Building Adult Ministries, Leadership for Adults Over 50

First you have to have some historical perspective. Two years after the Civil War, with much of Columbia still in ruins, some of the bitterness over the North-South conflict was put aside by a single gesture: New York firefighters set out to collect pennies to buy Columbia a firetruck.

You see, on February 17, 1865, a devastating blaze broke out that devoured over 36 blocks, or about one-third of the city. Columbia had lost most of its firefighting equipment during the Civil War and desperately used bucket brigades in their attempt to douse flames.

Not long after, New York City firemen, many of them former Union soldiers, raised $5,000—mostly in pennies—and put a hose-reel wagon on a steamship bound for Columbia, South Carolina. It was March of 1867. On the way, the ship sank, but instead of giving up, they took up another collection and sent a second hose-reel wagon in June of that same year.

So overwhelmed was former Confederate Colonel Samuel Melton that he made a promise on behalf of South Carolina’s capital city to return the kindness “should misfortune ever befall the Empire City.”

After 9/11, White Knoll Principal Nancy Turner and her teachers were trying to find some tangible way their students could respond to the attacks. The children were too young to give blood, and no one liked the idea of simply sending money to an impersonal national fund. Eventually the decision was made to collect money to buy a firetruck.

Then Turner stumbled on records of New York’s long-ago gift while researching the cost and what type of truck to buy. It was easy to get city leaders and the state governor, Jim Hodges, to join in. Columbia’s fire chief was a New York native. The effort was renamed “South Carolina Remembers.” After 134 years, the day to remember came and the children of Columbia took it on themselves to honor that pledge.

They collected pennies at football games, held bake sales, and sold T-shirts in a drive to raise the $350,000 needed to replace one of the dozens of New York City firetrucks destroyed in the 9/11 attacks.

The idea began from a lesson in giving. Donations poured in. One donor wrote: “When I was growing up in Columbia, Mama always said you need to return a kindness. I know she’d be as glad as I am to be part of this wonderful thank-you gesture.”
In notes to the students, donors told personal stories connecting them with loved ones who died on 9/11, to firefighters, and in one case, to Confederate soldiers.

In her article, Page Ivey tells about one of the most unforgettable donations, coming from Russell Siller of Rockville Centre, New York. Siller’s brother, Stephen, was part of the elite firefighter force Squad 1. He died that terrible day.

Siller wrote: “At a time like this, when the whole nation is still mourning its loss, what a powerful and poetic message your efforts send to all of us. I am proud that New York’s bravest sent you a firetruck in your city’s time of need. … To think that you would honor a pledge made so many years ago! The new firetruck will become a symbol for your love for your country, and for New York’s bravest.”

I think this is such a beautiful story of caring and giving; of responding to the heartbreak of the world around us; of honoring a pledge. Wouldn’t it be great if every day somewhere, people gave out of a spirit of love and grace to those in need?

Too often, I’m guilty of thinking it’s really all about me. I know that a soul shepherd is not supposed to think like that, especially when his Boss was the most selfless giver in all of history. “Do greater things than these,” he encouraged his followers.

I believe that was accomplished in the hearts of a lot of people the day a school house full of kids, together with their friends, reached their $350,000 goal in Columbia and sent a shiny new red firetruck up the highway to New York City.

Who knows?

Can’t you just see Jesus riding through New York City on the back of that bright red firetruck, waving to the people, laughing, and shouting out, “Look what the kids did!” Somehow, I think he would have loved doing that!

Next time you’re tempted to skip out on a pledge or hold back your tithe or pass up an opportunity to do a little good somewhere, remember, there is one terrific way to make God happy. God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)