The church prays as a child is lost - and found
A UMNS Report By Marta W. Aldrich*
"Easter came early to Greensboro!" proclaimed the Rev. Jan Brittain to open a special worship service celebrating the safe return of Boy Scout Michael Auberry to his family and community in western North Carolina.
The congregation applauded in agreement March 21 as more than 400 people gathered at Christ United Methodist Church, where the 12-year-old has been part of the congregation all his life.
Lost three days in the rugged mountains, Michael had been found the day before - about one mile from the scout camp where he had wandered away. He left Moses Cone Hospital on March 22 after being treated for severe dehydration. The family said he was recovering physically, with the sensation of feeling returning to his fingers and expected to return to his toes as well.
It was news that the Christ Church congregation had longed to hear, having surrounded the family in prayer throughout the rollercoaster ordeal that included a massive wilderness search, drawing media attention throughout the United States.
'Constant state of prayer'
Within hours after the Boy Scout had walked away from his camp on a Saturday, his parents dispatched a prayer request to about 300 people via the church's prayer chain.
"From that point on, the Christ Church community was in a constant state of prayer," said Brittain. "We sent regular updates to the prayer chain. We began and ended all worship services, meetings, any gathering at the church with prayers for Michael. Our chapel was open for prayer every day."
Anita Greenland, Michael's Sunday school teacher for the past two years, was especially moved during a packed community prayer service for Michael on the Sunday evening after Michael's disappearance.
"It was a very somber service," Greenland recalled. "We'd had a prayer and healing service planned for that evening way before any of this happened, but it was decided to turn it into a service to pray just for Michael. … The most memorable part for me was how - when the microphone was handed around for individuals to offer their own prayers - the most incredible prayers came from the children. They prayed that Michael's parents wouldn't give up and said they knew that God never gives up on us - no matter what."
Only hours earlier, Greenland and other adults had spoken with children in Michael's sixth-grade Sunday school class about their classmate, a "quiet boy" who faithfully attends their class each week. "We talked about the story of the Lost Sheep and how the Lord seeks out everyone who's lost," said Greenland. "We had actually studied that Bible lesson several weeks earlier, so the timing was interesting."
From heartache to jubilation
The somberness and anxiety of those early days gave way to jubilation on Tuesday of that week when searchers and a rescue dog named Gandalf found a weak, cold and somewhat disoriented Michael on a wooded ridge.
Upon hearing the news, church members waiting at the search staging area quickly joined hands and offered a prayer of thanksgiving. At the church's chapel, "one couple was in there praying when they heard the shout in the church hallway 'They've found him!'" recalled Brittain.
"When the news came Tuesday morning, the elation was as high as you could possibly get," said Greenland. "The worship service that followed on Wednesday evening was such an expression of joy - so different from the worry and heartache we were feeling at our Sunday evening service," she said, adding that it was like the difference between Good Friday and Easter morning.
Michael's mother, Debbie Hayes, and his sister attended the praise service and expressed thanks for prayers lifted up on behalf of Michael and his family. "We knew that your arms were around us," said Hayes.
The congregation sang "Forever God is Faithful" and listened to the reassuring words of Isaiah 40. There was opportunity for people to shout out names of those for whom they are thankful, and Gandalf the rescue dog was among those mentioned.
"We also prayed for those who pray just as faithfully and love just as strongly but do not have the answers they long for," said Brittain. "We prayed that God would be close to all who are lost and all who are searching."
It was a powerful witness in a community service that included neighbors, school teachers, scouts, friends and others who do not even know the Auberry family personally, according to Brittain.
"(The church) did what we do best and what the faithful alone can do. We prayed," she said.
"And though we do not understand the mystery of prayer, we are thankful that God gives us the opportunity to be part of his working in the world through the ministry of prayer."
*Aldrich is news editor for United Methodist News Service.
A UMNS Report By Marta W. Aldrich*
"Easter came early to Greensboro!" proclaimed the Rev. Jan Brittain to open a special worship service celebrating the safe return of Boy Scout Michael Auberry to his family and community in western North Carolina.
The congregation applauded in agreement March 21 as more than 400 people gathered at Christ United Methodist Church, where the 12-year-old has been part of the congregation all his life.
Lost three days in the rugged mountains, Michael had been found the day before - about one mile from the scout camp where he had wandered away. He left Moses Cone Hospital on March 22 after being treated for severe dehydration. The family said he was recovering physically, with the sensation of feeling returning to his fingers and expected to return to his toes as well.
It was news that the Christ Church congregation had longed to hear, having surrounded the family in prayer throughout the rollercoaster ordeal that included a massive wilderness search, drawing media attention throughout the United States.
'Constant state of prayer'
Within hours after the Boy Scout had walked away from his camp on a Saturday, his parents dispatched a prayer request to about 300 people via the church's prayer chain.
"From that point on, the Christ Church community was in a constant state of prayer," said Brittain. "We sent regular updates to the prayer chain. We began and ended all worship services, meetings, any gathering at the church with prayers for Michael. Our chapel was open for prayer every day."
Anita Greenland, Michael's Sunday school teacher for the past two years, was especially moved during a packed community prayer service for Michael on the Sunday evening after Michael's disappearance.
"It was a very somber service," Greenland recalled. "We'd had a prayer and healing service planned for that evening way before any of this happened, but it was decided to turn it into a service to pray just for Michael. … The most memorable part for me was how - when the microphone was handed around for individuals to offer their own prayers - the most incredible prayers came from the children. They prayed that Michael's parents wouldn't give up and said they knew that God never gives up on us - no matter what."
Only hours earlier, Greenland and other adults had spoken with children in Michael's sixth-grade Sunday school class about their classmate, a "quiet boy" who faithfully attends their class each week. "We talked about the story of the Lost Sheep and how the Lord seeks out everyone who's lost," said Greenland. "We had actually studied that Bible lesson several weeks earlier, so the timing was interesting."
From heartache to jubilation
The somberness and anxiety of those early days gave way to jubilation on Tuesday of that week when searchers and a rescue dog named Gandalf found a weak, cold and somewhat disoriented Michael on a wooded ridge.
Upon hearing the news, church members waiting at the search staging area quickly joined hands and offered a prayer of thanksgiving. At the church's chapel, "one couple was in there praying when they heard the shout in the church hallway 'They've found him!'" recalled Brittain.
"When the news came Tuesday morning, the elation was as high as you could possibly get," said Greenland. "The worship service that followed on Wednesday evening was such an expression of joy - so different from the worry and heartache we were feeling at our Sunday evening service," she said, adding that it was like the difference between Good Friday and Easter morning.
Michael's mother, Debbie Hayes, and his sister attended the praise service and expressed thanks for prayers lifted up on behalf of Michael and his family. "We knew that your arms were around us," said Hayes.
The congregation sang "Forever God is Faithful" and listened to the reassuring words of Isaiah 40. There was opportunity for people to shout out names of those for whom they are thankful, and Gandalf the rescue dog was among those mentioned.
"We also prayed for those who pray just as faithfully and love just as strongly but do not have the answers they long for," said Brittain. "We prayed that God would be close to all who are lost and all who are searching."
It was a powerful witness in a community service that included neighbors, school teachers, scouts, friends and others who do not even know the Auberry family personally, according to Brittain.
"(The church) did what we do best and what the faithful alone can do. We prayed," she said.
"And though we do not understand the mystery of prayer, we are thankful that God gives us the opportunity to be part of his working in the world through the ministry of prayer."
*Aldrich is news editor for United Methodist News Service.
