Crisis-trained Billy Graham Rapid Response chaplains are going to British Columbia’s Thompson-Nicola Regional District, west of Kamloops, to provide spiritual and emotional aid to residents who lost their homes and possessions to catastrophic wildfires.

Chaplains will be deployed to the community of Boston Flats, where almost all of the 51 mobile homes were destroyed, and possibly elsewhere as the need arises.

“We’re honored to be able to provide a compassionate, listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and, if appropriate, prayers for hurting residents,” said Merle Doherty, who manages the Rapid Response Team.

Chaplains will be accompanying volunteers deployed by our sister organization, Samaritan’s Purse. One of its specially equipped Disaster Relief Unit tractor trailers is being moved to the Boston Flats area, where Samaritan’s Purse staff will train and equip volunteers to search the remains of homes for possessions that survived the blaze, and clean up damaged properties.

Rapid Response Team chaplains will also be ministering to these volunteers, as well as emergency responders.