The Ohio Independent Baptist, March 1968

The Silver Bridge At Time of Dedication - 1928 • • e I ver r I ge • rage an ess1ng We /1ave all read concerning the ILVER BRIDGE tragedy. This re– port i a bit different. It is the per– so11al tcsti,nony of our brother R ev . Joseph C. Chapman, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Gallipolis. Truly, as the Psalmist has declared... "His ways are past finding out!'' On Friday, December 15, 1967 at approximately 5 :20 p .m. our daughter, Judith, arrived home from her place of employmenit in Apple Grove W. Va. After calling for her mother she burst into unoo!l!trollable hysterics, "The Bridge, The Bridge" she cried. My wife and I were able to piece together the horrible truth that the Silver Bridge had collapsed - end to end! Judy had been on the crowded bridge and had just reached the ection that still stands on the Ohio side. Needless to say our hearts nearly burst with thankfulness to God for her safe keeping. After she was sedated I rushed to the bridge site and soon realized that the few injured were already at the hospital. Shirley, daughter number two, was on duty at the hospital as a ' 'Candy– Striper," fearing that her sister was by Rev. Joseph C. Chapman one of the victims knowing that she came aero, s the river at rthat time. he frantically ran to a phone but, already the lines were held up fo;r emergency use only. She soon got word that Judy had miraculously escaped. She returned to her duties, with a prayer of thanksgiving. Forty– six per ons had been taken to the bottom of the "Beautiful Ohio." As of this writing four are still to be found and one car. Dragging opera- tions continue. We have tried to give aid and com– fort to the many affected families of the two afflicted communities. The heartache is too great to be described in the printed page. Five of the vic– tims were connected with our own church family. Two of them still • • m1ss1ng. Our choir director, Mr. Eugene Gherke, was on the road to the ap– proach in Point Pleasant at the mo– ment of collapse. Our Christian Edu– cation Director, Mi s Hilda Halley, h ad JUST crossed the bridge to pick up a Sunday School boy in 'Point' for a Christmas party. Eugene and Hilda both give testimony of Guard- \ THE CHILDREN'S GOSPEL HOUR, INC. Livingston, Tenn. 38570 Presenting Jesus Christ to Youth by Radio and TV • PRAY FOR THE SALVATION OF BOYS AND GIRLS The Children's Gospel Hour is now on 70 radio and 36 TV stations each week. Pray that more stations will take the program. The youth of America need to heat the Gospel now. Write for furthe r information . Henry C. Geiger, Executive Director • ian Angels and the leading of the Ho1ly pirit. We've heard a number of imilar experiences with Christ receiving the honor and praise for deliverance. Message preparation for Sunday morning became what seemed to be a mammoth task. After much prayer and meditation the Lord led me to Isaiah 55:8, ' 'FOR MY TIIOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NEITHER ARE YOUR WAYS MY WAYS, SAITH THE LORD." In my nearly eighteen years of pastoring this wa the most difficult message eve1 preached. The congregation found it impossible to sing. The choir tried. Special music was cancelled. Tear~ flowed unashamedly. At the close oJ the message one entire family (excep1 a seventeen year old son) respondec to the Salvation invitation. The fol lowing Sunday the same young mar realized his need and so complete< the family in Christ. Many othei blessed experiences followed and w< trust will continue. This di aster has brought renewe{ interest in our Lord, His work, an< Hi will. It has caused each one of tL to remember the Scripture "NOW I~ THE ACCEPTED TIME: BEHOLD NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVA TION." How many died that evenin~ of December 15 without hearing For how many will we as believer witnesses be responsible? We hav truly found that the Lord doe WORK IN MYSTERIOUS WAY - HIS WONDERS TO PERFORM May we in Gallipolis and you tha have read this article rededicate ou • lives to Christ and become the faitr ful witne ses that we should b< THE OHIO INDEPENDENT BAPTIS