Who attends airport chapel services?
Two-thirds of the people that come to the services on Sundays are passengers, the rest are employees. The chapel is a little less threatening than walking into a local church, so we get Mormons, every stripe of Protestant, and non-Christians. I think we have one of the higher percentages anywhere of practicing Catholics that attend a Protestant service.
Are you seeing an increase since September 11?
Numbers were much higher the first Sunday after the attack. Since then, the interest is still there, but the amount of people in the system is not as high. The problem of going through security twice is a deterrent.
What are worshipers feeling?
It’s basically the same question: Why did God allow this? But there seems to be an enhanced awareness of spiritual things in airports. People don’t take flying as much for granted as they did before.
Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Related Elsewhere:
The O’Hare Airport Chapel is online. There are Catholic, Muslim, and Protestant services held at the airport chapellocated in Terminal 2. The site also includes a photo of Hutz Hertzberg of the Evangelical Free Church of America.
Christianity Today essays and analysis following the September 11 attacks include:
Where Was God on 9/11? | Reflections from Ground Zero and beyond. (Oct.23, 2001)
Apocalypse Not | As speculations mount regarding the significance of recent events in God’s plan for the end of the world, voices from the past urge restraint. (Oct. 12, 2001)
Now What? | A Christian response to religious terrorism. (Sept. 21, 2001)
To Embrace the Enemy | Is reconciliation possible in the wake of such evil? (Sept. 21, 2001)
After the Grave in the Air | True reconciliation comes not by ignoring justice nor by putting justice first, but by unconditional embrace. (Sept. 21, 2001)
Was September 11 the Beginning of the End? | Observers say geography and gravity of attacks have led to little prophecy speculation. (Sept. 19, 2001)
Taking It Personally | What do we do with all this anger? (Sept. 14, 2001)
God’s Message in the Language of Events | In the face of evil, we must focus on keeping our hearts right. (Sept. 11, 2001)above all else.
Reflections on Suffering | Classic and contemporary quotations for dark times. (Sept. 13, 2001)
When Sin Reigns | An event like this shows us what humans are capable of becoming—both as children of darkness and of light. (Sept. 13, 2001)
