25 Years After 9/11: Return to Prayer
Photos by Ken Knott
Carlos Aviles (left), former NYPD detective and now pastor of Calvary Chapel Clermont, FL, brought the largest team to NYC2026, a ministry of the U.S. Prayer Force led by CC Pastor Mike MacIntosh.
Twenty-five years ago, America faced the overwhelming reality of a terrorist attack in Manhattan, New York, that claimed 2,977 lives, leaving behind unimaginable grief, sorrow, and loss.
Twenty-five years later, believers from across the nation returned to Ground Zero not simply to remember, but to pray for America.
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Mike MacIntosh served on a Special Air Disaster Response Team after 9/11/2001, partnering with Detective Carlos Aviles. Later, Carlos would become a pastor.
Pastor Carlos encourages first responders in New York City in September.
Pastor Mike MacIntosh (left) is honored by Detective Carols Aviles (right) for organizing chaplains around the United States to minister at Ground Zero following the attack on 9/11, 25 years ago.
Wake Up America, an evangelical outreach led by Pastor Mike MacIntosh, founder of the United States Prayer Force, brought over 100 Christians together; 30 were local residents and 70 came from churches across the country. They included Calvary Chapel Clermont, FL; Calvary Chapel Moreno Valley, CA; and Calvary Chapel San Clemente, CA. From August 27 through September 4, believers gathered in New York City to pray for the nation and minister to those impacted by 9/11. Months leading to the event, attendees had been meeting regularly to pray over it. “I think that’s why I was so amazed at how open people were to us praying for them,” stated Pastor Holland Davis of Calvary Chapel San Clemente.
The night before they began to minister, Pastor Mike led the team in prayer and exhorted the American church to “Wake up!” Before sending the teams out, he reminded them of the words of King David in Psalm 11:3, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Each morning began with a time of devotion and prayer before teams were sent throughout the city’s boroughs to do ministry work. One member of the team included Margaret Neeley, the 90-year-old mother of Pastor Holland. The prayer teams spent their days meeting people throughout the city and praying with first responders, police officers, firefighters, and residents.
United States Prayer Force (USPF) team members pray with a state trooper.
A USPF volunteer reaches out to a Port Authority officer.
The ministry also had several opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel, Mike recalled. “A family of five accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior in a local McDonalds, … [and] several other first responders also made professions of faith.” Pastor Holland noted that his team alone led nearly 15 first responders to Christ.
Among those participating was Pastor Carlos Aviles of Calvary Chapel Clermont in Florida. A retired New York City detective, Carlos was serving as a police officer in Manhattan at the time of the attacks on September 11, 2001. After the catastrophe, Carlos spent more than a year and a half working at the site, helping recover victims, clear debris, and assist in the restoration of New York City. He knew many of the first responders who lost their lives on September 11. It was the witness of CC teams coming to minister in the aftermath of 9/11 that led him to desire to be a Calvary Chapel pastor.
During the day, the believers prayed with many people on the street and first responders. That included Firehouse 10, which is directly across the street from the World Trade Center.
The teams later stood before the two memorial pools at Ground Zero which mark the footprints of the original World Trade Center towers. The names of those who died are engraved around the edges of the memorial. Ken Knott, an attendee from Calvary Chapel Quakertown, PA, who photographed the event, described the scene as “sobering to see the lives that were lost in the abyss.”
One team solemnly encounters the 9/11 Memorial.
Before starting the day to minister to New Yorkers, the CC Clermont team prepares by praying in a park.
Throughout the trip, Ken also saw opportunities to share the hope of Christ with people in the city. Reflecting on the work, he said, “Talking to people onsite shows there is hope in the face of evil like that. It was really touching to show that God is still there.”
Serving in a ministry like this, Mike is reminded of the great need for the Church to step out boldly in faith. He is praying that the Lord would raise up more laborers throughout our nation who would join the work of the U.S. Prayer Force as stated in Luke 10:2, “Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” Mike added, “I see a true lethargy in the body of Christ.” He pleads with Christians to humble themselves before the Lord, fear God, and seek His face.
One team ministers at the Brooklyn Fire Station. The woman on the left is a pastor’s wife from Indiana.
Memory tags honor dead loved ones at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
A Calvary Chapel pastor’s wife prays in the rain in Manhattan.
A team member (left) ministers in Staten Island.
The Florida team engages with a Port Authority officer.
Pastor Ryan Ruckman and his wife, leaving Brooklyn to go to Manhattan, share Jesus on the subway.
Mike MacIntosh brings morning devotions to his extended U.S. Prayer Force team, gives assignments, and shares evening testimonies. Behind him is the Prayer Force logo.
In the background, Pastor Holland Davis of Calvary Chapel San Clemente, CA, leads worship during morning and evening sessions.
Thank you for reading! If this story inspired you, we invite you to partner with us in continuing the ministry God started over 27 years ago. We appreciate your prayerful consideration in joining us to reach more souls for Jesus.
SPONSOR MESSAGE: : Sign up for the Prayer Force! And be a part of the prayer team that’s changing the world for Jesus Christ through prayer, organized by Pastor Mike MacIntosh. Visit MikeMacIntosh.com
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