41 Church Members Held Services in a Bomb Shelter After Being Stranded in Israel During Iran Strikes
41 members of Calvary Chapel Summerville safely return to the US after being stranded in Israel for nearly a week during Iranian counterstrikes.
South Carolina Church Group Stranded in Israel During Iran Strikes Finally Makes It Home
Forty one members of Calvary Chapel Summerville in South Carolina have safely returned to the United States after being stranded in Israel for nearly a week during the Iranian counterstrikes that rocked the region.
The church group had been on a spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy Land when the conflict erupted. They were going through airport security, preparing to fly home on their originally scheduled Sunday departure, when the war broke out and Israeli airspace was shut down.
Pastor Vic Carroll described the terrifying moment the group was caught in the crossfire.
"The alarms went off. They ushered us all to the bomb shelters."
The group was forced to shelter more than 30 times in a 24 hour period as rockets were reported throughout the region. Despite the danger, church members held services in the bunker, clinging to their faith through the crisis.
Ambassador Mike Huckabee had warned the group last Friday to move up their departure. The group attempted to leave on Saturday, but Iranian missile strikes on Sunday, including one that killed nine people in Beit Shemesh, further complicated evacuation efforts.
With no flights available out of Israel, the group eventually took a bus to Jordan and flew from there, arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
Assistant Pastor Charles Timmerman expressed the group's gratitude upon their return.
"Our faith in God is the most important thing in our lives. We are deeply grateful."
U.S. Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham, along with Representative Nancy Mace, assisted in coordinating the group's safe return. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $100,000 from approximately 150 donors, while the church office received about $5,000 in direct donations to cover hotel stays, meals, and wages lost during the extended stay.
Calvary Chapel Summerville Members Evacuated From Israel Amid Iranian Military Strikes
The safe return of all 41 members was met with tears and cheers at Charleston International Airport, where families embraced their loved ones at the baggage claim. Six U.S. military personnel were confirmed dead in Kuwait during the same conflict, underscoring the gravity of the situation the church group narrowly escaped.
The Crusader's Opinion
These 41 believers went to walk where Christ walked and found themselves in the middle of a war zone. And what did they do? They held church in a bomb shelter. That is the faith that built Western civilization and that is the faith the world tries to silence every single day. While Iran launches missiles at civilians, the world stays quiet. Imagine if a Christian nation launched strikes at a Muslim holy site during Ramadan. The outrage would be deafening. But when Jews and Christians are under fire in the Holy Land, it barely makes the evening news. God protected these believers, and we should never stop praying for those still in harm's way.
Take Action
- Pray for the safety of all Christians and Jews in Israel and the surrounding region during this ongoing conflict.
- Donate to The Shepherd's Shield to support persecuted Christians in the Middle East and conflict zones worldwide.
- Support Open Doors USA which works to strengthen and protect believers living under persecution across the globe.
- Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives to urge them to prioritize the evacuation and protection of American citizens abroad. Find your representatives at congress.gov.
- Support Calvary Chapel Summerville directly through their church website as the congregation recovers from the financial burden of the extended stay.
