01/15/2025 update on wildfires in Southern California

Current weather conditions turning more favorable

Most of our region is nearing the end of a "red flag warning" wind event without the fires spreading or new fires erupting. We thank the Lord for this and for your prayers - and we ask for your continued prayers that the wind and weather continue to abate and be favorable for our firefighters to make continued progress in containment.

How to "help well"

So many of you are likely wondering how you can best help the victims of these terrible fires. Our eagerness to serve and help those affected is part of loving our neighbor. It's important, however, to give the "right" help at the right time as expressed by the victims, not what we may assume they need.

Emergency Network Los Angeles (enla.org) has recently reported to us that they are seeing donation centers being overwhelmed and people "self-deploying" to disaster areas. This is detrimental and hinders beneficial efforts. Thank you for your willingness to give and serve, but also for your patience as the needs will emerge and evolve over the coming days, weeks, months, and even years - and your help will be needed over the long-term.

The most effective ways to help right now are:

• Pray - Continue to lift up the victims, first responders, communities and all of us in prayer as we experience this significant disaster. This includes praying that we recognize the opportunities we have to share the light and love of Jesus to so many in need. See below for a prayer you can offer.
• Donate - Victims will have a significant immediate need for financial resources to purchase basic items, pay for hotel stays, pay for meals, etc. The PSD has a standing fund which you can donate funds to for this purpose. We have already distributed about $7000 in gift cards to area congregations (see reports below), and will continue to do so. We praise God and report that the $10,000 donation match has been met already! And, we are blessed to announce an area congregation has committed another $20,000 as a donation match challenge - thank you for your generosity!
• Love - Be the hands and feet of Jesus as you care spiritually for those you may come in contact with that are affected by this disaster, and even those who may not be in the immediate area but are traumatized. This especially applies to active, caring listening as they share their trauma and needs. See below on how you can be trained to provide "spiritual first aid."

PSD Disaster Response Contact

The District contact for disaster response coordination is PSD COO Jon Niederbrach. Email disaster.response@psd-lcms.org or call 949-854-3232 x222. Thank you for reaching out - we are endeavoring to respond to the many calls and emails we receive within 24 hours.

PSD SoCal Fires info website: psd-lcms.org/disaster-response

A PSD website is now live which includes the latest resources, updates, shelter locations, and other pertinent information on the Southern California fires. Access it at psd-lcms.org/disaster-response.

Donate to relief for wildfire victims

As the devastation from the Southern California fires continues to be revealed, the best help that can be offered now are donations to help victims with their immediate needs. This will help provide gift cards and other funds that the PSD will provide to those affected. Your Pacific Southwest District has a standing emergency relief fund in place to assist our churches and schools, their people and community. If you would like to donate to this fund, please click the button below.

SIGN UP: Lutheran Church Charities offering Spiritual First Aid training

If you have a heart to help your neighbors impacted by the fires, but you don’t know what to say or do, join us and our friends at Lutheran Church Charities to discover how to become a spiritual first responder by learning Spiritual First Aid™, a simple, biblically based framework for crisis care. Signup links are below.

First Lutheran - Venice

Sunday, January 19th - lunch served at noon with training from 1-3pm

Click here to register by January 18

St. John's Lutheran - Orange

Sunday, January 19th from 5-7:30pm - a light meal will be provided

Click here to register by January 18

Online and in-person at the Pacific Southwest District office

Monday, January 20th from 7-9pm, and Tuesday, January 21st from 10-12noon (lunch provided for those attending in-person)

Click here to register by January 19

Community Care Events occurring on Saturday, January 18

Are you anxious and hurting from the wildfires?

Do you need time with others to process life right now? Join us for a meal and conversation.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and LCC Care Teams will be available to pray and help.

No RSVP required.

January 18, Saturday 10am-noon - First Lutheran Church - Venice

January 18, Saturday 1pm-4pm - Pilgrim Lutheran - Santa Monica

​

Inspired by 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, a Lutheran Church Charities Community Care Event seeks to share the hope and compassion of the “God of all comfort” with those facing trouble and distress. It brings people together after a disaster or crisis to experience community, to learn about the impacts and phases of trauma, and to receive comfort and encouragement. LCC Care Team volunteers and K-9 Comfort Dog teams are present to pray with attendees, listen with compassion, identify resources for ongoing help, or just be a furry friend. The simple act of fellowship often greatly restores resiliency and fuels recovery work. Psychological awareness helps individuals and families “normalize” their experience and bring calm following trauma.

Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs

Reports on affected churches and schools

Note: If you call, text or email pastors, church/school leaders, members, etc. in the affected areas offering help, they very likely are unable to respond. Please understand they are focused on their members, students, etc. for the immediate future.

We praise God that no PSD church or school properties have experienced significant damage as of this point. Of note is the fact that Palisades Lutheran is the only Christian church still standing in their immediate area. The churches and schools below are listed as they are in or near the fire areas, not because they have been damaged or destroyed.

Current information:

Palisades Lutheran Church - Pacific Palisades, CA

Distributing gift cards to displaced families and others in need. At least 12 members have lost their homes. Members (especially elderly) scattered in different places; one blind member still not located. Loss for members is not fully known. Pastor challenged with trying to contact members.

Pilgrim Lutheran Church/Pacifica Christian High School - Santa Monica, CA

Hosting Community Care Event 10am-Noon this Saturday (see above). About 20 Pacifica student families have lost homes.

First Lutheran - Venice, CA

Hosting Community Care Event 1pm-4pm this Saturday (see above). Confirmed one member has lost their home.

Historic First Lutheran - Pasadena, CA

Providing grants to displaced member families and distributing gift cards to those in need. Comfort dogs will be present Sunday, Jan. 19 and every Sunday for the foreseeable future. Confirmed 5 members have experienced total losses. Unable to contact 9 members. 4 members homes miraculously spared.

We continue to pray together:

Lord,

We lift up our eyes to the hills and see danger, threat, and fire. We ask with the Psalmist, “Where does our help come from?" It comes, as it always has and always will, from You Lord, the maker of heaven and earth! Give Your help, that is Your strength and support, to all those in need.

Calm the winds and ease the flames by Your power over all things. Give strength and courage to the first responders serving throughout our communities. Many are weary and overwhelmed. Send relief and assistance, enabling them to find moments of rest.

Comfort those grieving loss, whether of life, home, or security. Send helpers into their lives to meet their immediate needs and to bear witness to Your love. Provide hope in the midst of grief, as only You can, because You are near with everlasting life and security that can never be taken away.

Guide Your people to reach out to our neighbors with the grace and mercy of Christ. Enable us to listen and humble us to serve in the most helpful ways. Work in the lives of those who don’t yet believe with the gift of faith.

Lord, throughout it all, direct our eyes to the hill on which You suffered for us. Assure us by Your death and resurrection that You overcome all things and redeem them for Your good purpose. Watch over our going out and coming in now and forever. In the name of our eternal help, Jesus Christ.

Amen

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson

PSD President

mike.gibson@psd-lcms.org

www.psd-lcms.org

16355 Laguna Cayon Rd. #300

Irvine, California 92618

949-854-3232