The Praise Report
25 Years Later: Remembering Faith, Courage, and the Strength to Keep Going
September 11, 2026
September 11, 2001 is a day our nation will never forget.
It was a day marked by unimaginable loss, fear, and heartbreak. Families waited for answers. First responders ran toward danger. Strangers helped strangers. Churches opened their doors. People gathered to pray.
Twenty-five years later, we still remember those who were lost, those who survived, those who served, and the families whose lives were forever changed.
But remembrance can also make room for gratitude.
We can thank God for the courage shown in the midst of fear.
We can thank Him for the hands that reached out to help, the communities that came together, and the people who continued to pray when they did not know what tomorrow would bring.
We can thank God for every survivor who was given more time, every family that found strength to keep moving forward, and every testimony that reminds us that faith can remain even when life changes in an instant.
September 11 reminds us that faith does not require us to ignore pain.
Faith allows us to bring our pain to God and still believe that He is present.
As we remember 25 years later, may we honor those who were lost, pray for those who still carry the weight of that day, and give thanks for every example of courage, compassion, resilience, and faith that followed.
Praise be to God for the strength to keep going, the grace to keep loving, and the faith to keep trusting.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
— Psalm 46:1A Prayer Beneath the Rubble
This month's Praise Report is found in the testimony of one woman whose story reminds us that even beneath the rubble, prayer was still possible and God was still present.
Among the thousands of stories connected to September 11 is the remarkable testimony of Genelle Guzman-McMillan.
Genelle was working in the World Trade Center's North Tower when it collapsed. Buried beneath concrete and steel, she remained trapped for nearly 27 hours.
As the hours passed and her strength began to fade, Genelle began to pray.
She has shared that while trapped beneath the rubble, she cried out to God, asked for forgiveness, and prayed for another chance at life.
The following morning, rescuers found her alive.
Genelle became the last survivor pulled alive from the rubble of the World Trade Center.
Twenty-five years later, her story remains a powerful reminder of prayer, survival, second chances, and a life forever changed.
Her testimony reminds us that even when circumstances look completely hopeless, we can still call on God.
Sometimes a Praise Report is not about escaping the storm. Sometimes it is about discovering who held you while you were inside it.
Watch Genelle's Story
Hear Genelle Guzman-McMillan reflect on being the last survivor rescued from the World Trade Center rubble and the experience that changed her life.
Source: Good Morning America / ABC News via YouTube
A Moment of Reflection
This September, we invite you to pause and remember.
Remember the lives.
Remember the sacrifice.
Remember the prayers.
And remember that even in our darkest moments, we can still turn toward God.
This September feature reflects on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, and the enduring examples of faith, courage, service, and remembrance that followed.
Do You Have a Praise Report?
Has God carried you through a difficult time, answered a prayer, strengthened your faith, or shown His faithfulness in a meaningful way? Your testimony may be the encouragement someone else needs.
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