911, God Help Us – A Journalist’s Tale of Faith

I was a nervous wreck, but kept up a brave face, not letting on that my brother might be among the victims of the attacks. Luckily, it was a slow day in the newsroom.

Around noon central time – three hours after the plane hit the Pentagon...I reached the answering machine at Dwayne’s home and left a message.

“This is Roy.  I just heard about the Pentagon. Give me a call and let me know if you hear from Dwayne.”

After hanging up the phone, I checked my email and got an inspirational message from a friend, appropriately entitled, “Right on Time.”

Later, I would remember this as the first sign from God that he was answering our 911 call for help, for as Psalm 55, vs. 22 says, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee.”

The email message was simple yet profound.

“Right on Time”

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:

1 cross

+3 nails

4 given

“That’s the whole gospel message simply stated.”

Take 60 seconds – give this a shot! Let’s just see if Satan stops this one.

All you do is – Simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this:

Father God, bless this person in whatever it is that you know he or she may be needing this day. Lord, they need a miracle in their lives.

Only you can do for them what is needed.

So God, I pray that You cause them to be filled with renewed strength, hope and faith that their faithful father God is doing something BIG in their lives. And this prayer is being answered now.

I pray in full confidence for (insert name) that their spiritual eyes are opened NOW and suddenly -- very suddenly -- they realize that they are seeing you, Lord, in the midst of their life.

Please send this to 10 other people. Within hours, ten or more people have prayed for you, and you caused a multitude of people to pray to God for other people.

Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life for doing the thing that you know He loves.

Please send it back to me so that I can also pray for you!!

I immediately forward the timely message to my home email and nine others, adding my own personal message on the top:

“This definitely came right on time. My oldest brother is in the Army and works at the Pentagon in D.C., which was one of the targets hit by the planes. Say a prayer for Army Maj. Dwayne Williams.   We haven’t heard from him and can’t reach his family, but I know in my heart he is OK. God bless – Roy”

I then resumed my unsuccessful efforts to reach Dwayne’s office, home and cell numbers. In the meantime, I walked around the Birmingham News newsroom in a daze, unable to concentrate fully on my reporting duties.