Late Monday evening, June 21, 2010 - It started off like a normal train trip from Pointe Noire, the economic center of the Congo, to Brazzaville, the nation’s capital. Some may have noticed late that evening that the packed train was traveling faster than normal, but no one dreamed what was about to take place. As the train took a curve approximately 40 miles from Pointe Noire, four cars derailed and headed into a ravine.

People screamed. Bodies were flung over and against each other. Then the cars tumbled into the ravine with terrified passengers left in confusion. Finally, dead silence. The permanent silence of nearly 100 passengers who were killed spoke loudly to the nation. The screams of over 700 injured shook Pointe Noire, where family members filled the railway station to learn if their loved ones lived or died.

The government declared June 26 -28 as a national period of mourning. It was a tragedy of historic proportions for the Congo.

Friday, June 25 – 27, 2010 – International evangelist Sammy Tippit began a series of evangelistic meetings in Pointe Noire, sponsored by local churches throughout the city. Tippit had been scheduled to preach the meetings several months earlier. However, due to travel difficulties, the meetings had to be delayed by more than six months. None of the organizers could have imagined how critical the timing of the meetings would be.

The nation was called into mourning because of the train tragedy. Television, radio and news media asked Tippit for words of encouragement for those struck by the tragedy. The Texas evangelist expressed condolences to the family and friends of those affected by the tragedy and prayed for them.

On the first day of national mourning, Tippit preached in the open fields to thousands of Pointe Noire citizens about how to “stand in the midst of the storms of life.” People not only listened intently, but responded immediately. Hundreds gave their hearts to Christ. Counselors prayed and ministered to them.

Tippit came to the Congo at the invitation of Christian leaders in Angola, where he had conducted several evangelistic meetings during the past few years. Congolese leaders heard about the meetings and asked the Angolans to encourage Tippit to conduct similar meetings in the Congo. A church planting seminar was conducted prior to the meetings. Plans were made to begin new churches from the hundreds of people who gave their hearts to Christ.

Tippit said, “The people needed great hope. God had us in the right place, at the right time, with the right message. I am always amazed at how God is able to rearrange my schedule to put me at a strategic place in a critical moment. He did that in Pointe Noire. People found hope in the midst of their storm.”