In this episode of Faith & Clarity, Dr. Mark Turman welcomes Keith and Dee Ann Boyd to discuss the ongoing impact of 9/11 as the 25th anniversary approaches. The Boyds share how they moved from Texas to New York City in 1992, served for 25 years at Trinity Baptist Church in Manhattan, and raised three children in a diverse, multiethnic environment. Keith recounts walking to a pastors' prayer meeting at the Empire State Building, learning of the first crash, watching the North Tower fall from an office window, and later handing out water to people walking home when transportation shut down. Dee Ann describes being isolated in a salon during a magazine photo shoot, scrambling to find her children, and the city's sacred, non-casual way of remembering.
Together, they reflect on communal grief, chaplain ministry at Ground Zero, the USS Comfort's departure, and moments of compassion, along with missed opportunities for lasting spiritual renewal, closing with a prayer for hope in Christ.
Topics
(0:00) Introduction
(0:28) Why 9/11 still matters
(1:07) Meet Keith and Dee Ann Boyd
(7:13) Raising kids in Manhattan
(10:49) Ministry in a diverse city
(14:48) Keith remembers 9/11
(20:54) Dee Ann's 9/11 morning
(23:32) Church response and aftermath
(26:08) Communal grief in NYC
(29:08) Red Cross chaplain at Ground Zero
(31:13) USS Comfort silent tribute
(43:19) Faith tensions after 9/11
(46:25) Church surge and missed moment
(49:16) Marking the anniversary of 9/11
(54:03) Conclusion
Resources
About Keith & Dee Ann Boyd
Keith and Dee Ann Boyd lived in New York City for 26 years. Keith served as Lead Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church and Dee Ann served as Director of Leadership Development at The New York City Leadership Center.
Keith and Dee Ann were in Manhattan on 9/11, as well as their children, who were in school, ages 9, 5 and 5 at the time.
The Boyds now reside in Austin, TX where they enjoy their involvement with church, Young Life and 5 rambunctious grandchildren.
About Dr. Mark Turman
Dr. Mark Turman serves as the Executive Director of Denison Forum, where he leads with a passion for equipping believers to navigate today’s complex culture with biblical truth. He is best known as the host of the Faith & Clarity podcast and the lead pastor of the Possum Kingdom Lake Chapel, the in-person congregation of Denison Ministries.
Dr. Turman is the coauthor of Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and Who Am I? What the Bible Says About Identity and Why it Matters. He earned his undergraduate degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and received his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco.
Before joining Denison Forum, Mark served as a pastor for thirty-five years, including twenty-five years as the founding pastor of Crosspoint Church in McKinney, Texas. Mark and his high school sweetheart, Judi, married in 1986. They are proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to three grandchildren.
About Denison Forum
Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of our day from a biblical perspective, helping believers discern today’s news and culture through the lens of faith. Led by Dr. Jim Denison and a team of contributing writers, we offer trusted insight through The Daily Article, a daily email newsletter and podcast, along with articles, podcasts, interviews, books, and other resources. Together, these form a growing ecosystem of Christ-centered content that equips readers to respond to current events not with fear or partisanship, but with clarity, conviction, and hope. To learn more visit DenisonForum.org.
All episodes are produced by Sound of a Rose. For more information, you can visit soundofarose.com.
