Over 300 Attend Prayer Vigil at Mid-Continent

A Sunday afternoon prayer service at Mid-Continent University attracted more than 300 people from throughout the region.



The service organized by area pastors was held in the Founders Prayer Circle located in the center of the Mayfield campus.



Acting President Ken Winters said he appreciated the strong showing of community support. He told the crowd that God’s intervention through prayer is needed to help the University through difficult financial times.



The Rev. Ronnie Stinson Jr., pastor of Trace Creek Baptist Church, reminded the crowd that God instructed believers to bring their needs to Him through prayer. He was followed by Rev. Rusty Wirt, pastor of Community Fellowship Baptist Church, who prayed for students; Rev. Keith Allred, of Chief Cornerstone Baptist Church, who prayed for staff and faculty, and Rev. Wes Fowler, pastor of Mayfield First Baptist Church, who prayed for the administration. The service lasted about 40 minutes.



Winters said the university's greatest financial challenge is to submit the paperwork needed for the U.S. Department of Education to release federal student aid funds that already have been paid by the University. He said he’s confident a new strategy for making a submission will produce positive results. But he said it will take five to six weeks for it to be completed, reviewed and if approved, for funds to be released.



The crowd included students, current faculty and staff, retired employees, employees laid off last week in an effort to cut costs, and many residents of the community.