Even for a state used to dramatic natural disasters and not-uncommon apocalyptic scenes, this week’s wildfires in the Los Angeles area were especially scary and devastating. Large sections of prominent, historic neighborhoods, in some of the region’s most beautiful areas, now look like war-torn landscapes.
Fueled by ferocious winds and historically dry conditions (the LA area hasn’t received measurable rainfall in about eight months), the fires already rank near the top of the most destructive wildfires in California history. As of Friday evening, the Los Angeles Times reports that 11 people have died and more than 12,000 structures have been damaged and destroyed. Many families are displaced due to destroyed homes or mandatory evacuations, with persistent dry and windy weather presenting an ongoing fire risk.
Though my family and I live in the Orange County suburbs of LA (about 40 miles from the fires), we know plenty of people who have lost homes and been displaced. We’re currently hosting one family of four in our Airbnb, after they lost their Altadena home to the Eaton fire. Please be in prayer for them, and the thousands of others like them, who are experiencing shock, grief, and uncertainty.
From a Local Pastor
I reached out to Brian Colmery, pastor at Cornerstone West Los Angeles and a leader in TGC’s LA Chapter, to ask about the situation closer to the devastation. He shared this:
This has been a sad and frightening time for our city, but we are very resilient. And common grace is showing up across the city. Angelenos are not known for making small talk with strangers, but people in the grocery stores are sharing stories, even comforting one another. Neighbors are getting to know one another. God is at work in it all.
As in many disasters, even those not affected begin to realize how temporary things in the world are, and we are praying that we’ll see some of those people in the pews on Sunday in search of something eternal and a city that cannot be shaken. In my experience, the churches in LA have always felt like teammates, but this has drawn us together in deeper unity. Last night we hosted a last-minute prayer meeting, and 60 people from four or five churches braved LA traffic and ash in the air to be together and lament, intercede, and plead for God to grow his kingdom through all of this. I know of similar events happening the last several nights all across the city.
So God is at work in the disaster, as always, and we are probably only seeing slivers of what he’s doing. There are a lot of tears, but a lot of deep hope in the church that we’ll see even more of God’s goodness as things continue.
Ways You Can Help
If you are seeing the horrifying images and videos of the devastation and want to help, here are some practical actions you can take:
1. Pray
- For Comfort and Peace. Pray for those who have lost loved ones, homes, businesses, and treasured possessions, that they would experience the comfort of God’s presence in their grief. Pray that displaced evacuees would be comforted amidst uncertainty.
- For Protection. Pray for firefighters, first responders, volunteers, and citizens who are still in harm’s way in active fire zones. Pray that the current fires would be contained and that God would protect LA from future fires and other calamities.
- For Provision. Pray that those who have lost homes and belongings would have the resources they need to rebuild their lives. Pray for an outpouring of generosity among God’s people, to help meet these needs.
- For Churches. Pray that local churches in the affected areas, that they would demonstrate the love of Christ and the hope of the gospel in how they mobilize to meet the needs in their communities. Pray for churches to be a light to the city, a refuge for the needy, and a witness to the unshakeable hope of Jesus.
- For Wise Leadership. Pray for local, state, and national leaders as they make critical decisions and strategically deploy resources to address short-term and long-term needs in the disaster’s wake.
- For God’s Mercy in Changing Weather. Pray that the windy, dry conditions in Southern California would end and that region would soon receive rain to reduce the fire risk.
- For Spiritual Revival. Pray that in the wake of this tragedy, many would turn to God for hope and salvation. Ask God to use this event to catalyze spiritual hunger and renewal—leading people to see their need for a city that can’t be shaken. Pray that God would guide them to churches and believers who can share the good news of Jesus Christ who loves them and will never leave them.
2. Give
Whether you live geographically near or far from Los Angeles, one tangible way to help is through financial generosity. We’ve highlighted a few specific ways to give through trusted local churches and Christian nonprofit ministries.
Churches
- Reality Church of Los Angeles is a TGC-networked church led by TGC Council member Jeremy Treat. Reality set up a special website for fire relief, including a designated relief fund where your gifts will go directly to the church’s efforts to help fire victims.
- Renew Church LA is a TGC-networked church whose pastor, Dihan Lee, lost his home in the fires. Renew Church has set up a fire-relief page, as well as a designated relief fund (choose LA Fire Relief from dropdown).
- Calvary Church of the Palisades sustained significant damage to its sanctuary in the Palisades fire. The church has set up a disaster relief fund to help rebuilding efforts for both the church and the broader community.
Other churches in the area I know and trust have set up designated benevolence funds to directly aid those in need because of the fires. Some of these include:
- Cornerstone West Los Angeles: Cornerstone is serving as an evacuation center for displaced people in West LA. Give here to support them.
- Restored Los Angeles: In their giving form, select the drop-down option “LA County Fires – 2025”
- Hope Chapel: Visit their giving page and select “Hope Disaster Relief Fund” from the fund drop-down menu.
- Vintage Church Los Angeles: This church is close to the Palisades fires and set up a wildfire relief fund, as well as a resource site for other ways to help.
Christian Relief Organizations
- Convoy of Hope set up a California fires response page, including a donation page.
- Send Relief (relief agency of the Southern Baptist Convention) has mobilized disaster relief teams and has a donation page where you can support their efforts.
- Samaritan’s Purse is ready to mobilize for long-term support of the needs in the affected areas. Support their efforts here.
