Evan Thompson, 8, waves as he is held by his aunt and guardian Teddi Gray after he was found north of Canon City, Colo., Tuesday, May 30, 2006. Thompson was found more than 4 miles from where he had been camping with family friends and a teacher, when he wandered away from his campsite over the weekend. (Ed Andrieski / AP)
MISSING BOY IN COLORADO FOUND ALIVE AFTER 4 DAYS
Associated Press
CANON CITY, Colo. -- Years from now, 8-year-old Evan Thompson will have quite a story to tell.
On his first camping trip over the weekend, he vanished for four days. Lost, he wandered without food and water. He poked at ant hills, slept beneath trees and hid in caves while nearly 100 rescuers searched for him.
Doctors have declared him in good condition.
Nearly 100 rescuers, dog teams and three aircraft, including helicopters with heat-seeking capability, combed the rugged terrain creased by steep cliffs and narrow ravines.
Helicopters scared the boy, who has attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, into hiding. Evan's aunt Teddi Gray said, "He was afraid of that noise and he hid in a cave, that's why they couldn't find him with that."
Gray and other family members were riding in search vehicles and calling for Evan over loudspeakers in case he was hiding from the rescue teams.
He was found about five miles away from the campsite. It took rescuers on ATVs 1 1/2 hours to ferry Evan out to a staging area. Afterward, Evan ate bananas and pizza. Evan then told his aunt he wants to go camping again.
photo courtesy Ed Andrieski / AP & story courtesy chron.com, 05/31/06
JESUS TELLS A RESCUE STORY IN TODAY'S PASSAGE. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF HIS PARABLE?
Story of the Lost Sheep
1Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people--even eating with them! 3So Jesus used this illustration: 4"If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? 5And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. 6When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. 7In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain it this way:
15:3-6 It may seem foolish for the shepherd to leave 99 sheep to go search for just one. But the shepherd knew that the 99 would be safe in the sheepfold, whereas the lost sheep was in danger. Because each sheep was of high value, the shepherd knew that it was worthwhile to search diligently for the lost one. God's love for each individual is so great that He seeks out each one and rejoices when he or she is "found". Jesus associated with sinners because He wanted to bring the lost sheep - people considered beyond hope - the Good News of God's Kingdom. Before you were a believer, God sought you; and His love is still seeking those who are yet lost.
Almost 100 members of a search and rescue team in the Rocky Mountains commited themselves to find Evan, the 1 lost child. If you know Jesus as your personal Savior, you're part of the "99 in the sheepfold".
Are we commited to follow the Shepherd's lead in doing our part to help find those who are lost spiritually? Jesus wants us to be part of His rescue team.
- Pray every day for the opportunity to be used as part of Jesus' "search and rescue team".
- As God shows you a friend or family member who is "lost", pray for the opportunity to help lead them to be "found" by Jesus.
- Go to the Youth For Christ web site to learn more about how to share your "rescue story" as part of 3Story Evangelism. You'll find it by clicking on http://www.yfc.net/Brix?pageID=7449
- Pray for Evan, the lost boy who was rescued in the mountains. Pray that God will use this experience in his life and many others to learn more about God's Story.
Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.
Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.