Taken from: Shalom!

Partnering to Heal a Traumatized Community

By Lou Astuto

Lou Astuto, former associate pastor at the Harrisburg Brethren in Christ Church, recently moved to New York City to help the Elim Christian Assembly join the Brethren in Christ Church. Following that assignment, he and his wife Ann Marie will move to Reading, PA to do church planting.

Winter 2002

On September 11, 2001, an army of firefighters, police and emergency workers rushed to Lower Manhattan in response to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Fire Lieutenant Bob LaRocca, a devout Christian whose life was providentially spared that day, reports that emergency service vehicles were backed up on the West Side of Manhattan as far as the eye could see. Hundreds of these men and women died, attempting to help save the lives of the thousands of people working in the Twin Towers that day. In the days subsequent to the attack many more lives were saved as a result of the rescue effort. Emergency workers from New York City’s uniformed services were joined by steel workers, heavy equipment operators and construction workers to painstakingly comb the site, which was now dubbed “Ground Zero.” Days passed and gradually the rescue effort for survivors became a recovery effort for those who died there.

On a separate track another army was forming. The Ground Zero Clergy Task Force quickly formed, mobilized and began ministering to the rescue workers and the “and the tens of thousands of individuals from across the nation and around the world who descended on Lower Manhattan to find their loved ones, who are missing.” They prayed, gave care, offered solace and answered questions like “Why?” “Were was God when all this happened?” and “Were do we go from here?” The Task Force quickly became a conduit through which emergency supplies, sent from churches across the country, were distributed to emergency workers. These men and women from across ethnic, cultural and denominational lines set up shop in and around Ground Zero and ministry was made available around the clock to anyone who was there. St. Paul’s Episcopal Chapel, located adjacent to the Twin Towers and which became known as the “Little church that stood,” was converted into a respite center for the rescue workers and home base for the Clergy Task Force.

In times of crises, ministry often needs to be given in ways that are not familiar to even the ministers. Pastors from Pentecostal and Baptist traditions found themselves administering Last Rites to Catholics. A crisis has a way of moving us out of our “box.” As always there is a story behind the story. The groundwork for the task force was laid years before when organizations like New York City Concerts of Prayer emerged as a unifying force among the fragmented and often turf-protecting churches in the greater New York City Metropolitan area. Earlier in 2001 World Vision moved into New York with its “City Vision” program. Both of these organizations provided financial and human resources as well as organizational expertise to the Task Force. Pastors Marcos Rivera and Rick Del Rio along with their spouses became co-leaders and spokespersons for the Task Force. Rivera and Del Rio who pastor churches on the Lower East Side and Greenwich Village respectfully are known as the “Odd Couple.” Pastor Marcos is as distinguished and buttoned down as Pastor Rick is rough and tumble as he rides through the city on his “Harley Davidson Sportster.”

The Anabaptist churches in the area also became part of the recovery effort. Through Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite and Brethren in Christ Churches in New York City have received grants to aid in the healing of those who have been traumatized. Persons from local Mennonite and Brethren in Christ congregations have been trained in giving care to those who are hurting.

The Brethren in Christ Church from outside the NY metropolitan area has helped in a significant way as well in the ministry of the Task Force. Pastor Carlos Ortiz, a licensed Brethren in Christ pastor, serving in bi-vocational ministry at Elim Christian Assembly, joined the Task Force early on. Pastor Carlos began to see the toll that serving at Ground Zero was taking on clergy and other church workers. With Christmas fast approaching and increased work in their congregations, many of the pastors and other church workers were headed towards burn-out.

Carlos contacted Keith Tyson of the Atlantic Conference Board for Brotherhood Concerns, and a fund was established to provide respite for those whose work load had been significantly impacted by the events of 9-11. The fund would give “care for the caregivers” by providing respite for beleaguered workers and their families. Many in the larger church community in the New York City metropolitan area have expressed their appreciation for the insight and pro-active stance of the BIC in response to this need among those who are giving care. Kenbrook Bible Camp, Camp Tuscarorra, the Willow Valley Resort and the Sandy Cove Retreat Center were contacted and agreed to host church workers at reduced rates. Kenbrook Bible Camp has also been in dialogue with Pastor Carlos regarding ministry to children who were impacted adversely by 9-11.

We as Christians should be pleased about the response of churches, from many denominational church backgrounds, to the crises brought about by the events of 9-11. Many of those who were brought together by the tragedy have forged relationships that will last a lifetime. The response of Christian organizations, the clergy and other church workers have once again proven that we can work together and touch our world in the name of Christ.