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Alf led a service of thanksgiving when the 33 miners were found alive
Chile miners: the 34th man
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Miners testify to the presence and guidance of Jesus with them, says President’s Chaplain
The Chilean miners have emerged from their ordeal testifying to the presence of Jesus with them, according to a CMS mission partner on the scene.
The Rev Alfredo Cooper, chaplain to President Sebastian Pinera, told BBC Radio Five Live yesterday that the miners had a sense of Jesus being the 34th man in the collapsed mine.
Many of the miners went down as atheists, unbelievers or semi-believers and they have come up to a man testifying that they were not 33 but that there were 34 down there – that Jesus was there with them and that they had a constant sense of his presence and guidance, he told Five Live’s Peter Allen.
Challenged by Allen that if divine intervention had saved the miners, divine intervention must have put them down there in the first place, Alf gave a careful, clear response.
“Man is subject to accidents and all sorts of problems thanks often to his wilful negligence as was the case in this mine.
“There are consequences when you don’t care enough for people. And of course in those situations people tend to cry out to God…
“And the interesting thing is God has answered.”
Alf paid tribute to the work of all the scientists, engineers, politicians and press, who had contributed to the successful rescue of the miners.
“We see the hands of all these magnificent experts all around, the good will of so many people internationally and the brilliant coverage of the press.
“We would suggest that all this works together for good, that certainly as we prayed God has guided in remarkable ways – even the scientists.
“I was with the NASA people who came the other day. And to my surprise – to a man they were believing scientists in their case – and they all said ‘This is a miracle. There is no other word for what happened here’.”
Alf has been helping lead the country’s prayers for the trapped miners since the beginning.
He described how he had convened an emergency prayer meeting at the presidential palace, and how the president had asked for a service of thanksgiving when it was discovered that the miners were still alive.
He also visited Camp Hope to deliver a personal invitation to the palace chapel when they were finally free.
Thanks to Peter Saunders of Christian Medical Fellowship who transcribed the interview – you can read the full transcript on his blog.
You can also listen to the interview Alf Cooper – A miracle in Chile on YouTube.
