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A mild winter and dry conditions led to the sparking of a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, on Sunday, May 1. Close to 90,000 people have been evacuated from the city and surrounding areas so far.

The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada has two churches in Fort McMurray: Fort City Church and Native Fellowship Church. All of the church leaders and members are safe and out of harm's way. It’s confirmed that people of Fort City Church have lost homes. 

One official worker of the C&MA reports, "[It was] very surreal as we drove through flames to get out. We'll take this one day at a time with our eyes focused on Christ."

Another official worker discloses more detail about evacuating, "We are nearly out of gas at the Fort McMurray airport. The road to Edmonton and/or Lac La Biche was obviously really crowded, so we would not have made it too far outside the city. We decided to stay here last night.

"We have 13 with us from our neighbourhood...[including] our neighbour who is in a wheelchair with Huntington's Disease and her two 9-year-old twin grandsons. Mandatory evacuation of our part of town was one of the last and all the gas stations were closed or out of gas. We wait for gas or the Alberta government to get us out of here, or for Westjet or Air Canada to bring more planes."

Please pray for those impacted by these wildfires and for the firefighters battling the flames. Donations can be directed to the Global Emergency Response Fund. This fund is used when crisis or natural disasters strike. Your donation to this fund ensures that aid is supplied as quickly as possible to where it is needed.

Praise God that Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton opening their hearts and homes to people displaced by the wildfire. 

Beulah has provided office space for Doug Doyle, lead pastor of Fort City Church, and has also made space available for his church family as they journey through this. Beulah has also brokered housing, and it is partnering with Fort City Church to offer a 3:00pm church service open to all people from Fort McMurray. This is a service “by Fort McMurray, for Fort McMurray."

Fort City Church is committed to caring for and supporting its congregation while they are displaced. Please continue to pray for those impacted by the evacuation and the first responders still present in Fort McMurray.

Please pray for the entire Wood Buffalo region at this time; there will be endless opportunities for our churches to be the hands and feet of Jesus in meeting the practical and spiritual needs of those who call Fort McMurray home.