There's a little church in New York City, just a block or so away from where the World Trade Center used to stand. It was built early in the past century. Rubble from the World Trade Center lies all around the little church, but the church is still standing. In the midst of almost total devastation, the church is still standing.
I believe that is a symbol of God's people. In the worst of times, we need the best from people.
It's not an easy task when such horrible events have occurred. More than one Seventh-day Adventist lost his or her life in the tragedies of September 11. Their families and friends grieve; still today they grieve. Other Adventists can tell joyous stories of being reunited with loved ones that they feared might be dead. They also grieve, because a great tragedy has struck this planet.
It's natural that we want to do something in response. So what should we do?
First, we should pray. It's the first thing to do in every situation, because Jesus wants to be very near us. But particularly when events test our faith, we should pray.
Here at the World Headquarters of the church, we prayed. We gathered together as an employee family, more than 600 of us in this building, less than two hours after the first plane crashed into the first building. We prayed.
Have you prayed? I hope so. Jesus loves to listen to you. Ellen White tells us that "PRAYER IS THE KEY IN THE HAND OF FAITH TO UNLOCK HEAVEN'S STOREHOUSE."
We also need to do things tangible. Chaplain Marty Feldbush from our office went to New York City. He trained pastors there to be skillful grief counselors. Many, many people need to be able to talk with someone sympathetic. Someone who loves Jesus. In the next few months, our pastors will help many people know about a God who loves them so much that His own Son was sacrificed.
What else should we do? Well, we should pray some more. Adventist churches throughout North America have opened their doors for the community to come in for prayer. In big cities like Washington, D.C., and in small towns like Bozeman, Montana, Adventist churches are centers of prayer.
Has your church met together to pray? I hope so. There is great comfort, and there is great strength, in the family of believers who pray together. God tells us in Hebrews not to forsake assembling together.
Adventist Disaster Response is working with the emergency management agencies of the United States. Your church is a respected partner in responding to disasters of all kinds, including these tragedies. Many members here in North America have given blood to help the survivors. Others have donated funds, including people from around the world. We've been strengthened by receiving messages of encouragement from our brothers and sisters in Burundi and the Solomon Islands, in Switzerland and Kenya.
Thank you. You've made our work in North America easier, because we know you've been praying for us. Remember the little church that's still standing. Let's be like that church. Amid the devastation of this world, let's keep praying. Thank you for that.
