Located just three blocks from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, members of Proclamation Community Church are feeling the weight and impact of a devastating plane crash that claimed the lives of seven individuals, including an 11-year-old pediatric patient and her mother, when it crashed just three miles away from the airport along Cottman Avenue on Jan. 31, just after 6 p.m.
Officials estimate that the plane was in the air less than a minute before crashing down in front of the Roosevelt Mall, along Cottman Avenue and near Roosevelt Boulevard. Calvary Christian Church, another Baptist Resource Network (BRN) affiliated church, is located on East Roosevelt Boulevard, merely two miles away from the devastation.
Since the crash, Dr. Robert Fontell, senior pastor of Calvary Christian Church, and pastor Gerald Waters, mission pastor of Proclamation Community Church and case manager at George Washington High School, have been praying with/for their community and seeking ways to best care for the Northeast Philly region.
“On Sunday, I led our church in prayer for those impacted by this horrific tragedy. My plan is to have our church go out to the area and prayer-walk,” said Fontell.
Resources for those impacted
The crash site is one of the locations that Calvary Christian Church regularly meets for prayer and outreach in the spring.
Fontell also shared that he is working closely with State Representative Jared Solomon, who lives two miles from the crash site, to meet with those impacted and find out their felt-needs.
“My goal is to gather as many church and community service organizations to help provide resources for those impacted, such as insurance claims assistance, mental health support, street cleaning and more.”
Read full story and ways to pray.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Macala Mays and originally published by the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey.
