Prayer room in Hayworth Chapel opens to students
By Holly Gambrell, Staff Writer //
A new multi-faith prayer room is now open to High Point University students and staff of all religious and cultural backgrounds. The prayer room is located in the basement of the Charles E. Hayworth Sr. Memorial Chapel and holds sacred objects from different religions for students and staff to use.
The prayer rooms serves as a meditative space for students to pray and follow their religious traditions. It was specifically built for students of non-Christian faiths and backgrounds and is open every day.
The space is mainly used by Muslim students, said Preston Davis, minister to the university.
“I initiated the building of the prayer room, but the idea and want for it has always been around,” said Davis.
According to the 2014 religious preference totals collected by Shannon Lefever, the Manager of Chapel Programs, there are approximately 4,407 students on HPU’s campus. Over half of these students identify as Christian, 123 identify as Jewish, 17 as Muslim, nine as Hindu and seven as Buddhist.
Last year Davis was approached by Muslim students who inquired about having a private place on campus where they could pray. They started using Davis’ office, and the need for a private prayer room became apparent.
“We started building the prayer room last spring as a reflection to the growing religious diversity we have on campus and the lack of space to support that diversity,” said Davis.
Davis and Akir Khan, a freshman success coach and practicing Muslim, discussed the growing religious diversity on campus and agreed that the prayer room was essential.
“With the growth of HPU, Preston and I wanted to create a more inclusive environment for all people,” said Khan.
Davis and Khan worked together to form an accommodating place for all students on campus to pray, worship and be spiritual.
The prayer room is simple, with ablution sinks for hand and feet washing, and cabinets that hold sacred objects and texts from different religions and traditions.
“I wanted the space to be intentionally bare so that it could be shaped for whatever tradition needed to use the space at that time,” said Davis.
The space was previously a kitchen that was used about twice a year, said Davis. Now, the space is used daily by students who wish to pray and meditate in a space that is not surrounded by Christian symbolism, like the chapel’s first floor, which is filled with crosses and stained glass windows.
Reza Moghtaderi Esfahani is a junior at HPU, and one of the 17 Muslim students on campus. He uses the prayer room two to three times a week.
“I like that it’s a private place on campus. I’m not bothering anyone and nobody’s bothering me when I use it,” said Moghtaderi Esfahani.
Privacy and quiet are two important qualities the prayer room offers. It also raises opportunities for discussion about religious pluralism.
“I hope people from different faiths come there to pray and then engage in a very positive conversation with those from other faiths on campus,” said Moghtaderi Esfahani.