Foursquare Chaplain Victor Laveaga and his therapy dog, Jack, became minor celebrities the second week of January 2025 when ABC’s “Good Morning America” featured them in coverage of the mammoth wildfires in Los Angeles County.

The story related how Victor—a 33-year veteran of the Pasadena Fire Department who retired in 2010—and his 11-year-old Golden Retriever comforted firefighters and evacuees the week the fires erupted.

“My chaplains and I were at different locations, just trying to be there to help,” Victor shares. “After a traumatic event like this, there’s a lot of adrenaline and other things coursing through your body. When Jack comes alongside, and a person starts petting him, it brings ‘feel good’ hormones, like endorphins and dopamine. Their heart rate comes down, and they feel calm and peace.”

Even as some of the fires begin to subside, Victor and two other chaplains with the Pasadena Fire Department are just beginning the tough part of their work. The trio of volunteers is acting as liaisons with Samaritan’s Purse and Firefighters for Christ International. The two national ministries recently set up operations in Pasadena to begin going through gutted homes.

“All we have to do is show up, and God will work. We must trust in God and His Holy Spirit when He comes. He does answer prayer.”

— Foursquare Chaplain Victor Laveaga

They are sifting through the ashes to recover items of value and personal significance to families before the remains are bulldozed to the ground, Victor explains. The Pasadena chaplains will focus on first responders who lost homes to the Eaton fire, the second of four major blazes that first erupted in the first half of January, in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

“That’s therapy, too,” Victor says. “People are chomping at the bit to help. We’re making a way for them to do something.”

After being on the front lines for the first part of January, Victor’s team has shifted to helping with searching homes for belongings and counseling members of the Pasadena Fire Department. No matter where he goes, Victor often brings Jack.

Jack the therapy pup

Foursquare chaplains including Victor Laveaga and Jack, the therapy dog, shine the light of Jesus in the midst of tragedy.

Their professional partnership began two years ago as part of an initiative to strengthen peer support and mental health services for firefighters. Therapy dogs were part of that outreach; when Victor asked if he could add Jack to the mix, the chief agreed.

Training took about two months and led Victor to discover First Responder Therapy Dogs. Based in Northern California, the group has affiliates nationwide and can supply dogs in situations like the LA fires.

Jack’s presence made a significant difference during the disaster. During one of many situations, the Golden Retriever brought joy to a group at an evacuation center.

“I have a photo of these kids who had lost their school and the apartment they were living in,” Victor says. “You can imagine the turmoil they were in when they wound up at the evacuation center. Kids were drawn to Jack. They were hugging him while their parents were crying. That was amazing.”

Chaplain work throughout LA

Sara Eads, director of Foursquare Chaplains International, says Victor is one of the numerous Foursquare chaplains stationed with the military, police, fire and other units who have been consoling LA area residents. Foursquare Disaster Relief chaplains and other relief workers have also been on the ground in LA. She says it is impressive that, of the 339 chaplains with her department, the majority are volunteers.

“Foursquare is really reaching outside the walls,” says Sara, a volunteer firefighter in Junction City, Ore., and a volunteer chaplain with the department. “It’s shining a light on what we do. Our chaplains are following up with people. It’s going to be a long journey.

“They will have a continuing relationship and connect people with Foursquare churches where they can be loved on and have a continuing family,” adds Sara, who spent three days in LA in mid-January to support her team’s efforts. “To walk with people in their darkest hour, day in and day out, and do this as a ministry, is definitely a calling.”

Just show up

Not only is it a calling, effective chaplaincy relies on the leading of the Holy Spirit, Victor says. His team prays every day before they go out, not knowing where they’re going or who they will encounter, so to see God create divine appointments is an answer to prayer.

“The phrase we use with Firefighters for Christ International is ‘Just show up,’” explains Victor, his voice choking with emotion. “All we have to do is show up, and God will work. We must trust in God and His Holy Spirit when He comes. He does answer prayer.”

When it comes to praying for Los Angeles, Victor outlines three requests:

  • That many people will come to Christ
  • For services and resources for victims to arrive in a timely manner
  • For firefighters and chaplains trying to help victims

“This isn’t about me or my chaplains,” Victor states. “It’s not about Jack the therapy dog. It’s about the firefighters who have been on the front lines for days and are beat up, facing overwhelming conditions. And the evacuees who have the daunting task of recovery. They’re the heroes. That’s who we’re here for.”

Foursquare chaplains serve in the U.S. and around the world, taking Jesus straight to those who might not even know how much they need Him. To learn how you can pray for Foursquare chaplains, download their monthly prayer guide.

You can show up, too.

Learn how you can get involved and support those impacted by the LA wildfires by partnering with Foursquare Disaster Relief (FDR) in their response.