February 18, 2025
LOS ANGELES — Baptists are significantly involved in ministering to the victims of the wildfires that have devastated so much of the Los Angeles area. The latest report indicates that there have been 105 wildfires, 40,300 acres burned, 12,3000 structures destroyed, more than 150,000 people displaced, and 24 lives lost. The Santa Ana winds have been relentless in spreading the flames and the governor stated that he expects the death toll to rise.
To put the extent and destruction of the current California fires in perspective, the great Chicago fire of 1871 burned 3 square miles. The San Francisco fire of 1906 burned 4 square miles. The current fires in Los Angeles have burned over 56 square miles. Some of the fires are still not contained, and with the winds threatening further devastation these numbers will eventually be larger.
Southern Baptists are significantly involved in trying to help alleviate the pain and loss of those who have watched their homes and many of their cherished mementos go up in smoke. Many of those engaged in this compassionate ministry are young adults and college students.
Georgia Baptist College Ministries are often the catalyst whereby students engaged in higher education discover that God is calling them into Christian service. When Hope Godwin, a lifelong Georgia Baptist, was at Kennesaw State University she was engaged in the BCM, and upon graduating she felt called to align herself with the North American Mission Board’s Send Relief Ministries in the greater Los Angeles area.
For one year she was involved in a church plant and ministered to people who were trapped in drug addiction, sex trafficking, and homelessness. The testimonies of those who were set free by the power of the Gospel revealed God’s amazing grace.
After that first year, Godwin sensed that God was leading her to remain in the Los Angeles area to continue to minister to those who needed to have a personal relationship with Christ. On her own, she secured a job and became a part of The Abiding church in the Eaton area of Los Angeles, a church plant committed to serving people in lasting, meaningful ways while sharing the hope of the gospel.
Pastor Trenton Mueller is leading his congregation to be channels of blessing to those who have suffered the loss of their homes. He explained, “Our church is giving away 100% of every dollar donated in January to the victims of the LA fires.”
Those who are a part of The Abiding church fellowship are collecting and distributing aid to help people who have lost everything, including providing housing for three families who have lost their homes. Some of those being helped come from within their own congregation.
One of the young couples in The Abiding, Christopher and Lauren Fordinal, lost their "dream" home in the fires. The Fordinals had moved to the area from Plano, Texas, with their young daughters.
Lauren described the loss to a Texas television station. “I was asleep, and when he (Chris) woke me up, he called me and said, ‘There's one (fire) three blocks away,'" she said. "We had packed our bags, had already put them in the car - basically, two days’ worth of clothes... It was, like we're coming back home tomorrow. That's what's happening. We're coming home tomorrow. You know, there's bad smoke. There are fires around our neighborhood, but you just don't think it's going to be you.”
The couple evacuated to a friend’s home a few miles away and put their daughters back to sleep, but within a few hours, they were evacuating again. The next day, firefighters let the Fordinals back into their neighborhood. Along their street, every home had burned to the ground.
It was the first home the couple had purchased, a fixer-upper that they had poured their hearts into.
Southern Baptists like Godwin are working hard to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the Fordinals and others impacted by the devastating fires. They gather necessary supplies for those who have lost their homes, raise funds to supply immediate needs, offer comfort and encouragement in the most trying of times, and, perhaps most importantly, pray with and for those whose lives have been drastically altered by the raging inferno that continues to burn.
Those who wish to support The Abiding fellowship in loving their city can go to www.Theabidingla.com for additional information.
