Chuck Bender, a Billy Graham chaplain, and a former captain with the Los Angeles Fire Department for 33 years, says he’s never seen such a large area scorched by wildfires as we’re seeing this year.
Thinking back to his days of fighting wildfires, he recalled when he and his crew had to wear heavy gear and protective clothing while hiking up and down hills for miles with hoses or chainsaws. Other times, he’d be on truck duty, sometimes having to hide behind the engine to escape the heat of the blaze. Then, he’d return back to camp where rest was challenging, staying in his dirty clothes while sleeping on a cot or the ground.
As for this year’s fires he writes — “We’ve given it to the Lord, ‘You’re in control.’”
“Bad things are going to happen and we’re not to fear. Working in the fire department, I knew God’s got my back. Right now as a chaplain, I know God’s got my back. If my house burns down, God still has my back.”
He chooses to look on these days as an opportunity to share Christ.
“Everyone is frightened.” Bender said. “Everything is different [in 2020]. As a Christian, it’s an honor and humbling to be here.”
Bender believes with the world in upheaval, people are questioning what is constant and true.
As people evacuate from fires to seek refuge, Bender is ready to tell people the peace they can find in Jesus Christ.