God Writers In The Sky.

04 Jan 2002

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) Jan 1, 2002 - Nine of the Sept. 11 terrorists lived and trained near here. The first building to be attacked by anthrax is here.

So when pilot Jerry Stevens took to the skies Tuesday to greet the New Year by writing "God is Great" and similar messages two miles above the city, many panicked residents called police and the local newspaper believing his airplane might be part of some sinister plot.

"I was just wondering if a terrorist group was paying for someone to write that," Boynton Beach resident Jon Rogers told The Palm Beach Post.

One tourist who wouldn't give her name told the paper the message reminded her of the note that accompanied the anthrax-laced letter sent to U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle that praised Allah. She wondered if she should take cover.

Stevens, however, is just a Roman Catholic skywriter who says he frequently heads toward the heavens to spread a positive message. He understands why he makes some people nervous, but he believes he is doing God's work.