Chile (MNN) — 33 Chilean miners have emerged from spending over two
months half a mile underground. Many of
them left the mine wearing t-shirts bearing the logo of the Jesus Film
Project and words giving glory to God.
According to CBN News, the shirts bore the phrases: "To Him be
the glory and honor," "Thank you God!" and "Gracias Señor!" as well as Psalm 95:4, "In His hands are the depths of the
earth."
Dr. Roger Parrott of Belhaven University reported that Campus Crusade
for Christ provided the shirts, as well as mp3 players containing the JESUS film and ample portions of the Bible.
Before the rescue was completed, 19-year-old miner Jimmy Sanchez sent
a letter to the surface proclaiming that God was involved in what happened in
the depths of the San Juan mine. "There
are actually 34 of us, because God has never left us down here," wrote Sanchez.
According to the International Mission Board, three of the miners were evangelical
Christians before the mine collapsed. During
their time underground, two more miners made professions of faith. One of the original believers is a miner
named José Henríquez, who led the miners in prayer every evening. The t-shirts the miners wore were provided at
his request. He also made a request for
an evangelical pastor to come and minister to the miners and their families in
Camp Esperanza (Camp Hope).
Marcelo Leiva, pastor of Vallenar Baptist Church in Vallenar, Chile, responded
to the call. Henríquez's family
connected him to the other families at Camp Esperanza, and Leiva had the
opportunity to observe firsthand the strength God gives to His people in
catastrophic situations.
"This has been a testimony to what the Lord can do in a person's life,"
Leiva said. "Those who are the children of the Lord have been those that have
shown, even in the midst of the storm, a testimony of peace, tranquility and
trust in the Lord."
Pray
for God's guidance and protection for the miners as they return to normal life
and work through what has happened. Pray
that God will work through their circumstances to produce salvation and spiritual
growth in them and their families.
