LA wildfires bring out God’s wonder-working power through the church

Day after January day, hipsters, Jews and Muslims keep entering Christ Church Los Angeles. But none of them know each other, and they’re not intentionally seeking Christ.  

So, what’s drawing such a diverse group to this Converge Southwest congregation? 

Those Angelenos want to help some of the 12 million people suffering devastating fires, air pollution and traumatic disruptions. However, they didn’t know how to help until they learned that CCLA offers help on Sundays and on the streets. 

“We’ve had quite a number of volunteers that were just from the neighborhood,” said Laura Quintanilla, Christ Church’s administrator and kids ministry director. “We’ve had so many people show up and help.” 

Marissa* (name changed) is one of those people. Every morning, she stops at Christ Church on her way to work at a shelter for evacuated people and families who have lost their homes.  

She has a friend at Christ Church but has never been part of the church. Now, she’s encountering Christian community while picking up supplies daily to share with sheltered people. 

“She has seen our church in a different light than maybe she would have expected our church to be,” Quintanilla added. 

And she’s not the only one. All over the city, people with compassionate hearts come alongside a united, neighbor-loving group of churches who prepare, pray and serve their community with practical needs.  

Twenty minutes north of Christ Church, the disciples of Highlands Church have repurposed one-third of their building into a base of operations for a Christian disaster relief organization. 

Highlands Pastor David Johnson said cities like Altadena and Pacific Palisades are gone. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated or displaced from their homes. But he’s confident God will bring restoration. 

“We think God will bring that redemption through the local church gathering and being a unified presence of good news,” Johnson said. 

Related: Give to Converge Southwest’s dedicated fund for wildfire relief efforts. 

Believe LA, a congregation west of Los Angeles, started 21 Days of Prayer on January 5. No one could have guessed that multiple wildfires would start two days later. 

Despite the surprise and rapid devastation, Believe LA kept praying and got to work. They’re accepting donations and coordinating volunteers. The church itself provides hygiene kits and food at its worship center in Calabasas. 

Plus, the church, pastored by Aaron and Adrian Lindsey, posts on social media about mental health resources, places to stay, businesses offering free food and those who can help evacuees. 

Quick, flexible, compassionate responses define what churches can offer communities in difficult moments. Christ Church LA pastor Ken Lippold said God’s love stirs the church to do something. 

It’s no wonder people who want help — and want to help — keep showing up at Converge Southwest congregations. 

“When the church responds in these situations, the world is watching,” Lippold said. “God rooted us in our neighborhood to bring renewal to our city. We need to do something. We need to be the church in this time.” 

Converge Southwest is a movement of churches working to help people meet, know and follow Jesus. We do this by starting and strengthening churches together worldwide. For 170 years, we’ve helped churches bring life change to communities in the U.S. and around the world through church planting and multiplication, leadership training and coaching and global missions.