Chaplain Cade Clarke was working in his garage on Saturday, Aug. 1, when his work phone began pinging with disaster alerts about wildfires nearby. He put on his uniform, called a lieutenant to check in and activated three other Spokane County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) chaplains to respond to the command center that was being set up at Glover Middle School.
From 1 p.m. that day to 3 a.m. the next, Clarke and other SCSO chaplains ministered in the shadows at the middle school and a Red Cross shelter: handing out food and water, assisting deputies and listening to evacuees as they described fleeing the Spokane Complex Fires.
Around 7 p.m., police cars and a SWAT command vehicle began to arrive with evacuees from Spokane’s Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center and nearby assisted living facilities.
“You can’t really say much, just ‘we’ll get through this, we’re going to help you get through this,’” Clarke said. “And you can pray with them.”
A ministry of presence
First responder chaplains serve alongside law enforcement officers and firefighters, often going on ridealongs and assisting with death notifications. In a crisis like the Spokane Complex Fire, they serve members of the public, praying for them and offering resources, said Ryan Stemkoski, SCSO assistant lead chaplain.
“There’s something special about being out in the community helping people on the worst days of their lives, making sure they feel the love of Christ when they’re going through those times, even if they don’t quite know it or appreciate it,” Stemkoski said.
While chaplains may have their personal beliefs, they serve everyone and can provide resources 24/7 for people of all faith backgrounds. Much of the job is simply being present: sitting with someone and listening to them.
“On a day-to-day basis, it’s about showing up with love and compassion for our neighbor,” Stemkoski said.
Lowering barriers and building trust
Chaplains from multiple agencies responded to the city’s Disaster Assistance Center. Chaplain John McSwain and his therapy dog, Rocket, came from neighboring Kootenai County to provide support.
Therapy dogs open the door to conversation for people who may not otherwise talk to a chaplain, McSwain said.
“People don’t always walk up to me and say, ‘Hey, chaplain, do you have a minute to talk?’” McSwain said. “There’s a certain amount of trust you get from interacting with a dog … and then you can say, ‘There’s this guy here at the other end of the lead, I can trust him, too.’”
Petting Rocket on the floor of the Disaster Assistance Center, a man told McSwain that his family evacuated safely and was getting help finding a temporary apartment to move into. His wife shared that she was heartbroken to have left her wedding ring next to the kitchen sink when her home burned.
McSwain always asks people how he can pray for them in whatever situation they are going through.
“For chaplains, it’s never about evangelism,” McSwain said. “It’s always about me holding space with you, giving you the time to grieve, showing you that I care, listening to what you have to say and seeing you.”