East Palestine, Ohio

On February 3, 2023, a rail car’s defective wheel bearing caused the derailment and subsequent hazardous material release in East Palestine, Ohio.

On February 8, 2023, during praying, God spoke to me about going to East Palestine, Ohio to minister.  After spending 3 days in prayer about the decision, I drove 4 hours East to East Palestine not knowing where God was leading.

Upon arriving, I saw a group of volunteers handing out water.  The Holy Spirit prompted me to go over and prayer for them.  I approached them and asked if they wanted prayer.  We gathered in a circle and began to prayer.  After concluding the prayer, we didn’t realize there was news crew there and had a boom mic in the middle of the prayer circle and was live broadcasting the prayer.

I spent the next 3 hours comforting people, praying for people, and observing the damage the done.   As I was walking back to my Jeep, a vehicle pulled up beside me and we began talking.  They asked if I would be ok with an interview.  During the interview they asked about the chemical spill.  I told them, I can taste the chemicals and smell them.   They asked if I was afraid of getting sick and I told them, “The same God who protected me during covid while I did homeless ministry, will protect me here as He has called me here.”  What I didn’t realize until later was they were a news crew from California and was broadcasting the interview.

What I’ve learned over the years is, “You never know how God will move.  Just be obedient and enjoy the ride because He will move when He calls you to do something.”