February 10, 2003
Chaplains offer open ears, healing prayers at NASA
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___HOUSTON--Flowers, flags and photos surrounded the entrance sign outside Johnson Space Center last week. At this makeshift memorial to the Columbia shuttle crew, five victim relief chaplains offered comfort and hope to NASA employees, local residents and visitors from around the world.
___The volunteer chaplains set up their mobile unit about 50 feet from the entrance of the Space Center before dawn Feb. 4, providing what Gene Grounds, executive director ofVictim Relief Ministries, called a "ministry of presence." Victim Relief Ministries is an interdenominational volunteer program launched by Texas Baptist Men, missions affiliate of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
ON THE DAY of a nationally broadcast memorial service, Gene Grounds of Victim Relief Ministry, an outgrowth of Texas Baptist Men, counsels with a mourner at the makeshift flower memorial at the entrance to Johnson Space Center in Houston. (Paul Howell Photo)
___"We'll be setting up a prayer station in a tent where people can come in out of the wind and weather to pray," said Grounds, noting that the morning temperature was 48degrees with a 30 mph wind blowing.
___The volunteer chaplains also planned to offer candles to visitors "as a symbol of light and hope in a tragic situation," he added.
___Grounds noticed the need for a victim relief presence at the Space Center as he passed its front gate in the hours following the Feb. 1 Columbia disaster. He was in the area due to the death of a distant relative who lived three miles from Johnson Space Center.
___"I had seen large groups and small groups gathering there, praying at the gate, and there was no ministry of any type present to minister to those grieving people," Grounds said. "I felt we needed to be there as representatives of the faith community. The Lord has given us a unique opportunity to be representatives of his kingdom work."
___Grounds asked that the victim relief mobile unit, which had been stationed at the Nacogdoches County Expo Center, be moved to the Space Center. The Expo Center has served as staging area for search teams scouring East Texas for space shuttle debris.
___The chaplains held a worship service for the law officers and other searchers Sunday evening in the Expo Center rodeo arena. Several troopers joined them for morning devotionals as well.
___Mike Brittain of Diana had served as on-site coordinator for victim relief ministry in Nacogdoches, and he moved the operation to the outskirts of Houston.
___Brittain recalled visiting with one NASA employee who described the emotional turmoil her teenage daughter was experiencing after the shuttle crash. "What do I tell her? What can I do?" she asked the volunteer chaplain.
___On several occasions, Brittain approached individuals who were standing at the gate weeping.
___"I'd just put my arm around them, let them know they're loved and tell them, 'I'll pray for you,'" he said.
___"We're just trying to touch the people and let them know we are here for them."
___Meanwhile, Texas Baptist Men volunteers served more than 3,100 meals in the first two days after the Columbia tragedy to federal law enforcement officers and others scouring the woods and pastures of Nacogdoches County for debris.
___The need for food service was projected to increase as more workers arrived to search for debris.
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