“Houston, we’ve had a problem” were the words sent from Apollo 13, which was launched for the moon APRIL 11, 1970. Mission control identified that an oxygen tank had exploded, irreparably damaging the craft. Special prayer services were held at the Chicago Board of Trade, at St. Peter’s Basilica by the Pope, at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and reported in The New York Times. Even the U.S. Senate adopted a resolution urging prayer.
In sub-zero temperature, the crew pieced together an oxygen filter, jump-charged the command module batteries, and manually steered the ship to land in the ocean near a raging hurricane.
On April 19, 1970, President Nixon spoke at Kawaiahao Church, the oldest Christian Church in Hawaii:
When we learned of the safe return of our astronauts, I asked that the Nation observe a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving today…This event reminded us that in these days of growing materialism, deep down there is still a great religious faith in this Nation.
Nixon concluded:
I think more people prayed last week than perhaps have prayed in many years in this country…We pray for the assistance of God when…faced with…great potential tragedy.
The Moral Liberal contributing editor, William J. Federer, is the bestselling author of “Backfired: A Nation Born for Religious Tolerance no Longer Tolerates Religion,” and numerous other books. A frequent radio and television guest, his daily American Minute is broadcast nationally via radio, television, and Internet. Check out all of Bill’s books here.
