06/01/20 ANOTHER EMERGENCY — On April 25, 2001 there was a huge fire on the campus of Longwood University in Farmville, VA, where I was an adjunct math instructor. We were visiting our families an hour away in Richmond that day and didn’t return until late evening; so we had no idea anything had happened. The next morning the front page of the Richmond newspapers showed the Rotunda, a building designed by Thomas Jefferson himself, flames blazing from the window of a second floor room—MY OFFICE! That building and several around it, including large student dormitories, were destroyed.

The college president announced that the semester was officially immediately over, without final exams. Some professors complained that they had no basis on which to assign final grades. Many students were literally stuck—all their stuff, including their clothes, computers, cellphones and car keys were burned to a crisp. They were literally desperate.

As I walked throughout the campus over the next few days, there were hundreds of students huddled together into small groups—crying, soothing, encouraging and trying to help each other. I asked each group if they wanted me to pray with and for them. Every single group immediately, happily said “Yes!” And afterwards, they all hugged me heartily and thanked me profusely. What a blessing that was for me!

Acts 20:36 (CSB) says, “After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.” 2 Corinthians 1:11a says “…while you join in helping us by your prayers.” Somebody (probably famous) once declared, “WE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL WE PRAY; BUT AFTER WE PRAY WE CAN DO ANYTHING!”