The first time Bill Taylor prayed live on TV was six or seven years ago.
“The next day, I remember my boss walking in the hallway and passing each other and saying, ‘You did a great job last night. You got a lot of positive feedback,'” the San Antonio meteorologist recalled. “And I said, ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.'” That was it. ”
These on-air prayers have been repeated nearly a year to the day after devastating flooding at Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp, killed more than 139 people, including nearly 30 people, most of them children, and including last week as the Texas Hill Country faced another devastating storm.
Taylor, chief meteorologist for local CBS News affiliate KENS 5, said he felt compelled to pray for the safety of those in the path of what appeared to be an impending tornado, with the nightmare in mind not too far away.
“The Spirit of God came upon me and said, ‘Pray,'” he said. “And I just started. …Then I went right back to that live broadcast and, as I always do, praised God for what He delivered. God is faithful and He protected us from what could have possibly been worse.”
The total number of deaths from these recent floods is two, with state officials rescuing more than 270 people and local authorities in Uvalde and Zavala rescuing more than 300 people. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said about 125 people were moved to evacuation centers in the Uvalde area.
Approximately 600 homes and 100 businesses were damaged or destroyed in Kerr, Kendall and Comal counties. CBN’s Operation Blessing is being implemented to support recovery efforts in Kerr County, which suffered most of the damage.
Taylor said that in “difficult times,” it’s important to remember that God is “like a father who wants his child to sit on his lap and be comforted.”
“When we seek (God) for His protection, when we take refuge in Him, He is… our refuge,… our strength and comfort,” the weather forecaster said.
Taylor, a New Jersey native, was raised Catholic, but didn’t fully “surrender” to God until about 10 years ago.
The meteorologist said it wasn’t until he married his wife, a devout Christian, and attended First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, that his faith really took hold.
“That’s when the light really shined and the flame was lit,” Taylor explained. “The pastor there, Jay Wolf, really taught me a lot about the Bible, and I had an insatiable desire to learn more and grow in my faith.”
It was at Montgomery that Taylor experienced what he called a “fundamental change.” So instead of having “a few rooms to myself,” Taylor gave God complete control of her entire life, or “home.”
“Jesus took my heart and just said, ‘Let’s go,'” he recalled. “And finally, I gave every room in my house to God and gave him complete control of my life. And I don’t regret it.”
“I’m having a great day, a really great day,” Taylor added.
As a Christian in the news industry, Taylor recognizes how heavy and difficult some stories can be and knows the need to “remain hopeful” when discouraging events unfold.
He lives by the acronym “HOPE”, which stands for “Holding Onto Promises Everlasting”.
“Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world,” Taylor said, quoting John 16:33. “There will be a deep valley. And when we truly take refuge, our sojourn must be firm. We must seek first the kingdom of God, seek first the righteousness of God, seek God first, and begin the day in armor, because the enemy is ready to rise up and plunder and kill and destroy every day.”
Spending dedicated time with God is very important. Because “a battle is going on” “between the ears.”
Increasingly, it seems the next generation is finding answers in the church pews. Taylor said she’s encouraged by the growing number of young Americans flocking to the faith.
“The church is at an all-time high,” he said. “The youth movement is very active. Teenagers and young adults are burning for Jesus right now.”
Seven years after his first on-air prayer, Taylor is confident in his faith and comfortable expressing his faith publicly, saying, “As a representative of the kingdom…I can represent the Lord in all that I do.”
“Knowing that this is my true calling and stepping further into this purpose has helped me build confidence,” he says. “And no matter where I am, I know who I represent and I will be bold about it.”
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