As a local boy recovers from a traumatic accident and miraculous rescue - (click here for the story) - the Galva, Illinois community is coming together to pray for Nathan Woessner and his family.
The six-year-old, from Sterling, Illinois, was on vacation with his family at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Park when a sand dune collapsed on top of him, trapping him for more than three hours.
Nathan's grandfather, Don Reul, is a pastor at the First Baptist Church of Galva, where a prayer vigil took place on Sunday, July 14th, 2013. Many people from the community and even outside the community came to the church to pray for a positive outcome for Nathan, who is currently in critical condition at a Chicago hospital.
The vigil lasted about an hour, with people sharing their thoughts and then gathering for a group prayer session. They say Pastor Reul has been there for them when they have had troubles and now they want to be there for him and his family.
"He [Pastor Reul] acknowledges how hard it is and what a tremendous miracle that God has given him and this little boy, but we've got some long roads ahead," says Rebekah Montgomery, Associate Pastor.
Pastor Reul told News 8's Brittany Lewis that Nathan was having a good day Sunday, July 14. While he was still in critical condition, Nathan had several check-ups on his lungs and was responding to medical treatment.