Oklahoma Baptists know tragedy. Whether through navigating deadly tornadoes, nasty wildfires or the horrific Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, Disaster Relief volunteers in the state have been called on to serve others.
And it was no different immediately following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Disaster Relief counselors from Oklahoma, with their yellow shirts, were called upon to help provide comfort to those left devastated from the crisis.
Follow the full coverage of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with Ground Level Reports
While “Never forget” are the words Americans continue to use as the nation honors lives lost in the 9/11 attacks 25 years ago, Oklahoma Baptists Sam Porter and Bob Nigh continue urging believers to remember that Christ followers have all they need to help hurting communities.
Porter and Nigh, who were sent to Ground Zero in 2001 to serve, were among those who returned to New York City this week to reflect on and remember those who died in the 9/11 attacks.
Change in perspective
Porter, former Disaster Relief director for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, said he remembers urging those struggling with “survivors guilt” to allow Christ to change their perspective.
“What if God preserved your life in order for you to tell that story,” He recalled saying as he spoke with The Baptist Paper. “You could then tell your story (through) God in you.”
He is right here
While some asked “Where is God?” Nigh added, he noted God was there. Nigh, a former editor of Oklahoma’s The Baptist Messenger, is now historical secretary for Oklahoma Baptists’ Historical Commission. “(God) was here for all of it,” he said, and He provides comfort for the hurting.
Porter added, “As long as we’re in the world, tragedy and disasters are going to take place. And that doesn’t mean, as Bob said, that God’s not there.”
“That means He’s going to equip those, to empower believers, to respond with the Holy Spirit (and) filled with the Lord Jesus in their life to respond,” he said.
“Reach out to someone in your community who is hurting because of a disaster. Reach out personally,” he added. “You don’t just have to be a Disaster Relief member. If you’re a believer in Lord Jesus Christ, He’s saved your soul. He’s equipped you because the Holy Spirit lives within you. That’s what I hope every believer understands.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was compiled by Shawn Hendricks, with reporting from Marc Ira Hooks.
