Request for prayers for Fort McMurray and surrounding communities amid flooding

by Keith Haberstock

ALBERTA – Every 20 years or so Fort McMurray goes through a major flood as our three converging rivers form a major ice jam that forces waters to flow back into the city. That’s what began Sunday morning on April 26, 2020. As of this morning, Tuesday, April 28, 2020, our downtown residence and many other nearby areas are under mandatory evacuation.

Please pray that those, once again forced to flee their homes (bringing up many, many memories of dreadful fleeing and property damage during the fire) might continue to remain calm.

Please pray that the thousands being processed in their cars at our registration centres would use yet another opportunity to reach out to the unknown God (as Paul put it at Mars Hill) and so be brought to utter peace in the midst of the chaos resulting from both COVID-19 and this flooding.

Please pray for the many, many people on the Emergency Social Services team that are working 6 hour shifts around the clock to register persons and get them to hotels/housing.

And please pray for kind, loving and respectful boldness upon each brother and sister in the Wood Buffalo Region to step out and be used of God to care for others physically and, when the Lord opens the door, with words of hope in Jesus, the only One who can meet all in any crisis.

Merciful Lord, look with kindness and mercy on all those who suffer from the flooding in Fort McMurray. In Your mercy and according to Your will, provide for their physical and emotional needs as they experience yet another disaster, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Give them hope and comfort in all their distress and grant them faith in the One who suffered for us, and who is risen again defeating all that would threaten us.

Guide, equip, strengthen and provide relief from pain and tiredness to all those serving on the front lines. According to Your will, put an end to the ice jams and, if for a while they must endure this threat, grant them what You see they need to bear this crisis. We also pray for Pastor Haberstock and the people of Trinity Lutheran Church that you would give them opportunity to give witness to Christ and the peace He gives even in the midst of chaos. Into Your hands we commend them and all others who suffer in any way.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

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Rev. Keith Haberstock is a Lutheran Church–Canada missionary and pastor serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

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