The Chilean Miners: The Story behind the Story

You’ve probably been following the rescue of the Chilean miners. I want to tell you the story behind the story. Most of the world will not know this story until we’re gathered around the banquet feast in heaven. I love it when true followers of Jesus embrace the opportunities he gives.

If you have watched the news, most of the miners are wearing a t-shirt with the logo from the Chilean flag. The t-shirts were a gift from Campus Crusade for Christ Chile. Over the last couple of weeks, they received MP3 players with the audio version of the JESUS Film and the Bible in audio format.

CNN carried the story. Here is a link.

The Boston Globe website has dramatic photos. Here is a link.

There is more behind the story. Here is the note from our national director, Christian Maureira:

Probably you are watching on TV the rescue of the miners and also maybe you noticed a T Shirt they are wearing. All those T Shirts are a gift from Campus Crusade for Christ Chile. In the front you can read “Gracias Señor, Thank You Lord” and on the back; the Psalm 95:4 “Porque en su mano están las profundidades de la tierra, y las alturas de los montes son suyas” “In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.”

Also, on one sleeve we put The Jesus Film Project image, and on the other sleeve Cruzada Estudiantil y Profesional para Cristo (CCC) image.

The idea was to glorify our Lord with all this and also to express our love and concern for them by giving them the JESUS Film audio and portions of the Bible in audio through the MP3s.

They received many gifts but they decided to wear our T Shirts and we praise God for this.

I am writing you in order you can be informed because the Chilean TV says that 1,000,000,000 of people in this moment are watching the rescue.

Blessings from Chile,

Jesus is my inspiration.

Christian Maureira, National Director, CCC Chile

And there is even more to the story. From a previous message from our National Director Christian Maureira. It is a bit long, but oh so glorifying to God who planted an idea into Christian’s soul and a plan unfolded that brings glory to God in front of the eyes of 1 billion people.

Hello team and friends! I want to share with you about the last two very intense weeks as we have worked on the project to take the Word of God and the JESUS audio version to the mine, but it has really be worth the effort as it is food for the soul. This long history of the miners that is now passing 2 months has been without doubt the longest survival experience for people trapped underground.

This all started on the 5th of August when the San Jose mine collapsed because of the exploration in the mine. The news was not good as it was only 6 months after we had experience the very large earthquake and tsunami. With a population less than other countries in the world problems like this seem much closer to you and much more like it is part of your own family.

After two weeks without news from the miners we could only think the worst. The government had made every effort, but it was reasonable to think that the miners were lost, above all considering the distance where they were located, some 700 meters (2014 feet) deep with a difficult future to be rescued. But God had other plans and 2 days later (the 17th day), contact with them was made. Obviously we were all very happy and we celebrated the miracle that all were alive.

As Campus Crusade, God guided us to think about how we could help these men and this was how we took the iniative to contact some churches in the North, leaders and authorities about sending the JESUS audio into the mine. It wasn’t easy in the beginning because of some apathy in the Christian leadership and a lack of a sense of urgency, together with the restrictive control of the rescue team but, God in His sovereignty provided that we were able to gain contact with the
daughter and the brother of one of the three Christians that were trapped there.

During several weeks, I was in contact with them, and I explored the possibility of sending them audio material. Finally, I traveled to the mine with 33 MP3’s containing the JESUS audio version and an ample portion of the Bible. I was there for 2 days and we sent the MP3’s through each family members that were there.

Jose Samuel, my contact in the mine (father of Hettiz and brother of Gaston) is an extraordinary man who has really surprised me. The psychologists that are giving help from the surface have recognized that he has been a tremendous emotional and spiritual support for the rest of his co-workers.

He sent me a letter that grabbed my attention for his incredible clarity of thought. For example, some parts of the letter are:

• “I want to express my appreciation for this great blessing for me and my co-workers, it will be very good our edification” (He is talking about the MP3’s)
• “I am well because Christ lives in me”
• “We have prayer services at 12 a.m. and 6 p.m.”
• “I ask all of you for pray not only for us here, but for all the lost people in the world”
• At the end of the letter he signed off with Psalm 95:4 “In his hand are the depths of the earth, and mountain peaks belong to him”.

This is a very motivating story, lets continue to pray for the salvation of these souls. Thanks for being part of this.

Christian Maureira, ND CCC CHILE

What a story! What a God!