The Sacrifice of Service: An Emergency Disaster Services Testimony
Deploying to East Tennessee after Hurricane Helene was one of the most challenging missions I have faced as a Salvation Army officer. We arrived as part of the incident command team ready and willing to offer aid, but nothing could have fully prepared us for the devastation we encountered. Entire communities were submerged, homes were destroyed, and people were left barely clinging to hope.
Our group being first on the scene, we immediately set up our mobile command at the local Johnson City Corps and established resources for providing assistance—I had the honor of serving as the operations chief for our endeavors. We started by offering the survivors their first warm meal in days, and the gratitude we saw was overwhelming.
I distinctly remember one young mother holding her child in her arms as I handed her a meal in Mountain City—her hands shook, her eyes filled with exhaustion but also relief. I realized at that moment there is something powerful about being able to offer a meal during a crisis. It may seem small, but it speaks volumes: “You are not forgotten. You are cared for.”
Alongside the meals, we distributed hygiene and cleanup kits, giving people the tools they needed to begin picking up the scattered pieces of their lives.
While serving others was rewarding, it also came with an emotional cost. I couldn’t help but think of my own family back home—my wife, Lt. Brittney, my son, Ryan, and my daughter, Tara. Deployment meant days, even weeks, away from them. My heart ached each time I thought of them, and though we stayed in touch through calls and texts, nothing could replace actually being present.
Leaving my family to help others is never easy, but I knew I was following my calling. Scripture says in Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” This verse guided me during those long days, reminding me that serving others reflects Christ’s love.
Then came one of the most difficult nights of my deployment. Late one evening, following a day filled with the tiring efforts of distributing meals and supplies, I received a call. On the other end of the line was a voice I have heard many times, but this time it had a distinctly different tone. A team from a nearby fire department who was sent to help with search and rescue had been tirelessly searching for missing persons, and they now desperately needed emotional and spiritual support. As I made my way to their location, I was met by my brother-in-law, captain of the squad in charge of the rescue operation, who had called for our help.
Seeing him that night stirred up a mix of emotions. He has always been someone I have looked up to, especially while growing up—an extremely strong, capable, and brave man. But that night, the weight of the day was evident on his face. His team had recovered the bodies of those who didn’t survive the storm, and the emotional toll was heavy. As I sat with him and his team, offering words of comfort and leading them in prayer, I could see the sorrow in his eyes. He had spent the day facing the grim reality of loss, and now he needed a moment to let his guard down. The weight of grief hung in the air as I sat with them, offering what comfort and support I could. But seeing my brother-in-law, a man I had always known as strong and unshakable, visibly affected by the day’s events, was something that hit me harder than I expected. He was not just a firefighter leading his team— he was family. Seeing the toll this disaster took on him made my role as a Salvation Army officer feel more personal than ever.
In moments like this, I turn to Scripture for strength. I shared with the team Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” It was a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, God is with us, offering us comfort and peace. I prayed with my brother-in-law, offering him emotional and spiritual care just as we had always supported each other growing up. It was surreal—two men who had shared so much through the years, now leaning on each other in a moment of deep pain.
As we finished praying, I felt a mix of pride and sadness. I was proud to be there for him, to offer support when he needed it most, but it was heartbreaking to see the toll this tragedy had taken. In that moment, our professional roles faded away, and we were just family—two men carrying the burdens of the storm while also carrying each other. The words of Romans 12:15 came to mind: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” That night, we mourned together, but we also found strength in faith and family.
As difficult as that night was, it was also a reminder of why I do what I do—why I continue to answer the call, even when it means leaving my family behind. Whether it is offering a hot meal, a cleanup kit, or emotional support to strangers and loved ones, the work we do with The Salvation Army is about meeting people where they are, in their most vulnerable moments. The work of The Salvation Army is about more than providing material relief. It’s about being a light in the darkness, offering hope when all seems lost, and reminding people that they are never alone. Whether I’m handing out a meal or offering spiritual support, I am reminded of why we are called to serve. And even though leaving my family behind is always difficult, I know that in serving others, I am following God’s call. And in the process, I find that I am also never alone.
