RMCNews with Cathy Kissner – Boulder, Colorado … Responding to the tragedy which took place in mid-March in Boulder, Adventist Community Services was asked by the City of Boulder to provide spiritual care counseling for victims or residents who need to discuss the events they witnessed or that happened within their city.
Answering the request, four RMC members, trained in spiritual care counseling, immediately reacted.
For Mickey Mallory, one of the counselors who responded, the experience is one he will not soon forget.
“When I received crisis care training in the summer of 2019, the thought never crossed my mind that someday I might be used to assist with crisis care counseling after a mass shooting. I thought maybe [I would help with] a fire or tornado, but never anything like what just happened in Boulder,” Mallory said.
The team of counselors, including Rick Mautz, Mickey Mallory, and Larry and Bev Brandt, was happy to share the love of Jesus with those who were hurting because of an evil and senseless act of violence.
“While I did not have any direct involvement with any of the victims, I did allow one of them to use my laptop computer in order to sign up for financial assistance. Just to know I could help in such a small way made me feel very grateful,” Mallory commented.
Mallory added that the experience was one of unity among all agencies working toward the common goal of showing the love of Jesus. “To be given the opportunity to partner with agencies from around the state of Colorado like the Red Cross, was a tremendous privilege. It reminded me that sometimes tragedy has a way of bringing people from various organizations together for a common cause.”
If you are interested in training to be a spiritual care counselor for future disasters, please contact Cathy Kissner at: [email protected] or 970-201-3799.
–RMCNews with Cathy Kissner, RMC Adventist Community Services director; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski
