Christians across California Demonstrate God’s Love to Fire Victims
Janet Chismar
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
In the two weeks since wildfires consumed thousands of homes and acres across Southern California, some people outside the state have begun to call the fires an act of God’s judgment, blaming the “decadent and sinful lifestyle rampant in Los Angeles.” What these people may not realize is that Southern California spreads far past the borders of Hollywood and is home to countless Christians. Even inside Hollywood, there are those who follow Christ – people who are now quietly demonstrating God’s love to victims of the fires.
Members of Hollywood Presbyterian Church, whose mission is to “raise the cross over Hollywood,” have donated thousands of dollars to Malibu Presbyterian Church, which burned to the ground on Oct. 21. The Hollywood Prayer Network, one of 20 ministries that serve the entertainment industry, is holding an online prayer vigil for the victims.
More than 50 volunteers from Bel Air Presbyterian Church hosted a continental breakfast for the displaced congregation of Malibu Presbyterian Church last Sunday. In addition, they have set up a special fire relief fund and joined with churches in Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Santa Monica and Westwood to pray for those in Malibu and beyond.
And while their own church building has been reduced to ashes, members of Malibu Presbyterian have not forgotten other victims. “We know that we are not the only ones affected by this tragedy and that a crisis continues,” says Pastor Greg Hughes. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those who are displaced from their homes, and to those who lost their homes in the fires. We are eager to learn of their needs also, and about how we can serve them in this time of crisis.”
Outside of the immediate Los Angeles area, hundreds of other churches have mobilized to show God’s love in practical ways. Members from Coast Hills Community Church, located in Orange County, are helping to run a distribution center for fire victims in the hard-hit Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego. The distribution center is being operated in partnership with Harvest USA, a ministry of Pastor Greg Laurie’s Harvest Church in Riverside, California.
Three of the wildfires touched the region where Rick Warren’s Saddleback Community Church is located, although Saddleback’s 128-acre campus itself was spared. The church has been serving as an evacuation center for refugees and as a refreshment center for 500 firefighters, reports Baptist Press.
With more than 22,000 attendees, Saddleback has some 3,500 small groups "in every city in Southern California, many of whom welcomed evacuees into their homes,” Warren said while being interviewed on CNN’s “Larry King Live.” Saddleback also has dispatched approximately 100 volunteer chaplains who are "counseling, caring, comforting, coaching, praying for people," according to Warren.
The Rock, one of San Diego’s largest churches, has transformed itself into an evacuation center housing thousands, including 122 senior citizens from Mount Miguel Covenant Village. The elderly residents initially were evacuated to a San Diego high school, but later moved to the Rock due to poor air quality.
On Oct. 24, the Rock Church reached out to more than 5,000 people in San Diego County who were isolated from any support. “With the help of the Red Cross, the police organizations, and donated vehicles, supplies and even helicopters, the Christian community has been using the Rock Church as a focal point to reach areas on the far side of numerous police roadblocks,” reports Pastor Miles McPherson.
At PetCo Park in San Diego, more than 100 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from all over the state prepared hot meals that were taken to evacuation centers. The number of meals reached 30,000 the first weekend following the fires. “The cooperation of Southern Baptists through disaster relief is reflected to the communities impacted by the fires,” says Don Hargis, who directs disaster relief for the California Southern Baptist Convention.
Two Los Angeles professional sports franchises have teamed up with The Salvation Army to further assist fire victims. The L.A. Kings hockey club collected funds during two home games this past weekend and will again on Nov. 10 at the Staples Center. The L.A. Galaxy soccer team participated in a celebrity soccer exhibition at The Home Depot Center on Nov. 4. All proceeds from the events will be divided among local charities, The Salvation Army being one of them.
KKLA, a Los Angeles radio station operated by Salem Communications, and Transparent Productions partnered with the Orange County Rescue Mission (OperationOC) to collect items for local fire victims. Those attending a Nov. 2 Steven Curtis Chapman concert in Linda Vista, Calif., donated a variety of items including food, toiletries, calling cards, and restaurant and department store cards.
Christians and organizations outside of California also are lending a hand. Operation Blessing International (OBI) has delivered tractor-trailer truckloads of tea and bottled water to evacuees staying at Qualcom Stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers Football team – and now a temporary shelter and relief distribution site. In addition, OBI is making plans to send teams of volunteers, construction loaders and cranes to help with clean-up efforts.
International humanitarian organization World Vision is already on the scene. Local volunteers have gathered at World Vision’s Storehouse in Los Angeles to sort and package donated items that will be distributed through Southern California churches to returning evacuees and others in need.
“It will take time for life to return to normal here,” says Jo Carcedo, World Vision’s area director for Southern California. “World Vision is especially concerned about families whose homes have been completely destroyed, who didn’t have insurance, who may have lost their jobs or who were already struggling financially. We’ll continue working closely with our church partners in affected communities to make sure these families receive the support they need to get back on their feet.”
Corporations including Cardinal Health, Cypress Medical, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Chico's, KIDS and others have so far donated an estimated $2 million worth of new products to World Vision, which will help people in Southern California recover in the days and weeks ahead.
Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church in San Diego County is one congregation that will distribute items from World Vision as a way to care for its recovering community. “We cannot do this alone,” says Dan Maxton, the church’s pastor.
Members of Hollywood Presbyterian Church, whose mission is to “raise the cross over Hollywood,” have donated thousands of dollars to Malibu Presbyterian Church, which burned to the ground on Oct. 21. The Hollywood Prayer Network, one of 20 ministries that serve the entertainment industry, is holding an online prayer vigil for the victims.
More than 50 volunteers from Bel Air Presbyterian Church hosted a continental breakfast for the displaced congregation of Malibu Presbyterian Church last Sunday. In addition, they have set up a special fire relief fund and joined with churches in Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Santa Monica and Westwood to pray for those in Malibu and beyond.
And while their own church building has been reduced to ashes, members of Malibu Presbyterian have not forgotten other victims. “We know that we are not the only ones affected by this tragedy and that a crisis continues,” says Pastor Greg Hughes. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those who are displaced from their homes, and to those who lost their homes in the fires. We are eager to learn of their needs also, and about how we can serve them in this time of crisis.”
Outside of the immediate Los Angeles area, hundreds of other churches have mobilized to show God’s love in practical ways. Members from Coast Hills Community Church, located in Orange County, are helping to run a distribution center for fire victims in the hard-hit Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego. The distribution center is being operated in partnership with Harvest USA, a ministry of Pastor Greg Laurie’s Harvest Church in Riverside, California.
Three of the wildfires touched the region where Rick Warren’s Saddleback Community Church is located, although Saddleback’s 128-acre campus itself was spared. The church has been serving as an evacuation center for refugees and as a refreshment center for 500 firefighters, reports Baptist Press.
With more than 22,000 attendees, Saddleback has some 3,500 small groups "in every city in Southern California, many of whom welcomed evacuees into their homes,” Warren said while being interviewed on CNN’s “Larry King Live.” Saddleback also has dispatched approximately 100 volunteer chaplains who are "counseling, caring, comforting, coaching, praying for people," according to Warren.
The Rock, one of San Diego’s largest churches, has transformed itself into an evacuation center housing thousands, including 122 senior citizens from Mount Miguel Covenant Village. The elderly residents initially were evacuated to a San Diego high school, but later moved to the Rock due to poor air quality.
On Oct. 24, the Rock Church reached out to more than 5,000 people in San Diego County who were isolated from any support. “With the help of the Red Cross, the police organizations, and donated vehicles, supplies and even helicopters, the Christian community has been using the Rock Church as a focal point to reach areas on the far side of numerous police roadblocks,” reports Pastor Miles McPherson.
At PetCo Park in San Diego, more than 100 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from all over the state prepared hot meals that were taken to evacuation centers. The number of meals reached 30,000 the first weekend following the fires. “The cooperation of Southern Baptists through disaster relief is reflected to the communities impacted by the fires,” says Don Hargis, who directs disaster relief for the California Southern Baptist Convention.
Two Los Angeles professional sports franchises have teamed up with The Salvation Army to further assist fire victims. The L.A. Kings hockey club collected funds during two home games this past weekend and will again on Nov. 10 at the Staples Center. The L.A. Galaxy soccer team participated in a celebrity soccer exhibition at The Home Depot Center on Nov. 4. All proceeds from the events will be divided among local charities, The Salvation Army being one of them.
KKLA, a Los Angeles radio station operated by Salem Communications, and Transparent Productions partnered with the Orange County Rescue Mission (OperationOC) to collect items for local fire victims. Those attending a Nov. 2 Steven Curtis Chapman concert in Linda Vista, Calif., donated a variety of items including food, toiletries, calling cards, and restaurant and department store cards.
Christians and organizations outside of California also are lending a hand. Operation Blessing International (OBI) has delivered tractor-trailer truckloads of tea and bottled water to evacuees staying at Qualcom Stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers Football team – and now a temporary shelter and relief distribution site. In addition, OBI is making plans to send teams of volunteers, construction loaders and cranes to help with clean-up efforts.
International humanitarian organization World Vision is already on the scene. Local volunteers have gathered at World Vision’s Storehouse in Los Angeles to sort and package donated items that will be distributed through Southern California churches to returning evacuees and others in need.
“It will take time for life to return to normal here,” says Jo Carcedo, World Vision’s area director for Southern California. “World Vision is especially concerned about families whose homes have been completely destroyed, who didn’t have insurance, who may have lost their jobs or who were already struggling financially. We’ll continue working closely with our church partners in affected communities to make sure these families receive the support they need to get back on their feet.”
Corporations including Cardinal Health, Cypress Medical, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Chico's, KIDS and others have so far donated an estimated $2 million worth of new products to World Vision, which will help people in Southern California recover in the days and weeks ahead.
Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church in San Diego County is one congregation that will distribute items from World Vision as a way to care for its recovering community. “We cannot do this alone,” says Dan Maxton, the church’s pastor.
For more information on how you can help the victims in Southern California, please visit one of the following websites:
www.worldvision.org
www.salvationarmysocal.org
www.operationoc.com
www.rockreliefsd.org
www.namb.net
www.ob.org
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