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While other colleges will likely be dealing with protests and violence on the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, Liberty staff and students will pray for the victims and the Standing for Freedom Center will host an event discussing why Christians should support the Jewish people.
In the aftermath of Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel, we’ve seen disquieting headlines depicting scenes of destruction and disorder across America’s college campuses, among them “USC Cancels Its Main Graduation Ceremony, Citing Safety Concerns” and “Columbia University’s Encampment Ended with a Mass Police Operation.”
The student-led protests, which were prevalent at college campuses across the nation, created an environment that is not conducive to the healthy, intentional pursuit of higher learning.
These weren’t just students exercising their rights to protest and make sure their grievances were heard; instead their actions turned destructive and violent.
For example, campus protestors utilized encampments to occupy academic buildings and obstruct campus traffic, resulting in dozens of arrests. There were also numerous instances of students and faculty committing vandalism, threatening Jewish people and administrators of universities with harm, and calling for October 7-style attacks to be duplicated in Israel and around the world.
Meanwhile, many college administrators proved unwilling or unable to return their institutions to places of order and safety for their students and staff — and instead put the onus on Jewish students and faculty to hide or stay away from campus.
A task force composed of faculty at Columbia University found that the university allowed “pervasive” antisemitism to fester on campus following the October 7 attack on Israel and recommended that the university revamp its disciplinary process and require additional sensitivity training for students and staff
As a new school year is well underway and the first anniversary of October 7 approaches, the temperature on many college campuses isn’t cooling. Anti-Israel and pro-Hamas protests continue.
At the University of Michigan, Pro-Palestinian students took over the student government by winning campus elections and have since acted on a promise to withhold all funds to student groups, including funds raised by students through fees, until the university agrees to “divest from companies making money from Israel’s war in Gaza.”
On September 25, a group of around 100 masked protesters gathered again in the center of Columbia University’s campus for a day they declared “All Out for Lebanon.” Many protestors shouted derogatory phrases, such as “We don’t want any Zionists here.” The group responsible for organizing the protest, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, has a stated goal of pressuring the university to withdraw financial support for and cut ties with companies who are financially supporting Israel in any way.
At Cornell University, more than 100 masked pro-Palestinian protesters barged into a university job fair, banging pots and pans and chanting in an attempt to shut down any recruitment by Boeing and L3Harris; the university claims that the protesters shoved and pushed police, and the fair was closed early for safety purposes.
Standing in stark contrast to all the disorder, disruption, and hatred seizing campuses around the country is Liberty University.
In the days after October 7, for example, Liberty students could be found earnestly praying and standing in solidarity for the 1,400 people killed during the Hamas attacks and their families, as well as the hundreds taken hostage. A few weeks later, even as campuses saw massive unrest and protests against Israel, Liberty held a candlelight vigil next to the Freedom Tower, where students and staff sang hymns and prayed for peace and healing.
This was a campus at rest — resting on the Word of God and His sovereignty.
And that was hardly a surprise. Since its founding in 1971, Liberty University has been a friend and proud ally of the nation of Israel and the Jewish people.
The school’s founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr., began this legacy in February 1972 by taking the very first class of students at the Lynchburg Baptist College to various biblical sites in Israel, including the tomb where Christ’s body was temporarily laid before His resurrection, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Dead Sea, and other holy places.
Since then, Liberty has offered a variety of yearly study-abroad trips to Israel, giving students a chance to add to their Christian education through a genuinely enriching experience, bringing places and culture from the Bible to life while learning more about the nation of Israel.
The university has also hosted guests from Israel at convocation, such as two Israeli brothers, Yonatan and Ido Lulu-Shamriz, who were invited to share their first-hand account of the horrific October 7th attack a month after it took place. A week following the convocation, Liberty held a rally for Israel in which hundreds of members of the university community, including students, faculty, and staff, gathered together to pray for and stand in support of the nation of Israel in their continued fight against the Hamas terror regime.
This October 7, Liberty will again stand with Israel for a time of remembrance and hope. The university’s Standing for Freedom Center will host an event called “Why Christians Should Support Israel.” Dr. Jeff Myers, president of Summit Ministries and author of the book Should Christians Support Israel?, will present event attendees with a detailed understanding and analysis of the current Israel-Palestine conflict, strengthened by a rich historical understanding of the issues anchored from a biblical point of view. Those in attendance at the event will be able to engage in a Q&A session with Dr. Myers after the main presentation, offering a chance for individuals to receive both valuable insights for themselves and to be better equipped to engage in conversations with others in the community regarding this critically important issue.
While students and faculty on campuses around the nation continue to spread hatred and anger against others, particularly Jews and the nation of Israel, Liberty students unite in love — love for Christ, love for each other, and love for the Jewish people.
As mobs chant violence, Liberty students gather and pray and worship. While some ban those who disagree from campus, Liberty and its students seek open dialogue and understanding.
We hope you will join us on October 7 for a night of discussion on why Christians should support the nation of Israel. Every person will receive a free copy of Dr. Myers’ book.
To register for the event, click here.
Interested in pursuing a fully accredited, biblically based education? Liberty University has been training students to serve as “Champions for Christ” in their respective professions across the industry spectrum for over 50 years. With over 350 residential academic concentrations, 20 NCAA Division 1 athletic programs, opportunities to serve domestically and abroad, and an unapologetic Christian worldview, your experience at Liberty University will provide an education that roots you in truth and allows you to learn, grow, and impact the culture for Christ. Apply now!
