SpiriseBible
Running Toward the Fire
Captain Thompson's Quest from Physical Rescues to Eternal Salvation
Captain Dave Thompson
23-Year Fire Department Veteran, Now Rescue Ministry Leader
"For two decades, I ran into burning buildings. Now I run into burning hearts."
Age 18, fresh out of high school, I walked into Fire Station 19 and knew I was home. The brotherhood, the purpose, the adrenaline of saving lives—this was what I was born to do.
Fire Department Career: 23 Years of Service
Rookie Year
Fire Academy graduate. 400+ hours training. First save: elderly woman from apartment fire. Addiction to rescue began.
Firefighter (5 years)
Specialized in high-rise rescues. 127 people pulled from burning buildings. Commendations for bravery under fire.
Lieutenant (8 years)
Led rescue operations. Trained new recruits. Developed innovative techniques for urban firefighting.
Captain (10 years)
Station commander. Supervised 24 firefighters. Perfect safety record under my command.
Every alarm was an adventure. Every rescue was a victory. But firefighting isn't just about fire—it's about people. The worst calls weren't the biggest blazes, but the ones where we arrived too late.
Twenty-three years fighting fires, you see patterns. House fires, car crashes, medical emergencies. But nothing prepared me for the calls that haunt every first responder—the ones where heroes aren't enough.
Structure fire, family of five trapped on third floor. Arrived 6 minutes. Found family huddled in bathroom. Four survivors, one fatality: 8-year-old Emma. Why her? Why not me?
Car accident, teenager trapped. Jaws of Life deployed. Freed him after 45 minutes. Died en route to hospital. His last words: "Tell my mom I'm sorry." Sorry for what, kid?
Elderly man, heart attack. CPR for 30 minutes. No pulse. His wife held his hand: "He's with Jesus now." Her peace unsettled me. Where was my peace?
The Fire That Consumed My Faith
December 3, 2021. Apartment complex, 2 AM. Entire building engulfed. We saved 23 people. Lost 7, including three children. Media called us heroes. I felt like a failure.
That night, standing in the ash and debris, I screamed at God: "Where were You? I save people—where were You to save them?" The silence was deafening. My faith burned down with that building.
"For months, I went through the motions. Responding to calls, making rescues, but my heart was ash. I could save bodies but couldn't save my own soul from despair."
The Ultimate Rescue
Six months later, responding to a minor kitchen fire. Elderly woman, Mrs. Chen, thanked me with tears: "Young man, God sent you to save me." I snapped: "Lady, God doesn't send anyone. We're on our own."
She smiled: "Son, you're hurting. Someone needs to rescue the rescuer. Come to church Sunday. Let me introduce you to the ultimate Firefighter."
Sunday service at Mrs. Chen's church. Pastor Mike was former FDNY—lost 15 brothers on 9/11. "Jesus is the ultimate first responder," he said. "He runs toward our fires when everyone else runs away."
From Firefighter to Fire Preacher
Spiritual Rescue
Surrendered my broken heart to Christ. Realized I'd been trying to be savior, not servant.
Seminary & Service
Enrolled in seminary while continuing fire service. Studied theology between emergency calls.
Chaplain Training
Became certified chaplain for first responders. Combined fire experience with faith counseling.
Full-Time Ministry
Retired from fire service to start "Rescue Ministry"—reaching first responders and trauma survivors.
Rescue Ministry: Fighting Different Fires
Now I fight fires that equipment can't extinguish—fires of addiction, despair, PTSD, broken relationships. My firehouse is a church, my equipment is prayer, my water is living water.
First Responder Support
Trauma counseling, chaplain services, PTSD recovery groups for police, fire, and EMS personnel.
Homeless Outreach
Mobile ministry to homeless camps. Medical care, meals, Gospel. Meeting people in crisis.
Addiction Recovery
Christ-centered recovery programs. Rescuing people from drug and alcohol fires.
Crisis Family Support
Supporting families after tragedies, accidents, losses. Bringing hope to hopeless situations.
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted..."
- Isaiah 61:1 (KJV)
Jesus is the ultimate rescuer. I just follow His lead into the flames.
6 Years of Rescue Ministry - Lives Touched
To My Brother & Sister First Responders
You run toward danger when everyone else runs away. You see humanity's worst moments but still show up for the next call. Your courage saves lives daily. But who saves yours when the job saves your soul?
I know the weight you carry. The faces you can't forget. The calls that wake you at 3 AM five years later. The marriages strained by shifts, trauma, and emotional walls you've built for protection.
You've made a career of rescue. But you need to be rescued too. From PTSD, from addiction, from the hero complex that says you must save everyone, from the despair when you can't.
- Your courage qualifies you for God's service
- Your compassion reflects Christ's heart
- Your sacrifice models Jesus' love
- Your broken places can become healing places for others
You rescue bodies. Jesus rescues souls. Same mission, eternal impact.
Last Month's Call
Homeless camp fire. Lost everything they owned (which wasn't much). Jake, the camp leader, was devastated: "Preacher Dave, even God's given up on us." I looked him in the eye: "Jake, God doesn't give up. That's why He sent His Son to the worst fire of all—hell itself."
Three weeks later, Jake was baptized. Six months later, he started homeless ministry at our church. God rescued him from more than fire—He rescued him from despair.
"Sometimes God uses disasters to create miracles. Sometimes He uses ashes to grow gardens."
First Responder's Prayer
"Lord, Commander of all first responders, protect the one reading this who serves others. You see their courage, their sacrifice, their burden. Heal their trauma, restore their joy, renew their purpose. Help them know that You're the ultimate rescuer, running toward them in their darkest hour. Give them strength for the next call, peace for the last call, and hope for the final call home. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Tonight, as I write this, my old fire station is responding to a warehouse fire. I said a prayer for my brothers. They're running toward danger, just like I did for 23 years.
The difference now is that I know who's really in charge of every rescue. My hands may have pulled people from fires, but God's hands pulled me from the fire of despair.
I still fight fires—just different ones. Fires of hopelessness, addiction, trauma, spiritual emergency. And I still wear protective gear—the full armor of God.
God is calling rescuers for His kingdom. The fires are different, but the mission remains: run toward danger to save lives.
