Photo by Brent Calver, Calgary Herald
Joining Jesus in Bridlewood: FAC Southwest
What does it mean to join Jesus right in the communities we live in? After a devastating condo fire in Bridlewood earlier this year, members of the Southwest Campus quickly stepped up and came alongside those who were impacted.
Take a glimpse into what happened through the perspective of FAC Southwest member, Linda:
“In the early hours on Sunday, January 26, 2025, shocked and terrified residents of a condo building in Bridlewood evacuated into the cold because of a fire that started on the fourth floor. Many people made their way to the convenience store across the street for warmth.
Doug and Joyce Maxwell, members at FAC Southwest, who live nearby, watched in disbelief as the building went up in flames and captured it on video. FAC Southwest Campus Pastor, Carter Reimer, quickly spearheaded an effort to invite the group from over 70 condo units affected by the fire to take shelter at Glenmore Christian Academy that morning.”
Linda continued, “I was scheduled to help at the Southwest Campus that day. When I entered the church, Pastor Carter informed me that we were not going to be doing our normal setup, but that we were hosting the residents from the condo that caught fire that morning. As I entered the cafeteria area, there appeared to be around 100 people already there. FAC staff and members set up tables of breakfast food and beverages, non-perishable food items and frozen TV dinners, as well as some clothing donations.
I spent time speaking with families that appeared to have nowhere to go. One elderly woman and her daughter had left the condo without their cell phones or handbags. They had no way to contact friends or family as they did not have any of their phone numbers memorized. They were told that the fire department would eventually go into their unit to retrieve their phones and handbags once it was safe.
I let them use my phone to contact their insurance company and gave them my name and phone number on a piece of paper. I invited them to my home and offered a little bit of cash that I had, but they would not accept it. I made sure anyone who did not have a place to go felt welcome coming to my home.
I met with a number of the families to offer help and pray with them. There were some Ukrainian refugees who struggled to speak English, so I made sure they understood what they needed to do to provide representatives from the Red Cross, the City and the condo board with their contact info. Thankfully, the Red Cross provided accommodations at a nearby hotel for the week until everyone who did not have insurance or a place to go could find a place to rent.
A Filipina woman appeared to be very distraught. She told me that she and her family of 4 did not have insurance and needed essentials for her children. I gave her some cash and shared my phone number, and reassured her that I was there to help her. Then, I prayed for her and her family. That evening, she was the first person to contact me to let me know that they had checked into a hotel nearby. A few days later, I met them at Walmart and took her and her family shopping for the essentials that they needed. We have become very close, and I have visited with them 3 times now. A week later, in response to Pastor Carter’s encouragement, church members contributed grocery gift cards that I then shared with the family.
Thankfully, they are now settled in another condo. FAC provided them financial support by paying for their first month’s rent. It is farther away than they would have liked, as they have kept their daughter in the same school in Bridlewood to minimize her stress. When a fire alarm went off in their new place, the mother and the girls were very fearful and in tears.
I also met some families that were new to Calgary. One was a family from Iran. They phoned me the next day, so I invited them to my home that week. I found some toys and games that I thought their young son might be interested in, some warm coats for the husband and wife to wear, and some books that my neighbour donated. We had a lovely visit over tea and snacks. When Carter passed along some gift cards donated by the church the following week, I contacted this family, and they invited me over to the Airbnb that they were renting to allow more time to find a suitable rental close to Bridlewood. We had a very nice visit over tea, and their son showed me some beautiful drawings that he had done.
On our third visit together, I asked who they knew that also lost their home in the condo fire, and they shared the name of a family from Hong Kong. I contacted this family, and they said they would like to meet me at church. They attended FAC Southwest a few weeks ago and the following weekend, sat with me! Both of these new families to Calgary attended service at the Southwest Campus again, and even joined us for the newcomers’ lunch afterwards! All of the children at the lunch received stuffed animals that Doug Maxwell brought over from the Deerfoot Campus.
I was also given the names of other victims of the condo fire from the Filipino family. I have met with them, given them grocery gift cards and prayed with them. I kept asking everyone who else they knew that lost their home in the fire. One woman knew 13 families, so I was rather busy this month. I passed along Community Support Pastor Michelle Peters’ email address to each of them, and she took over from there. On the phone, I always listened to their stories of trauma and loss, and then I prayed with them.
I could sense that everyone appreciated the prayers and was very grateful for any help from the church. Unfortunately, some families were condo owners who did not have insurance. Some people opted out because they felt they could not afford to pay for insurance. Now they are paying their mortgage and condo fees while paying rent for where they are living now and are in a desperate financial situation. The donations from FAC members have been very generous, and continued support is very much appreciated!
Slowly, the word is getting out that FAC is here to help those in need.
I am so thankful to Pastor Michelle Peters, who has been wonderful in administering financial assistance on behalf of the church to many families that are in need. Thank you to all the church members of FAC who have donated gift cards to these families that have gone through this very traumatic situation. These families are very grateful for all the support that you have provided!
This has been an incredible experience for me as I feel that I have had the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. May the Lord bless each family that has lost their home and most of their belongings to receive His strength, peace and perseverance. Many blessings to those who have so generously donated to the church so that FAC is able to serve the community in such a profound way!”
Thank you, Linda, for sharing your story of serving those impacted by the condo fire. We’re grateful for the way you’ve shown up for these families!
If you’d like to continue supporting families impacted by the Bridlewood condo fire—please designate your financial gift to the “Care Fund.”
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