Visit to World Trade Center

September 14, 2001

This message was received via email from Rev. Campbell Singleton, American Baptist Minister of Mission Support for New York City following his visit to “Ground Zero” after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

I wanted to share a few notes with you concerning my trip to Ground Zero.

Standing at the foot of massive destruction I saw the worst of humanity and the best of humanity simultaneously. I saw the violent results of hatred that has separated beautiful and innocent families and friends and I saw thousand of professional rescue workers diligently working in the debris with their hands believing that someone has survived and can be delivered. Many people ask where is God in the midst of this. Standing at the site, I can say I have seen God at work in the police department, fire department, EMS, FBI and many others who are in the trenches every day demonstrating a profound love of God that is willing to go to the nth degree to save, heal and deliver.

There are indelible images that will forever be etched in the cornerstone of my mind such as: scattered shoes and clothing of people running for their lives; people being brought out in body bags to priests performing last rites; a lot full of cars buried under the dust from people who went to work and will never embrace their husbands/wives; tired rescue workers who have not been home since Tuesday lying on cots and mattresses and others being treated by medical workers in triage units only to return to more grueling work; tons of steel of a once spectacular building lying in a cloud of smoke; devastated schools, drug stores and other buildings being used as command centers, morgues and mission outposts and burned vehicles with roofs and doors blown off. These images kind of paint a picture of war where extensive damage has done psychologically, emotionally, physically and economically to sons and daughters of this nation. We are in a post traumatic stage and it will take years for healing to any great extent to be done. While standing at Ground Zero, an overwhelming feeling of sadness paralyzed me and evoked tears as I replayed the stories of the victims I had just heard on TV.

I just met with Chancellor Levy in an Emergency Interfaith Advisory Council Meeting and it is clear that the leadership in the city is overwhelmed trying to organize a collective effort to respond to the immediate and the future needs. I did talk with leadership of the Salvation Army and also the Red Cross, who are the most visible on the scene, and we are working on partnering together. Rev. Stallings has also talked with various ecumenical leaders and they are formulating a response.

Thank you and everyone for your prayers and kindness. Please pray for the children and families who are on edge and suffering with a hopeless grief that is beyond words. They need us to pray.