Cheryl McGuinness

Cheryl lost her husband, Tom McGuinness, on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center tragedy. Tom was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 11.

In Cheryls own words … "On September 11 Tom gave me a kiss goodbye and left for work. He was to pilot American Airlines flight 11 from Boston to LA that day. I had just come home from driving my kids to school. I poured myself a cup of coffee, grabbed a quilt, and my Bible and sat on the back porch. It was quiet and I just had finished praying when my phone rang. I unwrapped myself from the folds of my warm quilt, ran to answer the phone. It was a friend, asking if Tom was home.

My second phone line started ringing and it was another friend asking for Tom. I said, "Hes not home - whats going on?" My friend asked me if I had the TV on. I said "No, I dont watch TV in the morning." "Well, Cheryl, can I come over?" "Why?" I said. "Tom wasnt home." He hesitantly told me "a plane has been hijacked." "What! Where?" My mind was racing… Planes dont get hijacked. This is America. Even if they get hijacked they will safely land the planes. I found the TV remote, but none of the buttons worked, or maybe my fingers didnt work. I dont know which.

As I was trying to determine what had happened, my kids were already hearing something on the news at school and started calling me to find out if Dad was okay. It felt like it took forever to find out any information. I paged Tom, tried his cell phone, called all the crew tracking emergency numbers. I called all the pilots I knew. I was so frustrated, then frantic. When news did come in, it was all downhill from there.

My house quickly filled with people. Women prayed with me until the Chief Pilot from American Airlines got to my house and gave me the official word. Flt.11 had not only been hijacked but had been deliberately flown into the World Trade Center. I was hysterical. I screamed "No, God please dont call him home, please," just begging God with everything I had. Then I went to tell my kids. They knew by the look on my face I had bad news. Can you imagine telling your children what I had to say? All I could bring myself to utter was, "Jesus called Daddy home." We hugged and cried, and I reassured them that God would take care of us. I cant imagine doing anything more painful than telling my children that news. News of Toms death crushed us. Our lives have been changed forever."

Cheryls faith in a loving and sovereign God has helped her survive the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center that took her husband, Tom, home to be with the Lord. In response to Gods call, she shares her journey from pain and suffering toward a renewed conviction of Gods goodness and a life of hope in Jesus Christ.

Knowing and serving the Lord has been Cheryls greatest joy. Her primary ministry is as a mom to 2 teenagers, Jennifer & Tommy. She also desires to serve God by encouraging others through her story.