African Christian Teachers

SPLASHDOWN IN THE HUDSON

Feb 14, 2009

When a plane falls out of the sky into a river expectations are that no one will survive. So, when one falls from 3000 feet into New York's Hudson River with 155 passengers aboard and no one perishes, we know with Governor Paterson - and everybody ese - that we have seen what is rightfuly characterized as a Miracle on the Hudson. But why?

It's what accounts for this particular miracle that this column tries to address. Every thing from heroic Captain Sullenberg's expertise to New York's brash reputation for doing what cannot be done without blinking, has been cited to explain the miracle of the spectacular landing and, somewhere in the mix, of course, is prayer. Certainly, we can believe that when a plane is about to crash, everybody on board begins to pray, believers and unbelievers alike. Usually, it seems to make little or no difference. The plane falls, the crew and all the passengers are lost.

So why didn't Captain Sullenberger's plane break into halves? Or into pieces? Or sink as it should have? Or disappear to 65 feet below the river's surface? The question we believe is not why but WHO. Christians can turn to James 5:16 and kiss the wonderful biblical text that offers us one time-tested answer: It says, "Pray one for another ...The effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much." We can know that somewhere in the earth - aboard Flight 1549 or elsewhere - SOMEONE, just one righteous person's prayer for someone on that flight was being miraculously answered by Heaven. It's not HOW
MANY are praying that moves Heaven, it's WHO is praying that counts.

We like to think that it is WHO is praying for the African Christian Teachers that has kept the Association safely in the air for 40 years. When we touch down in our last season of ministry, we hope to have a landing as smooth as Captain Sullenberger's.

If you are the one whose prayers have been keeping us so beautifully afloat, thank you for your prayers actross the years and for your effectual fervent prayers in 2009.