Abiding Church Pastor Trenton Mueller, while in New Mexico for his grandmother's birthday, received this photo from a neighbor of the approaching Palisades fire. His home was not harmed by the flames.
PASADENA, Calif. (BP) — California Baptist Disaster Relief (CBDR) is ready to assist in the recovery effort as three wildfires burn across L.A. County, a state spokesperson shared with Baptist Press today.
“He told them we’re ready,” said Sarah Graham, team leader for the Office of Communications at the California Southern Baptist Convention, as Disaster Relief director Kendrick Neal met with emergency response leaders.
CBDR is being asked to provide spiritual and emotional care and “other services as needed,” Graham added.
An Instagram post from a member of Abiding Church captures the harrowing moments and decisions as the Palisades fire approached their home, which was destroyed the following day.
Neal has also been in contact with Arizona Baptist Disaster Relief Director Don Vickers, who said his units are ready to mobilize.
As of 12:30 p.m. local time, the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) reported the Palisades fire was approaching 12,000 acres burned. The Eaton fire, north of downtown L.A., has burned 10,600 acres, while the Hurst fire, northwest of San Fernando, has burned 500 acres.
Winds of up to 100 mph are fueling the fires, which have claimed two lives and destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses and other landmarks, the L.A. Times reported.
All three fires are 0% contained, according to the LACFD, which has established an incident response page for updates.
Trenton Mueller, pastor of Abiding Church in Pasadena, was attending his grandmother’s 90th birthday celebration in Albuquerque when he began receiving messages about the fire’s growth. This morning, a neighbor sent a picture showing massive smoke clouds just north of the city.
A couple from his church evacuated in the middle of the night with their two young daughters. Today, they learned their home is gone.
Abiding Church, which is a year old, meets in a rented building south of Pasadena. Neither the building nor any of the church’s equipment is currently in danger, Mueller told Baptist Press.
“We have about 50 to 60 people, and at least a third of them have evacuated,” he said. “We need prayer.
“We’ll still meet this Sunday, but instead of a traditional service, we’re going to be with those in need, delivering care packages and praying with them. We’re going to find those, especially, who will need help finding housing quickly.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press.)
