As all nine

miners were lifted out of the deep pit of damp darkness, John Weir, a

spokesman for Black Wolf Coal Company, the mine's owner, said, "This

is a miracle." It was a miracle of major proportions because all

nine miners were alive. It was good news and America needed to hear some

good news for a change after hearing about children being abducted and

murdered across the land. Good news indeed. Lessons are already emerging

from the pit.

Imagine a small,

dark, dank space up to 4 feet deep, 12 to 18 feet wide, 240 feet underground

filled nearly to the top with water 55 degrees F. Imagine totally confined

in this chamber for nearly three days. No food and no water fit to drink.

Only nine men with their mining experience and heartâs desire to

see their families one more time.

How did they

survive? The answer is simple: everyone concerned was doing everything

they could!

The rescue

workers were committed for the long haul of rescuing the nine miners.

Some rescue personnel refused to leave the scene, taking only very brief

catnaps. In a short while the state of the art equipment had been assembled

to stage a successful rescue. I don't know about you, but this blesses

me to tears. Just to know that I live in a country where human life is

so valued that even the state's governor made his office at the mine site

until the rescue effort was a success. What a great country that treasures

human life so profoundly!

If that kind

of thing were to happen in Fayette County, we would be equally proud of

fire fighters, policemen, public service people, and other citizens as

they would link their resources for a success. I have no doubt. Why? That's

what our America is made of!

But there was

another group responsible for the success of the rescue effort. That group

was doing everything it could do. They were the Christians who were praying.

The local McDonalds using its marquee asked local believers to pray for

the rescue effort. Imagine that for a moment! McDonalds was not begging

the folks to buy their burgers, but begging the folks to pray. I like

that! And there was a lot of praying going on. Churches had special prayer

services and local citizens banded together for prayer. I just bet if

I were a gambler that Somerset, Pennsylvania never experienced such believing

prayer in its 198 years of history.

Now, if we

were struck with a similar set of circumstances, I have no doubt that

Fayette County would kneel to pray. It's just a little sad to think that

it takes tragedy to get folks praying and turning to God.

But of course

another group is responsible for the successful rescue of the miners.

That group was made up of nine trapped miners. Stories are emerging from

the pit. One of them is that when one miner was succumbing to the cold

of 55 degrees F., the other miners would huddle around him to warm him

up. When one miner became discouraged, the ones who were encouraged at

the moment would bolster his spirits. The miners took responsibility for

their hope and acted on it.

The end result:

"They're all alive!" Everyone did everything he or she could.

And America was blessed.

River's Edge Community

Church

1091 South Jeff Davis Drive

Fayetteville, Georgia 30215

770-719-0303

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