Julian Churches Partner with Red Cross in Spiritual Care Service Program

By Jim Evans

Pastor Mike Madigan of the Julian Calvary Chapel has been ministering in Julian for the past 17 years and, from time to time, has had the privilege of ministering to people outside his community. Those situations might multiply in the future through his relationship with the San Diego chapter of the American Red Cross.

Madigan, Rev. Richard Malec of the United Methodist Church, and Pastor Rick Hill of the Hillside Community Church in Julian are participants in the Spiritual Care Service Program — a program in partnership with the Red Cross “which is relatively exclusive to San Diego,” Madigan said. It sometimes places local ministers on call to help outside of their immediate community.

Under the provisions of the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 and the Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act of 1997, the National Transportation Safety Board designated the American Red Cross to be the independent nonprofit organization to provide for the emotional well-being of the families of survivors and those whose lives were lost in an aviation disaster.

In conjunction with this act, Mike MacIntosh and Mickey Stonier — chaplains for the San Diego police and fire departments — participated in a special training program in 2000, to prepare them to play an active role in providing emotional and spiritual support for disaster survivors and their families in case of airline disasters. Both were on call during the 9/11 crisis.

The two chaplains suggested to the National Response Team of the Red Cross chapter in San Diego that provisions of the act might extend to all disasters, not just airline crashes. Because the Red Cross was not equipped to provide such services, it was suggested that they collaborate with local churches. Thus was born a partnership between the San Diego chapter of the Red Cross and local churches.

“It is still fairly unique to San Diego but is slowly spreading to other Red Cross chapters around the country,” said Stonier, who continues to serve as a liaison and volunteer coordinator for the program. “We are on call to assist wherever we are needed.”

“With all of the major disasters recently, such as the Cedar Fire in San Diego, the tsunami in Southeast Asia, and (Hurricane) Katrina in the Gulf region, there has been a continuing need for spiritual counseling,” Madigan said. “Our local churches just want to be in a position to help.

“Even before the Pines Fire, we maintained a Red Cross emergency trailer in Julian, which acts as both a center and a shelter, as necessary. We were set up and ready to go just 30 minutes after word about the Pines Fire was announced, and it was the fastest response that the local Red Cross had ever experienced. They have since referred to it as the ‘Julian Model.’ ”

There will always be human tragedies, and the Red Cross will be there to provide material help in the form of food, shelter and clothing to help survivors and their families. But sometimes people need help of a different nature to sustain the human spirit in times of suffering and give them hope.

Madigan and his fellow ministers stand ready to help. For more information about the Spiritual Care Service Program, contact him at (760) 765-0446.