51社区

JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 11, 2002 — 51社区 will welcome a visit from Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer, the missionaries to Afghanistan who were arrested and subsequently released by the Taliban, on Wednesday, Feb. 20. The two women will share from their experiences in a chapel service scheduled for 10 a.m. in the G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel.

Heather Mercer & Dayna Curry

While the two Shelter Now International relief workers were captive in Afghanistan -- charged with breaking Muslim law by teaching Christianity -- America suffered attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, then began its military campaign against Afghanistan and its ruling Taliban government. Mercer, 24, and Curry, 30, both graduates of Baylor University and members of the Antioch Community Church in Waco, were released in November as Kabul fell to Northern Alliance and American forces.

According to Union President David S. Dockery, the university is excited about what this visit will mean to the campus body as well as Jackson and West Tennessee.

鈥淲e look forward to hearing from Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer and learning from their courage and convictions,鈥� said Dockery. 鈥淚t will provide the Union community with a first-hand look at some of the global challenges of the 21st Century.鈥�

The public is invited to attend; however, a very limited number of tickets will be available for chapel seating. Complimentary tickets for the public will be available at Union Station in the Penick Academic Complex on Union鈥檚 Jackson campus beginning Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 8 a.m. There is a limit of two tickets per person and no phone reservations will be taken. Overflow areas offering closed-circuit viewing will be provided for anyone wishing to attend without a ticket. Only those with tickets will be seated in the chapel.

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (731) 661-5215.