9/11: Twenty-Five Years Later — Hope in the Darkness
Twenty-five years ago, the world watched in horror as the attacks of September 11, 2001, unfolded.
The images remain etched into our collective memory. But behind those images are people. Survivors. First responders. Families who lost loved ones. Pastors and ministry leaders who stepped into unimaginable grief. People who were forced to wrestle with questions many of us still ask when tragedy strikes:
Where was God? Can hope be found after tragedy? How does faith sustain us when the world feels broken?
At Crossroads, we believe these are stories worth telling.
On Friday, September 11, 100 Huntley Street will mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a special one-hour program, “Hope in the Darkness.”
A Story of Survival
Among the firsthand accounts is the remarkable story of Genelle McMillan, who was trapped beneath the rubble of the World Trade Center for 27 hours before being rescued alive.
Her testimony takes us beyond what happened that day to the deeply human experience of living through it. It is a story of survival, faith and hope in circumstances that seemed utterly hopeless.
Throughout the special, viewers will also hear from survivors, first responders, families, pastors and ministry leaders, sharing stories of courage, forgiveness, answered prayer and lives transformed.
A Story of Service
Salvation Army volunteer Dan Thompson travelled to Ground Zero to serve the first responders, ironworkers and volunteers who spent countless hours clearing the rubble.
Dan recalls the profound experience of seeing Ground Zero for the first time: smoke rising from the rubble, the smell of smouldering debris, and powerful moments of silence and respect for those who had lost their lives.
His story is a reminder of the extraordinary ways people stepped forward to serve, care for one another and bring hope in the midst of unimaginable tragedy.
Why Tell These Stories 25 Years Later?
Because remembering is about more than looking back.
A new generation has grown up with no personal memory of September 11. At the same time, people across Canada continue to experience their own moments when life suddenly changes: grief, fear, uncertainty and circumstances that leave them asking where God is in the middle of it all.
That is why these stories still matter.
For nearly 50 years, 100 Huntley Street has created a place where people can bring life’s hardest questions and encounter the hope of Jesus through real stories of faith.
We don’t tell stories like Genelle’s because suffering needs a simple explanation. We tell them because people need to know that suffering does not have the final word.
Scripture gives us this promise:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” — John 1:5
Twenty-five years after 9/11, stories of faith, courage and redemption remind us that even when the world feels broken, God is still present. Hope can still be found. Lives can still be transformed.
And that message may be just as important today as it was 25 years ago.
You Don’t Have to Face the Darkness Alone
If this story brings up grief, fear or difficult memories in your own life, a caring Prayer Partner is available to pray with you.
Crossroads Prayer Line: 1-866-273-4444
Available 24/7.
WATCH THE LATEST 100 HUNTLEY STREET EPISODES OR FIND THE BROADCAST SCHEDULE
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