• Christopher Priest

The Salvation Army: Emotional & Spiritual Care Hotline Snapshot #3

Atlanta, GA: The Salvation Army's Emotional & Spiritual Care Hotline (1-844-458-HOPE) is receiving multiple calls. Here is another snapshot of recent calls, written by Salvation Army officers and employees:

Lydia is a mother of 2 yr old Ella, calling from Downers Grove Illinois, looking for diapers, food, gasoline assistance.  I was able to give her several number for The Salvation Army's resources in her area. She asked for prayer for the health of her family.  I was able to pray with her at the end of our call.

Janice calling from Philadelphia PA, really just needed someone to listen to her.  She has numerous physical challenges and mental health issues.  She’s working less than usual as a Lyft driver but has fears about getting sick from passengers, grocery shopping, etc.  She’s worried about having enough money to survive, make car payments and pay her insurance.  She admittedly watches too much news and it’s making her more afraid.  She is a believer and will be looking online this weekend to connect with a faith community for fellowship and a spiritual uplift.  I as able to encourage her regarding all the things that haven’t been impacted by the virus, God’s position on his throne, the beauty of nature unfolding around us, the sun rising and setting since the first day God commanded it to rise and set.  By the end of the call she was glad she called, thank me for my help and we ended the call with a word of prayer.  As others have done, I encouraged her to call again if she needed someone to talk with.

Michael, from Seffner, Florida, in the Tampa area, called about finding temporary housing.  I was able to give him four numbers for a variety of service centers in the Tampa area, from Area Services, to a Corps, and to a Shelter.  Matthew is a believer and welcomed prayed before we ended the call.

Janet called looking for food assistance for several families she was trying to help.  I gave her the numbers for four corps in the area, two which she requested by address. She was grateful for the numbers and I recommended that she call back if she was unsuccessful getting the help she was looking for.  One of her concerns was being able to receive help today, and not being put on a long waiting list for services or even a call back.  I assured her of my prayers that she would receive help today.

I received a call from a woman who lived in the metro DC area. She had just come home from the grocery store which she referred to as a “war zone” and said that she called because she needed someone to talk to. She spoke about people’s hysteria and the distrust she had for the general news media. We spent about 15 minutes on the phone where I learned that she was a Christian. She explained that she missed her church which was quite a distance from her home. She started telling me about someone who was a family member of a friend of hers who was very ill and did not know Jesus. I asked her if I could pray for her, her friend, and her friend’s family member and she agreed. We had a nice time of prayer after which she let me know that she felt better.

I received another call from a man in Washington state who was looking for money for a hotel room for him and his friend. I gave him the phone numbers of several Salvation Army Corps near him. I also gave him the phone numbers of area shelters that I found online.

I took a call this weekend from a man in Florida who felt he needed to enter the Adult Rehabilitation Center. He was staying in a hotel and said he could take the bus to Miami where there is an opening at our Center. He wanted some information about the Adult Rehabilitation Center and I was able to tell him about the program. When we finished the conversation he was crying and said to me that he just needed someone to tell him he was doing the right thing and that he was worth saving.  We had a little prayer and I am hoping that he made it to the Center this morning.

Last night I answered a call from Dawn in Chicago.  She said she just wanted to talk – that made me happy.  She lost her job as a pharmaceutical tech due to an “episode” of her bipolar disorder.  She interviewed for a new job Monday but had not heard back and was discouraged.  We did a mock interview and I was able to help her with how to explain being let go from her previous job.  At the end of the call she was so much more upbeat and seemed even hopeful about her future.  She was happy for me to pray with her.