Cameron church celebrates safe return of Jayme Closs

For the past couple of months the community of Barron and beyond has been praying for a safe return of 13-year-old Jayme Closs.

But after being reunited with her family last week, members of the church in Cameron where she grew up are saying a much different prayer on Sunday, one of thanks.

It was a full house at St. Peter Catholic Church in Cameron as members were celebrating Jayme’s safe return. Our prayers have been answered and God is good,” said church member, JoAnn Trowbridge.

For months they had been praying Jayme was safe and would return home to her friends and family. "I think all of our prayers is what brought her home,” said Geri Schoenecker, another church member.

The power of prayer reaching all the way from Cameron to where Jayme was being kept in a rural home in Gordon where she had the strength to escape. "Thank you is all I can say because I think God got sick of us nagging him so he answered our prayers,” Trowbridge added.

As members walked through the door and into church there was a different atmosphere than they had experienced in months. "I tingle because I have been praying for her since it happened, I don't know the family personally but it's just wonderful,” said member, Larry Leff.

The church family who shared in moments like mass, her first communion and Sunday school are overjoyed by her return. "She is a strong girl and we are blessed to have her back,” Trowbridge said.

During the service they took a moment to pray for Jayme and her family and also to thank all of those who searched endlessly for her since October. "Now I pray that she can handle this and get her life back together,” Schoenecker added.

Her church family wants to make sure she knows she has support in the coming days, weeks, months and even years ahead. "We love you Jayme,” Trowbridge said.

In honor of Jayme’s safe return, St. Peter Catholic Church in Cameron will be holding a praise and gratitude service next Sunday, January 20, at 6:30 p.m.

According to a Facebook page set up when Jayme disappeared - any letters or well wishes to Jayme or her family, you be sent to:

Light the Way Home for Jayme Closs

PO Box 539

Rice Lake, WI 54868