Community Devastation and God's Presence - LA Wildfires Recovery 2025, Dr Kate Wiebe

Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe and our host, Rev. Tom Stephen, dive into collective trauma related to recent wildfires in Southern California. Kate contextualizes the fires through the lens of losing senses of community and examines how people can come together even after times of devastation. Kate clarifies what the ‘hero phase’ can look like at the start of a disaster response and how helpers can extend a supportive hand  in the face of extreme loss. She and Tom talk about the importance of identifying needs in the face of overwhelming decisions. They touch on the question of why traumas happen and how to start to answers questions from ‘a cherry picked’ theology. Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe finishes with practical advice of how we can help people in need: “listen to the need, don’t try to guess what someone needs.” She discusses Psalm 46, including how it references natural disasters, human-caused disasters, and God's actions that we may experience as challenging, as well as an important first step for us to take when faced with catastrophe.Dr. Kate Wiebe is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology and PsyD Program Chair, Licensed Psychologist (PSY35006), Pastor, and Consultant.