Church, community rejoice at POW's rescue
4/3/2003 News media contact: Tim Tanton · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn. By Tom Burger* ELIZABETH,
W.Va. (UMNS) - When Pastor Harold Francis activated the prayer phone
chain at Elizabeth United Methodist Church to celebrate the rescue of
Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, he had little idea what he had started.
Francis
simply invited his people to church in this Wirt County community near
where Lynch grew up "to express awe and appreciation to God" for her
safe return after nine days in the hands of the Iraqi army.
"Jessica
has arrived safely in Germany," Francis announced. "We have every right
to rejoice." Lynch is from the community of Palestine, near Elizabeth,
the county seat.
"I thought it would be a small gathering of my
congregation, but it got a little larger," Francis said of the April 2
evening celebration.
People from all over the county packed the
modest, white-frame church where they shared their joy after the rescue
by U.S. special operations forces.
The troops rescued Lynch, 19,
from an Iraqi hospital April 1. She had been missing since March 23,
when the maintenance convoy in which she was traveling took a wrong turn
and was ambushed by Iraqis. After the rescue, she was taken to an
American hospital in Germany. Her injuries include two broken legs and a
broken arm.
West Virginia's Gov. Bob Wise was at the Elizabeth church, along with many local, regional and national reporters.
"God is still in the miracle business. If you don't believe that, then come to Wirt County," Wise said.
Francis led the service of prayer and song, giving everyone the opportunity to speak.
"The
evening is to be informal," he said. "We are here to give people an
opportunity to express their joys and to read a little scripture."
The pastor remembered those who still await word about loved ones listed as missing in action.
"I want to have a word of prayer for those families who can't celebrate tonight as we can," he said.
Since
the war in Iraq began March 19, the church has been open for prayer,
and the community had surrounded the Lynch family with love and care
after her capture, according to Francis.
"We in West Virginia are a family," he said. "Beyond that, we are a family in the Body of Christ."
# # #
*Burger
is director of communications for the West Virginia Annual Conference.
This story was written with the help of Connie Dale of the Parkersburg
(W.Va.) News Sentinel.
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