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Tragedy has struck Fort McMurray, and we have the opportunity to respond.

A mild winter and dry conditions led to the sparking of a wildfire in Fort McMurray, AB, on Sunday, May 1.

Close to 90,000 people have been evacuated from the city and surrounding areas so far. The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada has two churches in Fort McMurray: Fort City Church and Native Fellowship Church.All of the church leaders and members are safe and out of harm's way. It’s confirmed that people of Fort City Church have lost homes.

Donations can be directed to the Global Emergency Response Fund. This fund is used when crisis or natural disasters strike. Your donation to this fund ensures that aid is supplied as quickly as possible to where it is needed. The office of Alliance Justice and Compassion is responding in close collaboration with the Western Canadian District, which has also set up a Fort McMurray fire relief fund.

The funds donated through the C&MA will be directed to recovery efforts with our two churches in Fort McMurray and the families connected to the churches. Your donations will enable our two churches to have ongoing ministry impact. 

 

One official worker of the C&MA reports, "[It was] very surreal as we drove through flames to get out. We'll take this one day at a time with our eyes focused on Christ."

Please pray
— That the Gospel will reach people in the midst of this tragedy, that many will see and experience the love, hope, and freedom of Jesus. 

— For the people impacted by these wildfires. Pray for wholeness, and for their spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. 

— For the firefighters battling the flames. Pray that they will be strengthened and encouraged as they have been working hard. 

— For wisdom for those responding, including those who are meeting immediate physical needs, offering food and shelter, as well as those who are providing spiritual support, such as chaplains. 

Praise God
— For the way that our C&MA Churches in Edmonton, Alberta, and beyond, are opening their hearts and homes to people fleeing Fort McMurray, which is 435 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.

— For the response of Syrian refugees who are offering care and support."It’s not easy to lose everything. We can understand", said one refugee in Calgary.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).