40 members of a South Carolina church return to the US after going missing in Israel
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SUMERVILLE, SC – Dozens of South Carolina church members have finally returned to the United States after Operation Epic Fury left them stranded in Israel nearly a week after their flight was supposed to leave.
40 members of Calvary Chapel Summerville arrived in Israel on Feb. 20 eight days of testing in the Holy Land.
The group was due to fly home on February 28 and had arrived at the airport three hours before departure when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. The attack caused the Israeli airport to be closed and the group had to leave the airport.
“It felt like the world was on my shoulders and I just prayed and prayed and asked God to give me wisdom,” said Vic Carroll, pastor at Calvary Chapel Summerville in South Carolina.
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Members of Calvary Chapel Summerville visit Al-Khazneh in Petra. (Melanie Carroll)
Carroll said the group had to hide in Israel, going in and out of bomb shelters for several days. He then had to face the group’s decision of staying or taking a bus to Jordan to catch a flight back to the United States.
“In the end, you know, we made a decision between the worst and the worst. I thought the worst would be to stay,” said the priest.
“We were instructed that if the siren went off while we were on the road, the bus would reverse, we would all lie down, face down for at least 10 minutes until the threat ended, and then we would leave,” he continued.
Members of Calvary Chapel Summerville to see the place in the Holy Land. (Melanie Carroll)
Fortunately, that did not happen and the group reached the airport in Jordan to board a flight from the Middle East on Thursday morning.
Before the flight, Carroll said it was scary, but their faith outweighed their fears.
“We have to hope that we make the right decision, and this is our only way back home, so [were] just trust in God,” he said.
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The group returned to the US on Thursday night, staying at the JFK in New York.
Melanie Carroll, the pastor’s wife, sent a message, “Thank you so much!!!!! It’s surreal!!”
Melanie and Vic Carroll while visiting the Holy Land. (Kailey Schuyler)
The unexpected extension of the trip caused the price tag to increase significantly. Melanie created a GoFundMe, writing, “How to get us home between lodging, flights and transfers will be over $2500 per person.”
The group managed to raise their goal of $100,000 in less than three days.
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Melanie said the group continues to pray for everyone trying to leave the Middle East.
About 24,000 Americans have returned to the US after fleeing the Middle East since Operation Epic Fury began last week, according to the State Department.
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