When Crisis Changes Our Focus: Remembering Patriot Day

By Jeff Padgett, Ph.D.
Chief Communications Officer, Paul Anderson Youth Home

Some moments in our lives are so clear that we can almost go back to that exact place and time. For me, September 11, 2001, is one of those moments.

At the time, I lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia and served as a youth pastor at Encounter Church. Most of our congregation worked in Washington, D.C., so the events unfolding that morning weren’t happening somewhere far away. They were happening to people we knew. They were happening to friends, coworkers, parents, children, neighbors, and members of our church family.

From the moment the attacks happened, our phones did not stop ringing the entire day.

People were calling because they couldn’t reach someone. Others called because they had received frightening information and needed someone to talk to. Some simply needed to hear a familiar voice. As the day progressed, the reality of what had happened became more and more personal.

At our church, we had a weekly prayer gathering every Tuesday evening. That particular Tuesday night was unlike any prayer service I had ever experienced.

Our sanctuary was filled to capacity. People were standing in the foyer, trying to get inside. A heaviness filled the room that was difficult to put into words. Everyone seemed to have someone this tragedy had affected personally. We weren’t gathering that evening because it was simply our normal Tuesday routine. We were gathering because we needed God.

And perhaps that is one of the things a crisis does so powerfully.

A crisis has a way of changing our perspective.

The things that seemed so important the day before suddenly don’t seem nearly as important. Our schedules, our possessions, our disagreements, our plans for tomorrow—all of those things can become secondary when we are confronted with something we cannot control.

Crisis has a way of stripping away the distractions and forcing us to focus on what really matters.

For Christians, that should ultimately lead us back to Jesus.
I remember that Tuesday night in Fredericksburg as a powerful reminder that when we don’t know what to do, we can still pray. When we don’t have answers, we can still trust. When circumstances are completely beyond our control, we can still place our hope in the One who is in control.

That is part of what I believe we should remember on Patriot Day.
We remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives. We remember the first responders who ran toward danger while others were running away. We remember the families who were forever changed. We remember the courage, sacrifice, and compassion that emerged from the tragedy.

But we should also remember what happened in people’s hearts.
For a brief time, our priorities changed. People reached out to one another. Churches filled with people seeking God. Strangers helped strangers. Families gathered together. Prayer became more than a routine—it became a lifeline.

And that principle applies directly to the work we do every day at The Paul Anderson Youth Home.

The young men who come to The PAYH often arrive in the midst of their own personal crisis. Their circumstances may look very different from what our nation experienced on September 11, but crisis can disrupt our normal way of thinking.

A young man may arrive here believing that his life is defined by his mistakes, his failures, his anger, his addictions, his relationships, or the choices he has made. His family may arrive exhausted, frustrated, and unsure of what to do next.

Then something begins to happen.

The distractions begin to fall away.

Through structure, discipline, education, work, responsibility, relationships, and—most importantly—faith, we begin helping these young men see their lives from a different perspective. We want them to understand that their past does not have to determine their future.
We point them toward Jesus.

Because sometimes it takes a crisis to make us realize how much we need Him.

At PAYH, we have the privilege of seeing young men discover that their circumstances don’t have to be the end of their story. What may have initially brought them to a place of brokenness can become the beginning of something completely different.

Patriot Day reminds me that tragedy can change our perspective. It reminds me that in the midst of uncertainty, people need hope. And it reminds me that when everything else seems to be falling apart, we can still turn our hearts toward God.

I will never forget that Tuesday night in Fredericksburg. I will never forget the phones ringing throughout that day. I will never forget seeing our sanctuary overflowing with people who simply needed to pray.

And now, 25 years later, I still believe we can learn something from that experience.

When a crisis comes, it has a way of showing us what truly matters.

At The PAYH, we have the opportunity to help young men discover that truth—not only in moments of crisis, but as a foundation for the rest of their lives.

We remember September 11.

We remember those we lost.

We remember those who sacrificed.

And we remember that when the world around us seems uncertain, there is still hope.

There is still purpose.

And there is still Jesus.

In Loving Memory of Claude Page

Claude Page was part of the Paul Anderson Youth Home family during the early 1960s, arriving around 1962 when the Home was located on Church Street. Along with his siblings, twins Nina and Nathan, Claude spent several formative years there, including part of his high school years. The three were especially close and were known as family to one another, and to The PAYH.

Claude was an Army veteran, a football player, and later built a long career with General Motors in the Atlanta area, from which he retired. His life reflected perseverance, loyalty, and the lasting bonds formed during his stay at the Youth Home.

We remember Claude with gratitude and honor his place in the Paul Anderson Youth Home legacy. His story remains part of the history of the home and a reminder that its family extends far beyond its years on Church Street and our present location.

Claude is survived by his children; his son, Chad Page and his daughter, Khyra Page. Nieces, Samantha “TJ” Walker, and Glenda Ferguson.

Strength For The Day

Each week, PAYH shares a devotional; “Strength For The Day,” by Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret. In addition to being a retired US Army Chaplain, he is also the husband of our Co-Founder, Glenda Anderson Leonard. His writing is both moving and inspiring and will most certainly lift your spirit and encourage you in your walk with Jesus. To receive his weekly writing, you can subscribe online at payh.org. You can also read past writings by clicking here.

Your Tax Dollars. His Future.

Your Georgia state tax dollars can help change a boy’s future through the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program—at no extra cost to you. By redirecting a portion of your state income taxes, you can provide life-changing educational opportunities for the young men at PAYH, while making a lasting investment in hope, character, and the next generation. Click here to get started.

Happy Labor Day

Today, we honor the men and women whose hard work, dedication, and sacrifice have helped build our communities and our nation. May we never take for granted the value of honest work and the people who give their best every day.

65 Years of Hope:
Celebrating Founders Day

On October 17, the Paul Anderson Youth Home will celebrate its 65th anniversary—a milestone that also marks our annual Founders Day. For 65 years, The PAYH has carried forward Paul Anderson’s vision of giving young men hope, purpose, and a second chance, and we invite you to join us in celebrating the legacy that continues to change lives.

From Brokenness to Breakthrough

Glen and Cher share the difficult journey that led them to seek help for their son, Dillon, as their family struggled with challenges they could no longer overcome alone. Through The PAYH’s Christ-centered guidance, structure, and support, Cameron experienced lasting transformation, bringing healing, hope, and restoration to their entire family.