Code Adam

We were shopping at Wal-Mart last night when the dreaded announcement came over the intercom. Attention all associates, we have a Code Adam. The announcer proceeded to describe a 5 year old girl so everyone could help to locate her. We were in the big town north of us to shop and celebrate. It was Greta's third birthday. As I sat there and thought about this little girl that was lost, and my own precious children, I was just overwhelmed with what we needed to do. Right there, in the middle of a shopping aisle, we all bowed our heads and Karl led us in prayer for the little girl to be found safe and sound. When we finished our shopping, everything seemed to be normal and the Code Adam alarm had stopped, so we believe that she was found and returned to her parents.

There are many stores and places that use the Code Adam alarm system. It is not unique to Wal-Mart. Here is a little more information about the whole system.

On July 27, 1981, 6-year-old Adam Walsh and his mother Revé went to a department store about a mile away from their home to shop for lamps. When they entered the store Adam saw several children playing video games on a television monitor and asked if he could stay to play. His mother let him stay and went to the lamp department, which was about 75 feet away. Because the lamp she wanted was not in stock she returned rather quickly, less than 10 minutes later, but couldn’t find Adam. After looking for Adam on her own for two hours, someone finally called the local police department. By the end of that week thousands of fliers with Adam’s photograph were distributed through the local area. Sixteen days after Adam disappeared from the store his body was found and identified.

There are six steps employees are trained to follow when a Code Adam is activated

1. If a visitor reports a child is missing, a detailed description of the child and what he or she is wearing is obtained.
2. The employee goes to the nearest in-house telephone and pages Code Adam, describing the child’s physical features and clothing. As designated employees monitor front entrances, other employees begin looking for the child.
3. If the child is not found within 10 minutes, law enforcement is called.
4. If the child is found and appears to have been lost and unharmed, the child is reunited with the searching family member.
5. If the child is found accompanied by someone other than a parent or legal guardian, reasonable efforts to delay their departure will be used without putting the child, staff, or visitors at risk. Law enforcement will be notified and given details about the person accompanying the child.
6. The Code Adam page will be canceled after the child is found or law enforcement arrives.


I think it is very profound that the Code name is Adam. Because there was another Code Adam alarm given thousands of years ago. God got on the universal intercom system and said, we have a Code Adam. Adam is lost. Mankind of planet Earth has fallen. Then God starts giving the description, Adam looks like Me, because mankind was made in Our Image.

Jesus answered that Code Adam alarm. He did what was necessary to restore mankind to our Creator and Sustainer.

Praise the Lord!