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REMEMBERING 9/11

Everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they heard about the attack on 9/11. I was driving home listening to the radio when it was reported that a plane had crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.  As I turned on the TV after arriving home, there was still confusion.  What type of plane? Was it an accident? As I watched the reporting, the second plane hit the South Tower and we knew it was an attack. 

Prayer and concern began and only increased as the towers fell.  The phone lines were immediately jammed with calls so it was impossible to get through to anyone.  All the bridges and tunnels were closed so no one could enter Manhattan.  Gradually phone calls got through and emails, still in its infancy, were sent and received making it possible by early that night to establish that everyone in our congregation was safe even those that worked in and around the towers.

In the days that followed meetings were held to coordinate the Christian community’s response.  I was trained and certified by the Red Cross to be a chaplain and spent time as a counselor at their Family Assistance Center located at Pier 94 and the Respite Centers for firemen and other first responders who had been working on The Pile, as site of the destroyed World Trade Center came to be called.

Paul Williams, of the Orchard Group, called a meeting of area Christian church and church of Christ ministers to discuss how to meet the financial needs of those impacted by the attack. Christians and churches were calling to see how they could help. Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, took up a huge offering, other people and churches were giving through IDES, International Disaster Emergency Services, or directly to churches.  It was decided to help anyone in need but to make a special emphasis on the small business owners around Ground Zero who would be without customers and income for months.  I coordinated several trips by ministers and church leaders to the businesses around Ground Zero which resulted in a “New York Times” article when David Stone of Southeast Christian Church came to participate.  It was a terrible event but the response was outstanding.

The Tenth Anniversary of 9/11 will soon be here.  Most people and churches plan to do something special on that day. They will remember those that died and were injured. They will honor the heroes that lost and risked their lives to help others.   However, some will want to do more, something concrete and tangible to remember that day. If you are one of those, we invite you to watch this video. Perhaps God will prompt you and maybe your church to make this the tangible action you do to remember 9/11 and to bring good out of that day.

Jeff Butler

Minister of Community Christian Church