Taken from: Christian Times

The open wound of America’s soul

November, 2001

by Richard E. Stearns

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

That line from Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” could not be more descriptive of New York City. A wide range of opposites has prevailed since early September, the very best and the extreme worst that humanity has to offer. None of us could have imagined the spectacle of hate and evil we witnessed on Sept. 11. And we have never seen so many saints and heroes in action.

Now, two months after the attack on America, winter is setting in and New York City faces a cold season of reflecting, healing and rebuilding.

The process of healing has only just begun. What happened in New York was much deeper than the loss of more than 5,000 lives. Earlier this year, the earthquake in India claimed 30,000 lives. The loss of life was horrendous and, six months later on my visit there, the pain and suffering were heart-wrenching.

But the grief and the pain worldwide from last month’s attack are much different—deeper than that of a natural disaster, given the unnatural evil behind the attack. Visiting “Ground Zero,” the shocking mountain of twisted steel and debris that was once the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers, it was clearly evident to me that a spiritual wound has been inflicted deeply on the United States. The terrorist attack touched our souls, and, more important, opened our souls as nothing before in this generation. No amount of food, money or shelter will completely heal our spiritual wound. Our solution must extend far beyond the physical.

The church has had a job to do in New York City since Sept. 11, and they have done it well. This “spring of hope” was evident as people of faith gave everything they had to ease the shock and trauma. To put aside differences and unite for common good seemed only natural and absolutely necessary.

But as we move ahead, a new challenge is facing the church in New York, as the church strives to stick with a mission that becomes much less glamorous, much more painful and much longer lasting.

Will the church retreat in the winter season, when it is needed most? It seems unlikely, given the exploits of people like Pastor Richard Del Rio of Abounding Grace Church in New York City. On Sept. 11, as hordes of people rushed away from lower Manhattan, Pastor Del Rio muscled his way toward the war zone. He served wherever he was needed: rescuing a man in a wheelchair from a smoke-filled store, sweeping ashes and debris from triage areas, praying and holding members of the rescue team. He launched his ministry on these streets in 1982; he has no intention of quitting now.

New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani asked Pastor Del Rio to organize the flood of clergy who volunteered to minister and do whatever was needed. He spent money from his own church to set up the Ground Zero Clergy Task Force.

Because of people like Richard Del Rio, the church remains a fortress in New York City. They are being good neighbors to the new widows and fatherless children trying to face another day with a gaping hole at their dinner table and in their hearts.

There’s a new spirit among the pastors in New York. I saw it clearly at a World Vision prayer breakfast in Manhattan the week following the attack. Pastors prayed to God for repentance.

“Forgive us for our own sinfulness,” they prayed, “and forgive us for dividing into 1,500 denominations and separating along racial lines. This is not what you intended your church to be.”

While there clearly was a brokenness among them, there also was a very evident unity—a spirit of ecumenism. That brokenness might have been diminished if this reconciliation had occurred a year ago.

The American people have never been more ready to hear from our pastors and our spiritual leaders. When America was shaken to the core two months ago, we remembered why faith is so important to our survival and our greatness. Gone are the protests against prayer in schools; very few are talking about banning the Ten Commandments or nativity scenes. “Amazing Grace” was played at professional sports events and we saw members of the U.S. Senate singing hymns on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Our president—a committed Christian—cited the 23rd Psalm in calling the nation to prayer.

The soul of America is wide open, searching for a spiritual dwelling place that fires cannot burn and steel beams cannot crush. We are looking for peace of mind and heart that survives the worst calamity, and for the certainty of an eternal home with the God who hears, loves and cares.

The church is the only redemption center we have. If the church continues to unite and serve as a haven of hope, the winter of despair will last only a season, giving way to a much brighter tomorrow.

Richard Stearns is president of the U.S. offices of World Vision, a Christian relief and humanitarian organization serving 80 million people in nearly 100 countries. To find out more about the New York work, call call 800-700-4911 or go to World Vision.