On Wednesday (June 11), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) President Dr. Albert Mohler Jr. prayed for former SBTS student Jennifer Lyell’s family following his seminary report at the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) annual meeting.
Lyell, who was also a former Lifeway Christian Resources vice president and a sexual abuse survivor, died at the age of 47 on Saturday, June 7, following a series of “catastrophic strokes” she suffered earlier in the week.
In 2018, Lyell came forward with allegations of sexual abuse against former Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Professor David Sills. Lyell was 26 and Sills was in his late 40s when they first met. Lyell alleged the abuse happened over the course of 12 years. Sills was fired from his position after admitting to the sexual misconduct.
RELATED: SBC Abuse Survivor and Former Lifeway Vice President Jennifer Lyell Dies at 47
Mohler’s prayer was prompted by a messenger who was a former SBTS student and classmate of Lyell’s. The messenger praised Mohler for standing with Lyell and asked if he would lead a prayer for Lyell’s family and friends.
“Well, brother, that cannot be wrong. So let’s pray,” Mohler replied.
“Father, we come before you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we pray as Christians, as Southern Baptists, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and followers of Christ, we pray with broken hearts in the death of our sister Jennifer Lyell,” Mohler prayed. “Father, we recognize that just to invoke sometimes one name is to invoke an entire legacy of suffering.”
“And Father, we pray that you will minister to her family and friends,” he continued. “Father, we also pray that you would discipline and instruct Southern Baptists at every level to be faithful at every level in responding to sin in every form.”
Mohler concluded his prayer by saying, “Father, at times we just come with broken hearts. We pray for healing. And we also pray for righteousness. And that would be your gift. We ask for it in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) President Dr. Albert Mohler Jr. prayed for former SBTS student Jennifer Lyell's family following his seminary report at the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) annual meeting. ){kind=link}