Family
From 9/11 Survivor to Warrior Against Modern-Day Slavery
Faith Facts
- A survivor of the 9/11 attacks arrived in America in 2001 with only $50 and two suitcases, searching for purpose
- The tragedy became a turning point that eventually led to a divine calling to fight human trafficking
- A cry for help from a trafficking victim revealed God’s purpose for his survival
When the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001, one man’s brush with death would become the beginning of an extraordinary journey of faith and purpose. Having arrived in America just months earlier with nothing but hope and determination, he had no idea that surviving one of history’s darkest days would set him on a path to rescue others from darkness.
The survivor recalls arriving on American soil with modest means — just $50 in his pocket and two suitcases containing all his worldly possessions. He came with dreams like so many immigrants before him, but without a clear sense of calling or direction for his life.
“When I arrived in America in 2001 with $50 and two suitcases, I had dreams — but no sense of purpose.”
Then came September 11th. The attacks that shook our nation and took nearly 3,000 innocent lives also marked a turning point in his own story. The trauma and survival would plant seeds that wouldn’t fully bloom for years to come.
“Then 9/11 changed everything, and it would take years, and a cry for help from a trafficking victim, before I understood why I survived.”
In the years following that fateful day, he searched for meaning in his survival. Why had God spared him when so many perished? The answer wouldn’t come immediately, but when it did, it arrived with unmistakable clarity.
The moment of revelation came through the desperate plea of a human trafficking victim. In that cry for help, he finally understood the divine purpose behind his survival — he was meant to be a voice for the voiceless and a defender of the vulnerable.
Human trafficking remains one of the darkest sins plaguing our modern world, with millions trapped in various forms of slavery. It’s an evil that Christians are called to confront, standing firm on biblical principles that affirm the dignity and worth of every human life created in God’s image.
This survivor’s transformation from a man without purpose to a warrior against human trafficking exemplifies how God can redeem even our most traumatic experiences. His story serves as a powerful reminder that our trials often prepare us for our true calling.
The fight against human trafficking requires courage, commitment, and compassion — qualities forged in the fires of adversity. For this 9/11 survivor, those qualities were born from ashes and refined through years of searching for meaning.
His journey demonstrates a fundamental truth that resonates with Christian values: no experience is wasted in God’s economy. Every hardship can become a tool for His purpose, and every survival story can inspire others to action.
As Americans who cherish freedom and human dignity, we must join the fight against modern slavery in all its forms. Whether through prayer, advocacy, or direct action, we each have a role to play in protecting the vulnerable and pursuing justice.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Clyde and Gwen Antwine celebrated 70 years of marriage rooted in Christian service and missionary work across Europe and the United States.
- The couple met at a youth camp in Texas and built their relationship on shared faith, mission trips, and a commitment to mentoring young Christians.
- They helped establish a healthy church in Zurich, Switzerland, and continued to serve faithfully at Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma.
The Antwines first met as teenagers at a two-week encampment at Abilene Christian University. Clyde was 15 years old and sold his FFA prize-winning steer for $40 to attend. That is where he first saw Gwen, then 14, and asked to take her picture.
He carried that photograph in his wallet for five years before they reunited at Abilene Christian during his sophomore year. They married six months later.
“The last day of camp, I worked up the courage to ask her if I could take her picture, and she posed. And I put that picture in my wallet. I didn’t even know her name. I just knew she was pretty.”
After Clyde graduated, the couple boarded a boat for Europe in 1959. They served seven years in Zurich, helping to strengthen a young congregation of the Church of Christ. Their work laid a foundation that still bears fruit today.
Later the Antwines served in the German cities of Augsburg and Munich. After nearly two decades overseas, they returned to the United States. Clyde became missionary in residence at Oklahoma Christian University while Gwen served as office manager for The Christian Chronicle.
“Gwen would get you laughing and see the positive side when things got tough, and Clyde, in his quiet voice, would somehow say the exact words you needed to hear to keep you spiritually grounded.”
Their legacy continues through the many students they mentored for mission work. The Antwines never sought recognition. Their only goal was to prepare others for Kingdom service.
Today, Clyde still carries that original photograph of Gwen from their teenage years. Their story stands as a clear testimony of enduring love, steadfast faith, and lifelong commitment to the Lord’s work.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Ashley Flynn’s family states she “wanted her life to point people to Jesus.”
- She is remembered as a mother of two who “loved Jesus with her whole heart.”
- The case centers on the tragic loss of a Christian wife and mother whose testimony continues to inspire faith.
The family of the late Ashley Flynn is remembering the slain mother of two as someone who “loved Jesus with her whole heart” after her husband Caleb was found guilty of murdering her as the defendant’s family maintains his innocence.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Christians across Puerto Rico are gathering for six days of prayer for families, churches and the island’s future.
- The island is a U.S. territory located in the Caribbean.
- The multi-day prayer initiative reflects a commitment to faith, family and national values.
Christians across Puerto Rico are gathering this week for six days of prayer for families, churches and the future of the island, a U.S. territory in the Caribbean.
Believers are uniting in churches and communities to seek God’s guidance and blessing over their households and the territory’s future.
Participants are lifting up concerns ranging from family stability and spiritual renewal to economic growth and cultural preservation.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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