Evening Express

When a cruise ship breaks down in the middle of the ocean, passengers basically have two choices: Unravel as chaos ensues or band together and pull through as a team. And from the accounts we’ve been hearing from many passengers, it sounds like most went with the latter.

"It was the people on the boat that saved Carnival," says the Rev. Wendell Gill of First Baptist Church in Laporte, Texas. He spoke with the Los Angeles Times about his experience onboard. "In an adverse situation, most people will rise to help -- that’s just the human spirit," he said.

How would you help your city if you had an extra $2 in your pocket? Could it even make a difference?

Rev. Jackson Crum believes so and he gave his church members a chance to decide for themselves when he handed out $12,000 last Sunday instead of passing around collection plates.

"If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you"

-Nat King Cole, "Smile"