August 18
On August 18, 1590, John White finally returned to Roanoke Island after three years away, hoping to reunite with his family and the 115 settlers he had left behind. It was also the third birthday of his granddaughter, Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World. Instead of celebration, however, White was met with silence and abandonment. The settlement was deserted—homes dismantled or fallen into decay, belongings gone, and no settlers in sight.
The only clues were carved words: “CROATOAN” on a post and “CRO” on a nearby tree. White had arranged with the colonists that if they were forced to leave, they should carve a message to indicate their destination, and if they were in danger, they would add a cross. The absence of a cross gave him hope they had moved willingly to Croatoan Island (today’s Hatteras Island). Yet storms and dwindling supplies prevented him from searching further. The mystery of the “Lost Colony” was sealed that day, August 18, and remains unsolved centuries later.
A Prayer for the Missing
Merciful God,
We lift before You all those whose lives ended in mystery—
the settlers of Roanoke, the missing in action,
the abducted, and all who vanished without farewell.
You know their names, their stories,
and the truths we will never uncover.
Hold their souls in Your eternal embrace,
where no one is ever lost.
We also pray for those left behind:
parents, children, spouses, and friends
who carry the heavy ache of not knowing.
Give them comfort when answers never come,
strength when hope feels thin,
and peace in the assurance that You see what we cannot.
May their longing rest in Your promise that nothing—
not even disappearance—can separate us from Your love.
Amen.
Challenge
Perhaps you hold information that could bring peace to someone’s mind about a loved one. Sometimes it may feel easier to stay silent, thinking it’s better not to stir things up—but silence doesn’t erase worry. Do you have the ability to calm the fears or provide an answer to someone who is left wondering? If so, maybe now is the time to speak.
