TAUBATÉ, Brazil (BNc) —

Two military personnel and three civilians were aboard the aircraft.

The pilot was Ricardo Santos, a brother in Christ who participates with his family in the congregation in Taubaté.

As they arrived at the third neighborhood in Nova Friburgo, Ricardo felt a loss of power in the helicopter, which ceased responding to his controls. The captain at his side assumed command of the craft and managed a forced landing on a huge pile of manure, which softened the impact.

A nine-year-old girl filmed the accident, which occurred near a food distribution center for the city. The crew and passengers underwent medical evaluation and were soon released. Ricardo arrived home on Saturday.

Ricardo (right) shows a helicopter to fellow saints Jorge dos Santos, BNc editor Randal Matheny, and elder Mike Hughes

Ricardo had been scheduled to preach today, Jan. 23, in the Taubaté congregation, and he fulfilled his duty, using his experience as the basis for his message. He used Psalm 90:12 as his text, “So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.”

He spoke of God’s providence being present at the moment of the accident, so that the five people on board were not seriously injured. He read Psalm 91 as an expression of his confidence in God.

He said that what should be reported about him, besides his physical well-being, was that “the Lord saved me.”

Often, the preacher, as the last to speak on Sunday in the Taubaté congregation, also closes with a prayer. Ricardo also prayed today, with this phrase: “Men fail, and machines fail, but you, O Lord, are always present with us.”

Translated and adapted from the Portuguese Brazilian site Alcanceweb.com.

ANDHRA PRADESH, India (BNc) — William Woodson, while on a mission trip to India, collapsed Monday due to dehydration and hit his head on a table as he fell. He was carried to the hospital where he received stitches for his wound.

His wife called the Pulaski Street church in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and reported that Woodson was to remain in the hospital overnight for observation.

David Pinckley, treasurer for the Pulaski Street congregation, told BNc that Woodson was doing fine.

Woodson is  a retired Bible professor from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and author.

Editor’s Note: David Pinckley received a phone call Feb. 24, from Jeanne Woodson about William. He is weak from dehydration and will remain in the hotel where they are staying today to try and regain his strength. He sustained about three pretty severe cuts on his head and face when he fell and has a black eye.

A sister in Christ, Socorro, called J. Randal Matheny this morning and said her husband Paulo Silva had hit a person in his car this morning about 6:30 a.m., on his way to work, resulting in the person’s death.

The person stepped out in front of his car, and he was unable to swerve away.

Paulo went to the police station, with members of the deceased’s family. There were witnesses, but they did not stay at the scene of the accident.

Paulo was released from the police station between 10:30-11:00 Brasilia time.

Paulo has been a Christian for many years. Matheny performed his and Socorro’s wedding. They have one son, Netinho, 1 and 1/2 years old.

“Paulo, Socorro and Netinho paid us a visit last night in our home for Bible reading and prayer,” said Matheny.

The man who was hit was 40ish, separated from his wife, with two daughters.

“Two of his brothers, ironically, live on our street,” Socorro said.

Socorro said Paulo decided to go ahead to work, but he was sent home by his company.

Paulo has been in contact with the lawyer of the company where he works.

Another brother in Christ who is a lawyer said he was going to visit the police station today and talk to the police chief, to make sure they tested for alcohol or drugs during the autopsy, which would almost automatically release him from the process, since it would suggest the victim was imprudent or even possibly suicidal.

Matheny reported in an update on his website, “I talked with Paulo by phone late this afternoon. He’s pretty shaken up.”

“There are people looking out for his well-being, and that counts for a lot in these parts,” said Matheny.

“Please pray that Paulo will not suffer any legal or criminal action as a result, as well as being able to deal with the emotional impact of being the cause, however indirectly and innocently, of another person’s death,” Matheny requested.

Matheny has worked with the church in Sao Jose dos Campos for 15 years.

MEEKER, Colo. (BNc) — The progress of the Paul Martin family can be followed at The Martin Box. The family asks that you continue to keep them in your prayers.

Instead of flowers for their son, Stone, a fund has been set up at:

• First National Bank of the Rockies, P.O. Box 600, Meeker, CO 81641
• Memphis School of Preaching, 3950 Forest Hill-Irene Rd., Memphis, TN 38125

Cards can be sent to the family at P.O. Box 125, Meeker, CO 81641.

Vanessa is the daughter-in-law of Cordova church minister Jerry Martin. Paul and Vanessa Martin work with the Meeker church, a small mission congregation in central Colorado.

Stone was airlifted to Grand Junction with his father Paul by his side. Ten-year-old Stone passed away Wednesday morning, Jan. 20.

Alahna and Vanessa were airlifted to Denver where thirteen-year-old Alahna has been in a medically-induced coma with a collapsed lung and a broken leg. Vanessa suffered minor injuries. Jerry and his wife Denise are in Colorado with the family.

The driver of the car that hit them had minor injuries. It appears that the car slid on the ice and hit the passenger side of the Martin’s car.

Please add these families to your prayers.

ATLANTA, Ga. (BNc) – Sometimes I need to write something, yet it seems that the words to write fail me. What is the best way to put what I am feeling into words? Sometimes the frailty of our existence in this life is overwhelmingly clear. Sometimes we are clearly reminded that there are no promises for tomorrow. Sometimes our hearts are simply torn within on someone else’s behalf. I feel those things now.

Brian and Kristy Gray had been in Prattville, Ala., a city in the Montgomery Metro area, where they had been visiting for Thanksgiving break, and were returning to their home near Atlanta, Ga. They never made it on this particular day.

The Grays were injured in an accident, Kristy critically. The little one, Helen, as Paul Harvey used to say, is now forever three.

She lost her precious little life in that accident. (Details of the accident are available here. –Ed.)

My daughter, Carol Leah (Kelly) Hatfield had been a roommate with Kristy at Faulkner University. Brian and Kristy are alumni of Faulkner. Carol Leah has pictures of little Helen and their son Thomas together.

It has touched my heart with a true sense of sadness and brings tears to my eyes as I think about it. My heart burns for the fine young parents in their time of utter despair and unspeakable loss. My heart aches for all of the little one’s family. My wife’s niece lost a son just a few years ago, and I know the pain all of our family felt because of this loss. My heart is saddened for the life that will never be, snatched away at only three.

I do take some comfort, however, in knowing that this precious innocent soul has found a welcome home in the arms of God, but that does not take away the pain of the loss for all of those left behind.

And I have no answers to the question, “Why?” I don’t think there is a why, there is only what is. But it reaffirms some very significant matters to me.

We don’t need to waste one minute of the time we have with our children, our siblings, our parents, our grandparents, our grandchildren. We do not know when that little kiss or hug from our loved one could be the last we will ever have. We need to remember this lesson. It also is the case that we need to be there for one another in times of despair and pain. There has been an overflowing of sympathy and prayers for this family. We cannot make it without each other.

I think that the greatest lesson to remember was expressed well by my daughter, Carol Leah, in a post on Facebook:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor 1:3-4).

My heart aches for you, Brian and Kristy.

All of our hearts ache for them. Only through the caring and prayers of friends, the love shared for each other, and a dependence on God as the Father of Comforts, can they make it through.

Hug your loved ones a little more tightly today. Make sure you tell them that you love them. Realize how precious every moment is.

And pray for Brian and Kristy Gray in this dark hour. May their hearts be filled with the light of love from us, and from God, and with the memories of their precious little one, whose short time on this earth will be celebrated long after the mourning ends.

P.S. As of the late night of Sunday, Nov. 29, the doctors believed that Kristy has a broken back, and at that time she could not feel anything in her lower extremities. They had not told her at that point about Helen because of concerns of trying to stabilize her blood pressure. She is an Atlanta-area hospital.

Editor’s note: The Brothers of Zeta Eta Theta (ZHO) have set up a fund in memory of Helen Gray.

A St. Pete Beach resident queried Mayor Michael Finnerty Sept. 10 at a city commission meeting, according to a commentary yesterday by June Maxam in the North Country Gazette.

Finnerty said that he had spoken with St. Pete Beach police chief David Romine, who wanted to file charges against the driver Aaron Rimar, but was precluded from doing so by the Pinellas-Pasco state attorney’s office of Bernie McCabe.

Heather and her husband Seth were walking on a city sidewalk when Rimar’s van allegedly jumped the curb and struck the North Carolina couple, who were visiting relatives.

Heather died from her injuries two days later.

In the public-access portion of her commentary, Maxam began by questioning if the mayor would ask Florida Governor Charlie Crist to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the fatal crash.

The family belong to the Lake Norman congregation in Charlotte, N.C. Heather’s obituary was posted on BNc.

A alcohol-related accident has ended the lives of two saints in Trenton, Mich.

According to news reports, Don and Jennifer Tarjeft, 48 and 51, respectively, were killed instantly on Telegraph Road in the Michigan city last Saturday.

Patrick Allen Shope, 34, of Brownstown, Mich., was arrested and charged with two counts of DWI causing death. Each charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

Evidence at the scene suggests that the suspect was attempting to change lanes and in so doing, forced a Carleton woman into another lane. The Tarjefts were riding motorcyles and were struck head-on the by the woman’s vehicle.

Another couple from church, Aaron and Jennifer Wilmoth, 32 and 28, respectively, who were riding on their bikes were sideswiped and were transported to the hospital for their injuries, which included a broken neck and other bones for Aaron and a severed leg for Jennifer. The leg could not be saved.

The suspect is currently free on a $100,000 bond.

The Tarjets were members of the Gateway congregation in Southgate, Mich., where Don served as an elder and Jennifer was church secretary.

The congregation is serving as a clearinghouse for donations for the couple’s three children, Earl, Daniel and Alicia, who is a student at Harding University.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday.

Seth and Heather Whalley, both in their 30′s, are members at the Lake Norman Church in N.C., according to Ed Benesh, of the Pinellas Park congregation.

They, along with their three children, ages 4, 9 and 12, were vacationing in St. Petersburg when Seth and Heather were struck from behind by a van while walking on Blind Pass Rd.

They are both at Bayfront Medical Center in serious condition. Heather is in very poor, unstable condition, according to a family member.

The van lost control and went on the sidewalk. Police are investigating why the driver, who injured his shoulder and received some cuts, lost control.

Benesh asked for prayers for the family.

See update posted Apr. 15 to this story.

Today at about 12:30 noon I was typing notes on Psalm 109 for my term paper for Harding University Graduate School of Religion, when the phone rang. I was expecting my wife Cheryl to call and say she was home for lunch and I was to go join her. Instead, it was the high school saying there was an accident and they wanted all the ministers to come to the high school.

I called Cheryl and said I couldn’t meet her for lunch because the high school wanted the ministers. She asked, “Did you hear what happened? A semi hit a car full of high school kids during the lunch hour. There is at least one dead. Please go find out if Kristin (our 15-year old freshman) is at the school.”

At the school I learned three high school kids were killed, one was severally critical and one would probably be OK. (I’ve also heard she was critical). They were all sophomore girls. I asked a secretary, “Is Kristin here?” She sent a runner to her class and came back and told me she was in class.

The school wanted ministers because they were going to announce what happened to the student body and wanted us there to help counsel, answer questions, etc.

Then the hospital called and wanted us down there so we left for the hospital. Even though the accident had occurred 45 minutes or so earlier, there was still mayhem. Rescue workers were crying, doctors were crying, family members were crying, ministers were crying.

I went to one set of parents, Randy and Denise. Their daughter Tori was still alive with massive head trauma. Tori played softball and basketball with my younger daughter, and her older sister is one of my older daughter’s (Jenny, at Harding) best friends. We could hear Tori moaning and crying from her bed. I prayed with the parents in the hallway. When I said, “Lord, my girls are friends with their girls …,” I lost it.

Then a girl from church came in. One of the dead girls was her first cousin. She was also a friend of my daughters.

I went to an EMT who had been crying. I asked if he was OK. He said he worked at the scene picking the girls up. Then he said, “Tori is my niece.”

This is a small town of 5,000 people. Everybody knows each other. The people that come in on stretchers are often friends and family.

We went back to the high school, and they announced the accident over the intercom. They didn’t bring all the students out because they thought it would be mayhem. They were right. They announced the deaths and said any students that wanted could come out into the Commons (cafeteria) to talk to ministers, counselors, etc.

I was actually in a classroom of one of the students who died when the announcement was made. A student in the class said, “What about Tori?” She was in the class but her name was not announced because she was alive – airlifted to Amarillo, Tex.

Fifteen minutes later they announced that Tori had died in Amarillo. That meant four students killed in one wreck.

It was mayhem in the Commons. Kids were crying. One girl from our congregation sat beside me to talk. She said, “I feel so bad. I feel bad for them dying. But I also feel bad because I hated one of those girls. We tried to be friends several times but it didn’t work. I feel so guilty.”

My daughter came out to see if I was there with the other ministers. She looked confused. I just hugged her and cried.

One emotionally unstable boy I have worked with from the community started shouting, throwing a chair and pounding a table. Courtney, a best friend of Tori’s, came up to me and said, “I drove by the scene when the bodies were still lying in the road.” I would say she was close to shock.

I have been through one tornado and two floods, but I have never seen such massive disorientation.

In his lecture on “Preaching as Disorientation,” Fred Craddock talks about how a Native American newspaper columnist responded to the news of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. She wrote in her column, “I have nothing to write today. I have nothing to say today. I just go around my house and say, ‘Oooh.’”

That is the language of disorientation.

That is how I feel now. Actually, two thoughts kept going through my mind as I sat in the Commons watching the delirium. One, I never want to be in a position to cause this kind of suffering for anyone. It may be that at times a government official must declare war. I now realize that I could not be that person. I would not want to cause even one innocent person this level of suffering.

Two, my mind kept saying, “The Psalms, The Psalms.” I tried to think of a specific psalm to fit the situation but none came. But the whole book came to my mind, over and over, “The Psalms, The Psalms.”

I hold up the names of the four kids who died for you to be praying for their families: Julie, Meranda, Veronica, and Tori. I hold up the name of the girl who was the driver, in critical condition: Jennifer. And I hold up the truck driver (I have forgotten his name) who is not to blame for this but will carry tremendous pain in his heart. The driver works for a Christian in Colorado so I hope he will have good support.

Sometimes this semester I have wondered why, at my age and with my schedule, I am taking a graduate class. Now I know. “The Psalms. The Psalms.”