By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
As wildfires displace thousands in Arizona, local Christians who are aiding in relief efforts are wowing the public with a beautiful display of charity and faith in Jesus Christ.
The Christian Post is reporting that Arizona’s Wallow Fire, the largest in the state’s history, has burned 519,000 acres and was only 51 percent contained as of Sunday evening. The Monument Fire has burned nearly 30,000 acres and remains less than 30 percent contained. This fire alone has destroyed 44 houses and 18 other structures since it started a week and a half ago.
In response to the chaotic impact this is having on people’s lives, local Christians are banding together and providing critical services to their neighbors.
For instance, the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention in Scottsdale deployed shower trailers to support more than 100 evacuees staying at a shelter in Lakeside.
“Our shower trailer units … provide the shower services that a lot of the shelter areas lack,” Larry Hyde, Arizona disaster relief coordinator, told BP.
“This gives us excellent opportunities to put our disaster relief, our Southern Baptist people in personal contact with the disaster victims and gives us many good opportunities to be able to minister and share Jesus with the displaced people.”
Another pastor helped find housing for nearly 30 church members who were forced out of their homes in Eager.
Larry Hamblen, pastor of Jesus First Church, even welcomed some people into his own home and allowed them to stay in tents on his lawn or trailers on his property. He and the evacuees have been eating meals and praying together.
A flood of relief is also pouring out of local churches where congregations are taking donations for fire victims as well as praying for their relief.
“We pray for an end to the fire, we pray for the safety of our firefighters and we pray that the monsoon rains will come and free us from these terrible fires that have been so devastating,” said Tucson bishop Gerald Kikanas.
One resident named Tom Felix told KGUN-TV that he was overwhelmed by the display of spirit and support from the Christian community. “Coming here … and just seeing everybody, my goodness that’s beautiful faith.”
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