People were crying, Oh my God, help me, as they fled from burning buildings.

Churches across the nation opened their doors for community prayer services as the death toll at the World Trade Center soared into thousands.

Men and women, whose faith had been dormant for months or even years, were talking about God and taking time to pray.

Did a spiritual revival occur following the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon?

Or will the surge of faith and prayer be short-lived as the memory of the terrorist attacks fades and people return to their routines?

Local ministers and church leaders were asked how the attacks have affected spiritual life in America and what the future holds.

In times of extreme crisis, we seek to draw close and receive comfort spiritually, said Robert Warmath, pastor of the Elgin Baptist Church.

When faced with catastrophe, we are reminded of just how insufficient our personal resources are, and we must turn to God.

Carlyn Ashlock, pastor at Victory Christian Center of La Grande, said the attacks were a wakeup call that caused people to turn to God in prayer.

Prayer does make the difference. We are seeing God heal our land as prayer and unity unfolds in our nation and around the world.

Lynn Harris, stake president in La Grande for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also believes the attacks provided a uniting force in the nation.

Tragedy does unite us, and can be a catalyst for an increase of faith, Harris said. We speak of separation of church and state, but when pushed, as we have been, those separation lines blur. Boundaries break, facades fall and we unite to help in hours of need.

Wil Nitz, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in La Grande, believes that Satan, and not God, was the force behind the attacks.

We will probably not realize in this lifetime what reasons God has for allowing Satan to use terrorists to attack our country. But we can trust His promise that all things will work together for good to those who love God and that would include this attack.

Nitz said Satans tool is to drive people to despair, but the events of Sept. 11 has resulted in people seeking God more eagerly.

Those who already know Him now have a wonderful opportunity to share their faith more openly.

Harley J. Kauffman, a deacon at Grande Ronde Mennonite Church in Cove, said the terrorists attacks were born out of hatred with the intent to bring America low. But during a crisis, it is typical for mens thoughts to turn toward God.

Pastor Wayne Pickens at First Baptist Church in La Grande said a tragedy helps people to stop and consider the things that are really important.

Relationships. Love. Life, Pickens said. Jesus summarized it well when He indicated that loving God and loving people are the two most important things in life.

The minister added that what seemed so important to people before the terrorists attack became trivial in a matter of minutes.

When the towers collapsed, we were not thinking about computers or bank accounts. We were thinking about people husbands and wives, moms and dads, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. This crisis has caused many of us to re-evaluate our relationship, to cry out to God and to say I love you when we leave the house.

Jerry Peters, pastor of United Methodist churches in Union and Cove, sees more people returning to church following the attacks.

Its not just our elders and other adults, but children and youth, Peters said. They are wanting to hear about Gods love for them and that there is hope for them and for their future.

Susan Smith-Allen, rector at St. Peters Episcopal Church in La Grande, said a time of personal and national introspection is needed.

We must be willing to ask forgiveness, both for those things we as a people and nation have done, and for those things we have failed to do, Smith-Allen said.

We must determine that we will find effective, just, righteous and merciful ways of dealing with one another throughout all creation.

Will the presence of prayer and faith be part of Americas future?

Pastor Ted Davis at the Faith Center in Island City is hopeful the tragic events will continue to drive Americans back to God and to churches.

It is my deepest conviction that the attack on the U.S. has and will result in a tremendous resurgence of faith in God. We have no place to turn in times like these than to our great and mighty Lord of the universe, who alone can help us be victorious over our enemies.

Warmath at the Elgin Baptist Church points out, however, that time and distance from crises can create complacency.

Kauffman of the Mennonite church agrees that in good times, God may not be important to people.

Have we made God just a shelf God? Kauffman asks. We keep Him inconspicuously on the shelf possibly on the back shelf when things go well. And then when calamity comes, we get Him down. If this is what God means to us, then we have a right to doubt any longevity to what appears to be a resurgence of faith at such a time.

Ashlock at Victory Christian Center is praying that the resurgence of faith in God will be long-term and not fade as the business-as-usual mentality returns.

We must get back to business, but as the government has told us, our lives will never be the same in this nation. We need to continue to pray for the president and the leaders of this nation for Gods direction and wisdom, Ashlock said.

Story by Dave Stave