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Who can forget September 11, 2001? The horrific pictures and personal stories remain vivid memories. Dawn Robinson worked on the 61st floor of the World Trade Center for the financial firm Morgan Stanley.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, she shared about her faith from time to time with co-workers. During frequent lunches together, Dawn would speak to Cassie about spiritual matters.

During their conversations, Dawn pointed out that all of us are sinners, as Romans 3:23 tells us, and that Romans 6:23 says the result of sin is death, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Cassie acknowledged her need for God, but often ended their conversations by saying she wasn’t ready to “get on the bus,” their phrase for accepting Christ’s love and forgiveness.

She even told Dawn that New York was a party place she wanted to experience. Spiritual matters could wait until later in life, then she’d “get on the bus,” and ask Jesus to be her Lord and Savior.

On Tuesday, September 11th, Dawn’s day began as usual with a ride on an express bus from her apartment to the South Tower. An hour after she got to work, she heard a whistling sound and felt a slight jolt. Jumping to her feet, she saw debris falling from the North Tower.

While other people ran to the elevators, Dawn ran to the stairwell with co-workers she convinced to get out of the building. At about the 42nd floor, a tremendous impact threw them against the wall.

The second plane hit just 20 floors above where Dawn had been working. In the pandemonium, she held tightly to the banister while descending the stairs with crowds of people and she prayed aloud, “God, please protect us! Dear Jesus, keep us safe!”

Dawn and her co-workers made it outside the building with the help of policemen and rescue workers pointing the way. She and Cassie found themselves running down the street together amidst falling debris. They saw people with horrible injuries.

Suddenly, they heard a loud explosion as the South Tower imploded. The air was so thick with ash, dust and smoke until Dawn and Cassie could hardly breathe or see where they were going.

Just then, they spotted an abandoned city bus. Forcing its doors open, other people inside yelled at them to close the doors to keep the dark cloud from blowing in. Their survival still in doubt, Dawn and Cassie huddled together on the floor of the bus.

Dawn appealed to Cassie one more time, “We can’t be sure we will survive this. Please, Cassie, don’t wait one minute more. Invite Jesus Christ into your life right now!” Dawn prayed aloud with Cassie and ironically enough, Cassie became a Christian on that bus. In a matter of minutes, they were able to make a run for the Brooklyn Bridge and crossed to safety.

Needless to say, their lives have never been the same. How about you? Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Don’t wait any longer to “get on the bus.”

— Jan White has compiled a collection of her columns in her book, “Everyday Faith for Daily Life.”