A Canadian ministry has become a place of comfort for California residents struggling to figure out what to do as wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles.
California residents have been flooding the phone lines of Crossroads Prayer Centre, based in Burlington, Ontario looking for spiritual comfort.
"In times of crisis, faith knows no borders," says Cheryl Weber, Director of Crossroads Cares in a press release. "Our Prayer Partners are providing crucial emotional and spiritual support to people who have lost everything."
In 2024, California residents placed over 32,000 calls to the Prayer Centre, representing 17 percent of all U.S. calls. Those numbers have increased since the fires.
"We're not just answering calls," Kevin Shepherd, CEO of Crossroads & YES TV, explains. "As we pray together, we're building spiritual bridges between Canada and the United States, showing that in times of crisis, our shared faith ignites hope through unity."
The Pray Centre hopes to support callers not only with their immediate emergencies but also through their recovery journey.
Since the fire started, over a dozen lives have been claimed and tens of thousands of buildings have been destroyed.