Adventists Respond to Terrorist Crisis

[Wendy]

September 11, 2001 Silver Spring, Maryland, USA .... [ANN Staff]

As emergency and rescue teams search for survivors of today’s terrorist attacks, Seventh-day Adventists in the United States and around the world are responding to the unfolding tragedy.

“Even in the face of this disaster, we cannot just throw our arms up in despair,” said Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Adventist world church, at a special meeting today with staff at the church’s world headquarters.

Speaking with ANN this afternoon, Larry Colburn, assistant to the world church president, said Adventists can respond to today’s events in a number of ways:

1. Appeal for prayer

“We are a praying people,” says Colburn. “Already, Adventists around the world, from Kenya to Australia, Ivory Coast to Poland, are reporting their solidarity in prayer for those affected by this tragedy.”

Local Adventist congregations are invited, wherever possible, to open their churches as places of prayer for their communities, reaching out to all those in need of pastoral care and to those who want to participate in a prayer vigil. “This is a time for coming together, for joining with all people of faith in prayer ministry,” says Colburn.

“Let’s pray both for the world’s leaders, who are in need of Divine guidance,” says Colburn, “and for the many thousands impacted by this tragedy, that they will feel the compassionate touch of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

2. Financial Contributions

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency International is receiving donations on behalf of a concerted Adventist response to this disaster. Those who want to donate can call, in the United States: 1-800-424-ADRA (2372). Outside the United States, call: (301) 680-6049 within business hours (U.S. eastern daylight saving time).

3. Blood Donations

In the United States, Adventist Church members can respond to the national call for blood donors. News agencies are reporting the urgent need for blood supplies, and United States residents can participate by contacting their local blood collection facility.

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Source: Adventist News Network

[Joan]

This is good that some practical advice to the church people was given.

Here in Germany there have been special vigil meetings in lots of churches across the country for prayers toward America. Some fine words have been spoken of soldarity to them in this crisis hour. The blood donation centers here are going stong with participants giving. Loans for helping with sniffing dogs, financial help and expertise is being sent over.

The international police work has shown the hidding place of two of those suicide pilots from Egypt as being in Hamburg,Germany. So putting the puzzle pieces together of the terrorists tracks left behind  is going at a very fast pace.

Joan

[Wendy]

Wow, with all the blood being donated around the world we are going to have a large supply. Unfortunately with what may be coming, even that may not be enough.

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WendyL ~ Maranatha!:)

[Joan]

A CALL TO REPENTANCE

A more immediate significance of the tragedy of September 11,is its sobering effect upon the human mind. The shocking images of the World Trade Towers burning and collapsing like paper boxes, have challenged many complacent, self-centered, and self-sufficient Americans to acknowledge their finiteness and helplessness and thus to seek God. Suddenly, after September 11, God is everywhere, as ubiquitous as the American flags.

It seems that after September 11 atheists have disappeared. America is now all about God and country. Attendance to churches and
synagogues almost doubled overnight. Political and marital infighting ceased. I read in a report that in the week following
September 11, 400 couples in the Boston area withdrew their divorce papers and decided to continue to live together again. There seems to be a new unity of purpose in America, which has been resurrected through an unspeakable tragedy. We have repeatedly witnessed America's leaders praying,singing, pledging, and asking the people to join with them.

These positive developments suggests that the tragedy of September 11 has served as a much needed wake up call. It has challenged people to re-examine their lives, humble their hearts, and repent of their sins. Tragedies, however, are used by God not only to summon people to repentance, but also to announce His final judgment which is associated with the Day of the Lord in the Old Testament and with the Day of Christ's Coming in the New Testament. For example,
Joel saw in the disastrous drought and fire which destroyed the harvest, a sign that "the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes" (Joel 1:15).

From a prophetic perspective, tragedies like that of September 11, serve as harbingers of the final judgment to come. Jesus made this important point when he explained that the eighteen persons who were killed by the collapse of Siloam's tower were no worse offenders than the rest of the people in Jerusalem (Luke 13:4).
That tragedy, however, was to bring home the important lesson that "unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5).

In many ways the sudden collapse and disintegration by fire of the most imposing World Trade Towers, offered a most realistic
and dramatic preview of the destructive fires that will be ignited by Christ's coming. We read that "the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire" (2 Pet 3:12). In view of the fact that all what we see will be destroyed like the towers of the World Trade Center, we need to heed Peter's exhortation: "What sort of persons ought you to be in lives of
holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of the God" (2 Pet 3:11-12).

Written by
Dr. Samuel Bacchiocchi