NEW YORK, United States — The American Bible Society (ABS) was “right on target and on time” with its Scripture distribution following the September 11 attacks, says New York Police Department Detective Carlos Aviles. As a result, he says, they are having a tremendous effect on people traumatised by the event.

“One phone call and they had booklets for the police and fire departments,” Mr Aviles says. “In the time of crisis and stress, ABS brought booklets for us to pass out. And people took them like they were gold.

Comforting

“It was comforting to see how fast they went. Before, this stuff would just sit on a desk and once in a while someone would pick it up. Now they’re fighting in my locker room to see if I have any more.

“It’s so neat to see them fighting over God’s stuff instead of fighting to get away from me when I want to share God’s Word,” he adds.

Mr Aviles, President of Police Officers For Christ in New York, says that in the wake of the attack he has seen many people, despite their fear and confusion, drawn closer to Christ. Some were asking if it meant the end of the world.

“The churches were packed,” he says. “Bibles became like gold. I had several taken from my desk!”

He has also seen lives changed among police officers.

“God has broken down even the toughest guys,” he says. “They are spending more time with their families – talking more about their families.

“In the past, they would work overtime and talk about the money they were making. Now, they are saying, ‘Oh, my kids – I’ve got to get home! Forget the overtime.’ Some are going to church – even though they haven’t been in a long time.”

In control

Besides gaining hope through their faith, he says, many people both in the police and fire departments are learning that God is in control.

“On September 11,” he says, “it was chaotic. People were running back and forth – even the police officers. They had never seen anything like this. It was a ‘wow’! Indescribable really.

“Now what is happening reminds me of Noah’s Ark. Something’s happening and now they’re banging on the door.”

One of the greatest lessons that people seem to be learning, he says, is that they cannot put their faith in material things.

“People realise now that if you put your hope in material things, they can vanish,” he says. “We thought the World Trade Center, that had been standing there for 30 years, was permanent. You think, ‘Wow, that’s never going to fall.’ Then look what happened. Anything man makes is capable of being destroyed. Even a new car gets old and rusted.”

But for many New Yorkers, he says, spending some time with the Scriptures has brought a ‘calm after the storm’.

“The good thing is that after reading the Scriptures, people are not running scared. They’re gripping on God. They’re getting to know him, – not just about him. Jesus is the anchor in this storm.

“Now, after the storm, we can see the value of life. Before it there was greed. Now it’s, ‘What can I do for you? You need a jacket? Let me get you this.’