California -- The International Bible Society donated bibles and scripture booklets to the Southern California churches and fire departments recovering from the region’s largest wildfires in ten years.
Approximately 14,000 firefighters combated the nine fires that wrecked millions of dollars of property over 745,000 acres of land. Twenty-two people died from the fires, including one firefighter and more than 3,600 homes were destroyed.
In response, the IBS provided 4,600 scriptures specifically designed to minister comfort and hope to both victims and workers. The specific scriptures included IBS' Answering the Call, a New Testament designed for and with firefighters; When Your Whole World Changes, a booklet, in both Spanish and English, for disaster survivors; Building the Mosaic, a new Scripture-based journal for disaster and relief workers; and God's Story Bibles and New Testaments.
"This is the largest fire disaster California has faced," said Sues Hyde, IBS Director of Outreach." She continued, "IBS is thrilled that many Christians have chosen to reach out to people affected by this disaster. We trust Building the Mosaic will help relief workers draw strength from God's Word as they minister and that When Your Whole World Changes will help the survivors turn to God as they process what they are going through."
Recipients of the IBS Scriptures included the Orange County Firefighters Chaplains, American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest, Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church in La Jolla and Calvary Chapel of Perris Valley.
Steve Willis, Chaplain for Orange County Firefighters expressed gratitude on behalf of the firefighters, and commented that the resources sent to the chaplains from IBS were not only "excellent products," but also "very much appreciated."
Mike Maxson, IBS Regional Director for the Southwest, commented, "During this terrible time of grief and loss for so many in California, God's Word can provide comfort and strength. We are happy to be able to provide this valuable resource for all who want it."
