911 Happened and A CD For The Lord Was Made
“Lord, You awoke me in the middle of the night with a vision of how to honor the one-year anniversary of 911. You revealed to me how I could be used as a flight attendant to touch souls for Christ.”
My mentor/friend has a close friendship to a singer who created an evangelistic CD for New York right after 911. It encouraged people to “look up to the heavens, for this is where their help comes from.” The CD became a powerful tool on the plane to a number of souls who were experiencing their own ground zero in their personal lives. There were so many hurting hearts that needed to experience Jesus personally. The CD included an amazing song, but what was truly wonderful, as the song came to a close, the gospel message was given, and the opportunity to pray the sinner’s prayer for salvation was offered. When I gave the CD to people, everyone received it as a precious gift.
They had no idea the real gift awaiting them was in fact, Jesus.
I would like to share what God did on the airplane the year after 911, then I will back up and share a few stories right after the 911 tragedy.
September 2002- I put an order in for 50 CD’s.
One week before the 911 one year anniversary, I decided to play the CD over the PA system on the airplane. We always had three flights attendants who worked all the flights. I soon discovered one gentleman who was working in the back of the aircraft was anti-God.
I happened to be working in the front of the plane that month, and knew God had planned it this way. The flight attendant who works up front is in charge of the PA system. I played the CD on my personal CD player, putting the mouthpiece of the aircraft PA system up to the little speaker of my player. While I was testing it on the plane, this particular flight attendant walked up to me and told me to turn it off. He told me I couldn’t push my faith on people, and mentioned a fellow flight attendant had a lawsuit with the company over reading her Bible on the jump-seat (where we sit during take off and landing). I shared how I was not pushing my faith, but simply sharing a beautiful song about New York to honor them.
Exasperated, he replied, “I heard the song, and it said look up to your Savior.” I responded, “Well it actually says to look up to heaven, but it’s all the same to me.”
The other flight attendant working was caught in the middle. I could hear her struggle and knew she was searching for truth regarding God. I had already been praying for her salvation and for her marriage.
My heart broke as we stopped in New Orleans for the next flight; the majority of the passengers boarding the plane were gay men coming from a gay parade. The flight crew found this acceptable, ok and fun, but amazingly the song was not. These men needed to hear this song too. God loves them and they need to know His love for them just like I do. But the sad realization is the world finds the unacceptable right, and what is good and Godly wrong. We are in the last days for sure.
I went to my hotel room that evening and cried out to God, “Are you sure? Are you sure you want me to do this? Today seemed like a big no!”
I heard Him say, “Obedience, show me you love me by obeying.” “Ok.”
As we arrived at our plane the next morning, the pilots were already there. The first officer happened to be the son of a friend of mine. He was a Christian, but the miracle was he had his own CD player already hooked into the airplane PA system through the cockpit. Pilots never do this. He was playing music for the passengers as they were boarding. It sounded so much better and clearer then my system. So, I asked if he would play my CD and he said…yes! I was so encouraged to say the least. I knew God divinely arranged this to encourage me that He does indeed want me play the song next week for 911.
I was waiting to hear back if I was going to receive the 50 CDs on time, and again questioned God. Are You sure? (I am learning not to do this). Sunday, September 8th, I received the CDs and that evening I flew out to begin my trip the next morning. God can be a last minute God. He was teaching me to trust Him as He cleared the way to do His work. I prayed to the Lord He would send me a back up person, another Christian for strength.
September 9, 2002- Monday
The airport felt strange; they put us under terrorist alert. Terror alert HIGH. All day I flew with numerous air Marshall’s and military aircraft flying all around us, making sure we were alright.
The first miracle was the anti-God gentleman I flew with last week was not working on this trip. Instead, God placed a beautiful, strong Christian woman to work in the back of the plane. Both of us were extremely grateful to God we were flying together that week. She already shared the Lord with the other flight attendant. God was already moving on the plane! Praise God! I asked her to listen to the CD and then shared with her the plan the Lord gave me. She was so excited about it; she wanted to be a part of the plan too! She asked if she could help me pass out the CDs, and then went as far as to offer to help pay for them. God is so good. I asked for back up and He delivered!
– One CD was given to a young man listening to a CD-I watched him put the NY CD in and then listen.
– One CD went to a woman in a wheelchair-turned out she was a singer, new age.
– One went to an older man-he was once a pastor who fell away from God.
– One to our van driver, who asked to have one after hearing our conversation about it as we were witnessing to Dee the other flight attendant on our drive to the hotel.
September 10, 2002-Tuesday
Once on board our aircraft that morning, Dee sat on the front jump seat before boarding, and heard the words of the CD for the first time. She started to cry. Then she asked to read my Bible. She first read Jeremiah 29:11-13, then John 3:3-she wouldn’t put it down. Wow…I watched the Lord touch her heart. Jesus, let her meet You.
– One CD went to the OPS agent working our flight.
– Four CD’s went to businessmen; one of them was drinking alcohol at 7:00 in the morning.
“Always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.” (Colossians 4:12)
“Oh Lord God, I pray I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. I pray I may have Your strength Lord.”
September 11, 2002- Wednesday!!!
“Lord, I lift this day up to You, may Your will be done.”
Sheila, the flight attendant in the back, told her husband about the CD and had given him one last night. He was having a meeting of 40 people at the water company where he works, and decided to play the CD at the meeting.
This morning four F-15 fighters took off in front of our plane, and then a stealth aircraft followed.
Later, I just prayed. Lord, let her meet You in a personal, loving way. She’s in bondage and is not aware of it. She is devoted to destruction; please remove this desire from her. Free her. Help her see You alone satisfy. Thank you Father for bringing me out of bondage!!! Thank you for Your freedom and grace! I’ve been there Lord, and You saved me. You saved me from me, I pray this for Sherry. Break the rebellion in Sherry’s heart and have victory in her life. Give her eternity, be her lover of her soul. In Jesus name Amen.
“…And those who hear will live” John 5:25
Dee wore her cross earrings she bought the night before to wear on the plane that day.
NY CD September 11, 2002 – I am overwhelmed Lord!
First flight LAX to LAS. I had 47 passengers on board. Upon the final descent, I played the CD. Everyone stopped to listen. I saw two women cry as they looked out the window. I saw one woman lift her hands singing to God. I saw businessmen stop typing on their computers; other’s set aside their newspapers to listen. The sound system on the plane was excellent and very clear. As the song came to a close, I announced to the passengers I would be handing out copies of the CD if they would like a copy of the song. Many asked for a copy as they walked off the plane.
I have three more flights ahead. Lord, should I have bought more?
In between flights the first officer came out of the cockpit. He just happened to be a Christian, who attended Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. He gave me full approval to play the CD. Lord, You set everything up so perfectly! I praise Your Holy, Holy name. Touch the hearts of all those who hear. Let them truly hear. Let them hear Your truth, Your Son’s love for them, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.”
Second flight LAS to SAT. I played the CD for 22 passengers. Two people asked for the CD.
One was a young man who wore a woman’s diamond wedding ring on a chain around his neck. “Lord, You know his story, his pain…be with him and touch his heart.” The other went to a couple behind him.
Third fight SAT to LAS. I had 6 Cd’s left, Sheila had 4 and Dee had 4, a total of 14 Cd’s left. We had 67 passengers on the flight. With the pilot’s permission, we played the song during the flight. Everyone suddenly stopped what they were doing as they began to listen. I saw a few turning their ear upward to hear. We were floating in the air, surrounded by beautiful puffs of clouds; it seemed as if we were in heaven as the song played, “Look up to the heavens for that’s where your help comes from.” Wow!
I spoke over the PA and said, “Thank you for sharing with us and paying respect and honor to New York. If anyone would like a CD we are giving them away until they’re gone.” At that moment, the flight attendant call buttons were going off like crazy all over the plane! People were waving their hands high in the air all around in the back. My heart broke… “Lord I don’t have enough.” Why didn’t I bring more? Please Father, let Your words drive through these hearts, drive out sin and the world and save their souls! I pray Your love pours down on all of Your people, bless them, love them, and keep them, save them! In Jesus name Amen.
September 17, 2002
Dee the flight attendant, shared with me she would like to go to church! I gave her an address and phone number for a Calvary Chapel in her area. How wonderful and sweet God is. I saw the Lord touch and love her.