Matthew 8:18–27
When the storm overtakes their boat, the disciples panic. Waves crash, wind howls and Jesus sleeps. “Save us, Lord! We are perishing!” they cry. But Jesus responds not with alarm but authority: “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he calms the sea, and they marvel, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
Ben and Carol Weir knew what it meant to live through storms. As Presbyterian missionaries in Lebanon for nearly 30 years, they bore witness to both the beauty and the brokenness of the Middle East. Their work as educators and bridge-builders across religious and cultural divides was rooted in a deep commitment to Christ’s peace and justice.
But the storm came in 1984, when Ben was kidnapped at gunpoint in Beirut by Islamic Jihad, a Hezbollah-linked group. For 16 months, he was held in captivity, often in solitary confinement, never knowing when or if he’d be released. During this time, Carol and their children remained in Lebanon, advocating for his release, sustaining their community and trusting in God’s presence through uncertainty.
Remarkably, Ben emerged from captivity not with bitterness, but with a call to deepen the Church’s commitment to peacemaking. In 1986, he was elected Moderator of the 198th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), using his platform to encourage understanding, justice and dialogue — especially around U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Both he and Carol became tireless advocates for reconciliation, educating congregations and international leaders alike on the complexity of peace.
Like the disciples on the sea, the Weirs cried out to God in their storm. But they also bore witness to the One who stills the winds — not always by preventing the storm, but by giving strength within it. Their faith did not rest on safety but on the call of Christ to go where he goes, even into troubled waters.
Prayer: God of wind and wave, thank you for faithful servants like Ben and Carol Weir. When storms rage around us, give us courage to follow you, trust you and work for peace in every land. Amen.
The Rev. Katie Day loves Waffle House and live theater and serves as pastor of Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth, Georgia. She shares a home with her husband, Kevin, and their child, Elijah, and everyone answers to the cats, Magnificat and Fatty Pancakes.
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