The January 2025 fires in the Los Angeles area have caused significant devastation, leaving many families displaced and in need of urgent assistance. Our church is deeply saddened by the impact of these fires and is committed to supporting those affected. In partnership with other affected churches, we will be launching a financial relief effort to provide aid to those in need. We understand that this is a challenging time for many, and we want to ensure that our community comes together to support one another. We will be providing regular updates on this webpage regarding our relief efforts and how your contributions are making a difference.
HOW CAN WE RESPOND?
RIGHT NOW, THE BEST THING TO DO IS GIVE
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is a phenomenal organization and they are already heavily involved in supporting those affected and is providing immediate and unmet needs. They are often one of the first support groups on site and some of the last to leave.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CHURCHES AND PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE
- Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church
- Interview with Rev. Hardin from Pacific Palisades Pres
- Presbyterian Disaster Relief Facebook Page
- Grace and Loss sermon by Matthew Colwell
INDIVIDUAL FIRE RELIEF FUNDS
- Knox Presbyterian Church Deacons Assistance Fund
- Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church Fire Relief Fund
- San Fernando Presbytery Emergency Recovery Growing Together Fund
- La Canada Presbyterian Church Fire Relief Fund
- Bel Air Church LA Fire Relief Fund
- Fuller Seminary Emergency Fund for students, staff and faculty
UPDATES
JANUARY 17, 2025
from Pastor Mike
Since the fires broke out last Tuesday night I have been in touch with friends and colleagues to assess the damage and discern ways we might pray, give and serve. The Palisades and Eaton fires have brought tremendous loss of property and livelihood for churches and pastors.
We are encouraging our church family to give directly to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), which provides for emergency unmet needs through cash and gift cards, as well as being the last to leave for more long term support and rebuilding. Out of our own SBPC Disaster Assistance Fund we have already contributed $22,000 on your behalf to individual churches and to the PDA.
Below are brief highlights of what’s happening in three presbyteries in the L.A. area with pastors and presbytery leadership in parentheses and links to other relief funds above.
Pastor Matt Colwell at Knox Presbyterian Church in Pasadena lost his home along with nine church families. Six additional pastors lost their homes in the San Gabriel Presbytery (Wendy Tajima).
The Pacific Presbytery (Linda Culbertson) lost Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church (Matt Hardin). Bel Air Church (Drew Sams) is under mandatory evacuation and rallying members to bless other churches. I attended the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood (Clark Cowden) worship and prayer service Thursday night to bring hope and healing.
The San Fernando Presbytery (Juan Sarmiento) has had around 20 households in congregations that lost their home, mainly from La Canada Presbyterian Church (Ross Purdy).
This is a long-haul effort to walk alongside our Angeleno brothers and sisters while they rebuild their lives, homes and churches. Consider giving directly to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which is working through each presbytery to meet both emergency and long-term needs in each presbytery with gift cards, emergency unmet needs, and the long-term recovery, or partnering with a specific presbytery, church or organization listed below.
As part of our regional connection, SBPC will continue to support L.A. churches and leaders through this next season of healing and rebuilding. Lisa Owens (lisaowens@solanapres.org) will be partnering to connect members of our church family who can provide the essential services identified as most helpful by those in need. Please contact her if you can help with discounted or free lodging or remote professional services such as resume writing or teletherapy.
We will also be updating this webpage with specific ways you can provide support in the months and years to come.
In times like these we trust in a God who is the rebuilder and calls his church to serve, pray and give.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Is 58:12
JANUARY 10, 2025
from Pastor Mike
Watching the news of the fires in LA is heartbreaking. The destruction will be greater than anyone can imagine. Everyone knows someone who has lost everything. And like the pandemic, churches and leaders are grieving and living with trauma while leading and providing care for others.
Let’s respond with empathy and prayer:
- for those who have lost everything, are displaced and have a tremendous journey of rebuilding
- for the containment of the fires and the safety of first responders
- for churches who have lost their buildings and members who have lost homes
- for churches that have become relief distribution centers and for seven pastors in the San Gabriel Presbytery alone who lost their homes
- for the 1000 closed public schools (9% of California students) and the children who are dealing with trauma, fear and loss
- for the light of Christ to shine brightly in all these places in surprising ways
And let’s respond generously. Check out relief efforts as they emerge. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is helping churches in all the presbyteries affected by the wildfires in California.
We are in touch with church leaders in the LA area and will update on the ways we can give and pray.
LA has been home for my family for seven generations and Amy and I grew up in Glendale and it will be our home again in retirement. We have always loved driving through neighborhoods now decimated. Tucked in behind the traffic and craziness of LA are tight knit and historic neighborhoods now destroyed. All of our family who live in the area are currently safe, but the fire danger remains high.
Pastor Greg Hughes, in Lake Tahoe and formerly in Malibu posted this prayer on Facebook.
Lord have mercy.
