Light Our Way: A Guide for Spiritual Care in Times of Disaster

The purpose of this resource is to inform, encourage and affirm the hundreds of thousands of disaster responders who put their personal plans and routines on hold in the event of a local or national disaster. It is written for you who sometimes wonder what to do, whether you are doing enough, or whether you are doing the right thing when you encounter a survivor who is in shock. It is written for you if you are concerned when you observe a co-worker behaving in an agitated or dangerous way or when you become overwhelmed with your own fear and sorrow at the sight of massive destruction and loss of life. This booklet is also for you if you are one who wears the symbols of the religious or the chaplain’s vest—your deportment and non-anxious presence can be a model for all disaster responders. Our intention is to encourage standards of best practice to light our way for all of us, whether we care for children, give spiritual counsel, help survivors sort through the remains of their home, or answer phones at a call-in centre.

Also see Instructor Guide