAY.
Some of you may know more details than I do. The protest is
affecting the ministry on campus. That is the reason for this
email update.
What I
have seen and heard this week and for the last 3 weeks... the
situation intensified!! Several solutions have been discussed.
Resignation from Jane K Fernandes who are to be the next President for
Gallaudet University by January 2007 have been refused. Both
sides are going head to head now then before. Negotiations
appeared to be out of question. But the Faculty and Staff have
been meeting to discuss solutions. Gallaudet are often on the
news. So much public relations now than before. Sigh.
The
faculty and staff especially the interpreters are getting tired.
The students appeared to be divided. Some want to continue the
protest and some want to move on with the education. Different
theories have rise up about how the administration is handling it.
Is there something going on between the soon retired President King
Jordan and the current Provst Jane K. Fernandes with their secret plan
or agenda? Maybe there is none at all. There were some
confusion as to how the procedure should be done in selecting the next
president.
If you
are not aware about the Gallaudet protest, President King Jordan
announced that he will retired by December 2006. The process
began with the selection of the candidates. Last spring of 2006,
the final 3 candidates were set. Dr. Stephen Weiner, Dr. Jane K
Fernandes and Ron Stern. Many people sent out warnings not to
select Jane based on the history of her leadership with
Gallaudet University as a whole. Nevertheless Jane got selected
to be the next president. The uproar began. The "tent
city" was formed around the front gate. There was confusion
about the protest itself. It is not the same as "Deaf
President Now" in 1988. It is not for civil rights but
personal issues for the students. The protest was dormant during
the summer time then it started again by late September.
Three
main things that started the Gallaudet protest are 1) Jane's
leadership now under fire as the key reason during her 11 years
with Gallaudet; 2) the selection process - there are suspicions as how
it is done; and 3) Deaf culture issues - people say that she is
"not" Deaf enough or do not have a Deaf background. Be
aware that Deaf people are pretty sensitive on those issues.
Oppression have come a loooong way.
Many of
us especially the Deaf Christians do not agree on a lot of things with
and about Jane K Fernandes. But when the protest arises, many
questions have been raised about what is the Biblical way to handle
it. Some tactics on campus was not appropriate but it
happened. I thought it would be enough to cause Jane to back
down but she declared that she won't back down. Therefore
everything changed with the arrests and the hunger strike and so
forth.
What I am
asking you right now is to pray for God's wisdom for this whole
situation and how we especially the Deaf Christians and the faculty
and staff should handle this sensitive matter.
It is my
understanding that the United States Congress are involved as well.
We know that God is still in control and many of us are wondering what the
outcome are from this Gallaudet protest. There were a lot of
discussions from the Book of Romans, chapter 13. Should we back
out or stand for what is right?
I am
seeing less and less of my students coming to "Thursday Night
LIVE" (sponsored by C3, the Campus Crusade for Christ chapter)
due to the obligations they have. But the attendance came back
last Thursday which is a good sign. It is quite a challenge how
to improvise and make adjustments and find ways to encourage the
students to keep the faith on campus! The student leaders and I
have been discussing ways to get the students to refocus on God and
His plans.
Pray that
we will become an encouragement to those seeking God in a
personal way. Pray that we can continue our small Bible Study
groups. Pray that we can move on with special events and
activities.
Pray that
we can find ways to ministering to those now involved. Pray
especially for the students!!
Pray also
for Chi Alpha (another Christian organization) who are also doing the
ministry as we are.
Thank you
for your prayers and support!
Yours
Because I'm His,
Bob
Rhoads
Campus Director
C3 at Gallaudet University
Campus Crusade for Christ
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