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Brussels attack leaves pastor thankful to be alive
Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message
March 29, 2016
4 MIN READ TIME

Brussels attack leaves pastor thankful to be alive

Brussels attack leaves pastor thankful to be alive
Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message
March 29, 2016

BRUSSELS, Belgium – A Louisiana Baptist music minister is thankful to be alive after surviving a terrorist attack March 22 at an airport in Brussels, Belgium.

Jeff Slaughter, an interim music minister at First Baptist Church in Greenwood, told the Baptist Message he had just walked into the airport departure area to check-in for his return flight back to Shreveport when he heard the first explosion, just 200 feet away. Moments later, a second bomb exploded.

5-19-15_PrayerConf_WEB.jpgJeff Slaughter

CNN reported March 28 the death toll for the bombings – that also included a subway station – has risen to 35 and more than 300 were injured.

Slaughter recalled moments after the second explosion. “That’s when the ceiling tiles began raining down and all I could think was ‘get out,’” he recalled. “I was spared so much more than others were. I’m thankful for that but all the more aware of what others are going through.”

For the remainder of the day Slaughter said he felt numb and that the tragedy seemed surreal.

“It’s hard to believe that what I’m seeing on the television is what was behind the walls of the airport after I walked out,” he said. “It looks like a war zone – with smoke filling the room, debris all over the place, dead and injured littered about and children crying for their parents.

“It was a surreal experience,” he continued. “You know what’s happening but you just don’t believe it. I’ve learned since then that the God-given instinct of fight or flight keeps you from dwelling on anything but getting away from danger.”

Slaughter and his wife lived in Europe for 15 years, but since moving to Shreveport, he makes multiple trips a year to Europe for ministry-related activities.

The tragedy provided Slaughter a chance to minister to a member of a news crew covering the attack.

After Slaughter completed an interview, the cameraman told him he had survived a bomb explosion in Frankfurt, Germany, 25 years ago.

He complimented Slaughter for how well he was handling the Brussels situation and said he wished he had done a better job of handling his tragedy, Slaughter said. “He felt guilty for many years for taking photos of the bomb scene rather immediately helping the injured. I encouraged him a moment and felt that somehow my story had really connected with him.”

Slaughter, whose return date to Shreveport was not set, requested prayer for those families affected.

“Pray for the leaders of the nation, of the European Union, and the leaders of other countries affected,” he said. “This is not just a Belgian problem – it’s a European problem and not one with a clear answer. Pray that Jesus will be lifted high and draw all men to Him.”

He also asked for prayer for his ongoing ministry outreaches in Europe “that God will use them to encourage the church, evangelize the lost and equip the saints,” he said.

Reflecting on the tragedy, Slaughter said he was thankful that by the grace of God he survived.

“I am aware that my story could have been very different,” he said. “I could have entered a door further down or decided to run by Starbucks before going to weigh my luggage.

“Either decision – though seemingly minor – would have put me in the path of one or the other bomb,” he said. “All I can do is ‘thank God’ I was spared and be responsible with the life He has continued to allow me to live.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Brian Blackwell is a staff writer with the Baptist Message, newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.)