Unthinkable Loss In SoCal
Photos by Josiah Solis and multiple sources
Pray for the Calvary Disaster Relief team heading out from Calvary La Habra, CA. The contact is Mike Nelson at 714-801-0068.
Before stepping into action, the Calvary Disaster Relief (CDR) team finds strength in prayer, preparing to serve those affected by the fires in Los Angeles (LA), CA.
Southern California faces a devastating wildfire crisis as five firestorms continue to scorch thousands of acres in Los Angeles (LA) County. Nearly 180,000 people have been evacuated from their homes. Mike Nelson with Calvary Disaster Relief (CDR), a ministry of Calvary La Habra, CA, is on the ground in LA with a team providing support for those affected by the fires. CDR welcomes your prayers and support as they bring the hope of Jesus to those in need.
Ministry in Action
“We are [ministering] in a neighborhood in Altadena where many homes burnt down, more than 2/3 of them, actually. All of a sudden, you’ll see a home or two that are still standing,” stated Calvary La Habra Senior Pastor Lance Cook. Lance is also Co-founder of CDR. He spoke with a couple who were retrieving a few belongings from their home that had not burned. While showing him pictures of the inferno moving towards them on January 7, they described leaving everything behind to escape on foot. Lance recalled, “They are standing in front of their home, and the wife tells me they are dealing with survivor’s guilt, wondering how they were going to reengage with their neighbors who lost their homes.” Lance encouraged her, saying ‘I’m not sure where you guys are with the Lord, but God chose to allow you another day, another season in your home. It takes faith to embrace that. The compassion you are showing us, you can show towards your neighbors. There is nothing more powerful than just being present and listening.” After praying with the couple, Lance directed them to nearby Calvary Chapel Monrovia to connect them with a fellowship of believers. “They said, ‘That’s interesting. We’ve relocated to a relative’s house, and it’s right up the street from that church. We will come by!’”
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
The worst of the conflagrations, the Palisades fire has burned over 17,000 acres and destroyed thousands of structures along LA’s Pacific coast. Although four other fires in the area are active, the Palisades fire is “one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles,” said LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley. The Eaton fire, located just northwest of the city where the Altadena community resides, has claimed five lives so far, incinerating more than 10,600 acres.
The California government has deployed 7,500 firefighters and emergency personnel, some from neighboring states, to combat the catastrophic fires. While the fires remain uncontained, first responders have been able to significantly hinder the growth of the fires as the Santa Ana winds have diminished overnight. Wind gusts of 50-70 mph are forecasted tonight and into the morning, making the battle even more difficult for the firefighters.
In addition to ministering to people individually, the CDR team has been making breakfast and dinner burritos for the first responders as well as residents who tend not to go to disaster feeding centers. Affixed to the outside of the burrito wrapper is a label with information on the local Calvary Chapel. “This puts the church in front of their eyes. As we hand it to them, we say, ‘We’d love to pray for you.’ It establishes a connection to the church and the Kingdom of God,” confided Lance.
The Great Commission
Currently, more than 350,000 residents are without power, including those outside the LA region. In his early-morning prayer vigil on Facebook, Pastor Jack Hibbs of CC Chino Hills in neighboring San Bernardino County stated, “They have cut power off to us as of 5 a.m. yesterday to minimize the fire risk. They do this selectively.” He encouraged his listeners that his area is safe as they are well out of the range of the fires. He acknowledged that many are hurting from the catastrophic destruction of the fires, with loss of life and property and leaving many with questions.
Pastor Jack urged his audience to continue in daily prayer and to share the Gospel at every opportunity, reminding them of Jesus’ last words to His disciples: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
Elderly residents are safely guided out of a care home during the chaos of a spreading fire.
A firefighter works tirelessly to extinguish a fierce fire engulfing a structure.
A Los Angeles home is engulfed in flames as the fires leave a path of destruction and loss.
Intense flames consume trees near a residential complex in LA, as drivers hurriedly evacuate the area.
Flames incinerate home after home in LA communities.
An aerial view of a neighborhood reveals the heartbreaking destruction from the firestorms that have ravaged thousands of acres in LA County.
The charred remains of exclusive oceanfront homes depict the devastating impact of the Los Angeles wildfire along the coastline.
Remains of a once-thriving neighborhood lie in ruins, as palm trees stand solemnly through the smoky aftermath.
A lone figure navigates the desolate street marked by blackened trees and ruins along its hillsides.
As responders tend to an elderly woman, the eerie glow of emergency lights illuminate the anguish on her face.
Bound by faith and purpose, the CDR team supports a first responder through prayer during relief efforts in LA.
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