A miracle on ice

We all model our lives on stories we’ve heard and the people who exist in those stories. There are, of course, the biblical accounts of God’s people and Jesus. But there are also stories closer to home. The stories of our parents, grandparents, or people we hear about often make a profound impact on who we are and what we work at becoming.

This series looks at some of those stories as told by people within our Canadian Mennonite Brethren church family.

Sometimes we’re thrust into unexpected and difficult situations where we have the opportunity to present our faith witness in ways we never imagined. This happened to Lisa Klassen in early February 2008.

Lisa at a saxophone recital.

Crossing an icy Winnipeg bridge on her way to work one frosty morning, Lisa’s vehicle veered sideways and drove over snow packed on the side of the bridge and right over the railing. Still securely strapped inside her vehicle she plummeted almost 40 feet onto the frozen Red River below – upside down – breaking slowly through the ice. A passing fireman with the assistance of another person was able to cut her free from the seat belt and rescue her even though her head was under water.

Lisa survived this terrible accident with grace, humour, a few broken bones, and an incredibly strong faith. She was a front page story not only in Manitoba, but also across Canada and the United States.

Lisa, together with her brother Cary, and sisters Faye and Cindy (Olympic speed skater), grew up in McIvor Avenue MB Church, where her parents Jake and Helga are charter members. Lisa became a member in 1997 at age 13.

Early on, she had a love for music. She got her start in church music by sharing her talent in the youth program. Over the years Lisa, Cary, and Faye became involved with music during Sunday morning services. Today Faye plays piano and Lisa sings at least once a month in the Sunday morning worship band.

Lisa is blessed with this talent and notes that she feels “it’s important for Christians to use whatever gifts they have to glorify God and serve the church. It’s also a way to give back to God what he has so freely given to us.”

Lisa attended Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute and later the University of Manitoba. Her major was music and her instrument of choice was the saxophone.

Her vocation is very different from what one would ordinarily expect from a musician. Lisa has a commercial pilot license and is a flight instructor at St. Andrews airport north of Winnipeg.

Lisa as a little girl.

When asked about her accident Lisa is quick to give thanks to God for saving her life. She notes that she and her family had wonderful support from everyone. The medical community, the local community, and especially her church and friends stood by her during the very worst days following the accident. She believes it was due to the prayers of so many people that she survived her ordeal.

Just as she was leaving the intensive care unit about a week after the accident, one of the physicians who had attended her came by and asked for the privilege to shake her hand with the comment, “It’s a miracle.”

Ken Reddig is director of the Centre for MB Studies, Winnipeg.