Prayer in the Whirlwind
By Chuck Colson
3/4/2008

Building a More Perfect Union

Heather Martin, a junior at Union University, was trying to climb into a bathtub for safety when the E4 tornado hit the Union campus in Jackson, Tennessee. It was 7:02 p.m. on February 5. “It sounded like a thousand trains,” she said, describing the funnel cloud that ripped through the school, causing massive damage to all but one campus building.

The wind nearly sucked Heather out of the building. When the walls came crashing down, her legs were pinned between the side of the tub and the floor above. In the tub were three other girls. Crushed beneath her was Julie Boyer, a spiritual mentor of Heather’s. Two nights before, Julie had spent an hour interceding in prayer for Heather. When Heather had called to thank her, Julie said, “I know you would do the same for me.” Heather soon proved Julie right.

As the weight of the building settled, Julie struggled for breath. Her mouth and chin were crushed against the right side of her chest. Her neck was exposed as she describes it, “like a swan when it ducks its head.” Her right lung was so compressed she thought it had collapsed. Heather’s hip pressed into her left lung.

In her spirit, Julie began to pray, “Jesus, I need you . . .” Then she realized she had forgotten to breathe. She told God, “I’m sorry, but I cannot pray anymore, or I won’t remember to take my next breath.” Just then, Heather called out to her, “Julie, do not try to pray, just breathe. I am interceding for you. Focus on breathing.” Heather had no way of knowing what thoughts had been running through Julie’s mind just moments before. the rest image

To contribute directly to Union’s disaster relief fund, visit the university’s website at www.uu.edu. Or you may visit our website, www.BreakPoint.org, for more information. Help, won’t you? I am going to.