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Abilene Christian University is providing free transportation today for those who wish to attend tonight’s “A Celebration of Life” memorial service in Lubbock for Anabel Reid.

Two charter buses – one for students and faculty from the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and a second for other friends – will leave campus at 1:30 p.m. today. Anyone is welcome to ride on the bus with priority reserved for current students, faculty and staff.

The memorial service begins at 5:30 p.m. at Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock. Afterward, the church will provide dinner for the ACU guests before they return to Abilene.

Passengers can board the charter buses in front of the Zona Luce Building on Campus Court. Seating on the second bus is first-come, first-served and open to all.

ACU will provide a live audiocast of the service at 5:30 p.m. in the McCaleb Conference Center of the Hunter Welcome Center. Later tonight, a video replay will be available on this blog.

Some 800 Abilene Christian University students – supported by faculty, staff and friends in the community – attended a special version last night of Nine O’Clock, the Sunday night praise and prayer service held in the auditorium of University Church of Christ. It was the first time for some to be together since news Friday afternoon of a bus accident that sent 16 members of the ACU family to four hospitals, some of whom remain in critical condition.

One, 19-year-old sophomore Anabel Reid of Petersburg, Texas, died of her injuries.

“In great respect, we ask big questions of You,” prayed Brent Isbell, preaching minister of the University congregation. “More than answers, we need You: Your Spirit, Your presence … show us the way forward.”

Dr. Jeff Arrington, associate vice president for student life, updated students on the conditions of those injured, and echoed Isbell’s prayer. “It’s not somebody else’s news, God. It’s ours and it’s more than we can stand,” he prayed.

Dr. Mark Hamilton, who spoke at Friday night’s candlelight prayer service in Beauchamp Amphitheater, also prayed. Hamilton is professor of Old Testament and associate dean of the Graduate School of Theology.

The audience linked arms and sang Nine O’Clock’s traditional closing song, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

Another devotional service will take place Monday during ACU’s daily Chapel at 11 a.m. in Moody Coliseum, and will be livestreamed for friends and family around the world.

Many thanks to Gary Rhodes for his images of this gathering.

Even if you can’t be present in Abilene, you can watch live the devotional services being held tonight and Monday for the ACU family.

At 9 p.m. tonight, watch a livestream of Nine O’Clock, the time of praise and fellowship ACU students attend each Sunday night of the school year in the auditorium of University Church of Christ. You can view tonight’s service at uccabilene.org/ucc-live.

At 11 a.m. Monday, daily Chapel in Moody Coliseum will be livestreamed at acu.edu/live.

The Abilene community has been invited to join ACU students, staff and faculty at both devotionals.

Three of the injured passengers from Friday afternoon’s bus accident were released from hospitals today: Dr. Jim Cooke of Abilene and students Kathleen Henderson and Kendra Unamba. Cooke is professor of environmental science. Henderson is a junior from Rockport, Texas, and Unamba is a sophomore from Midlothian, Texas.

Seven remain hospitalized, three in critical condition. They are in hospitals in Dallas, Abilene and San Angelo.

Please check back often for updates and additional information.

A Celebration of Life service for 19-year-old Anabel Reid will be held Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas.

She died Friday of injuries from the one-vehicle bus accident that sent 16 people from ACU to area hospitals. As of Saturday evening, seven remained hospitalized, three in critical condition.

Students, faculty, staff and friends are invited to attend the Nine O’Clock devotional in the auditorium of University Church of Christ on Sunday, Nov. 6.

The traditional 9 p.m. gathering is a time of praise and prayer that this week will be devoted to friends and families of those injured in Friday afternoon’s bus accident.

Monday morning’s Chapel at 11 a.m. in Moody Coliseum also will be a time of reflection and worship. The 30-minute event is open to anyone who wishes to support the ACU community.

After spending time with students, faculty and families at an Abilene hospital this morning, Abilene Christian University president Dr. Phil Schubert prepared this message of gratitude for the many kinds of support offered to the ACU community from people around the world:

Members of the ACU community participated in a candlelight prayer service in the Beauchamp Amphitheater (Photo by Garrett Hoskins)

Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and friends filled ACU’s Beauchamp Amphitheater tonight in an outpouring of love for victims of the bus accident earlier today that took the life of one student and left others with injuries ranging from minor to critical.

Hugs and tears were shared throughout the hour-long candlelight prayer service led by Dr. Mark Hamilton, associate dean of the Graduate School of Theology.
Hamilton quoted Psalm 130: “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord.”

“This is not a night for explaining things, but it is a night to remember things,” he said. “God weeps with us more than we know, and God will have to straighten this out.”

Amanda Wilson from Walsenburg, Colo., one of the passengers who suffered minor injuries, came straight from Hendrick Medical Center to attend the service. “You are all such an amazing community. Your prayers and your support are so important to everybody involved in this,” she told the gathering.

After singing and a time of prayer, Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president for student life and dean of students, gave updates on the conditions of those involved in the accident and said the ACU family will continue to find ways to support and encourage the families affected by the tragedy throughout the coming days.

See emergency.acu.edu for the latest information.

The hour-long service helped bring the campus together on a chilly Friday night. (Photo by Garrett Hoskins)

Hundreds of students attended the service to participate in praise and prayer. (Photo by Hannah Vickers)

Abilene Christian University president Dr. Phil Schubert was back at Hendrick Medical Center early this morning to visit with each of those hospitalized after yesterday’s bus accident near Paint Rock, Texas. He was joined by other ACU officials, faculty and staff who are helping family members of the injured.

One of the 10 patients receiving treatment in hospitals in Abilene, San Angelo and Dallas is expected to be released today.

As previously reported, five patients were released last night. One other, sophomore Anabel Reid of Petersburg, Texas, died of her injuries. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Please check back often for updates and additional information.

The following students and faculty from ACU’s Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences were passengers in the bus that crashed this afternoon near Paint Rock, Texas:

• Anna Ciufo, The Woodlands, Texas
• Dr. Jim Cooke, Abilene, Texas (Professor of Environmental Science)
• Naomi Cruz, Richmond, Texas
• Allison Dorshorst, Colleyville, Texas
• Merissa Ford, Maple Valley, Wash.
• Kathleen Henderson, Rockport, Texas
• Jason Iris, Southhampton, Bermuda
• Tiffany Lutz, Zelienople, Pa.
• Emmett Miller, Hawley, Texas (Assistant Professor of Range and Environmental Science)
• Pat Miller, Hawley, Texas (wife of Emmett Miller)
• Dr. Michael Nicodemus, Abilene, Texas (Assistant Professor of Environmental Science)
• Anabel Reid, Petersburg, Texas
• Kendra Unamba, Midlothian, Texas
• Anna Watson, Kerrville, Texas
• Haley Wilkerson, Ravenna, Texas
• Amanda Wilson, Walsenburg, Colo.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Annabel Reid, who died in the crash.

Kathleen Henderson, Jason Iris, Dr. Michael Nicodemus, Haley Wilkerson and Amanda Wilson have been released from the hospital.

We will provide additional information on the others as it is available.