A Message from Regional Minister Pam Holt

Many have asked, “What can we do to help with the California Camp Fire?” The response is, “Continue to pray,” and “Please give an extra gift to Week of Compassion, designated California wildfires.”

Pastoral Update

Regional Minister Pam Holt has been in San Diego, California this past week attending the College of Regional Ministers. Rev. LaTaunya Bynum, Regional Minister of Northern California-Nevada, shared new updates every day and reminded us that the Woolsey Fire is also ongoing. On Oklahoma’s behalf, Rev. Holt has shared your ongoing prayers and promised we would faithfully respond with an extra gift to Week of Compassion.

Some Good News

While the fire devastation is unbelievable, there are some stories of grace and good news. While it was once thought the First Christian Church in Paradise burned, it did not. And, the home of the pastor of First Christian Church Paradise, Rev. Janice McCollester, is also still standing. However, both locations will not be able to be occupied for a while.

First Christian Church in Chico has made their parking lot available for living space, and its pastor, Rev. Jesse Kearns, has opened their doors for folks from Paradise to worship and to provide office space for Rev. McCollester. See following article from CBS.

Story from CBS/AP November 18, 2018, 10:50 PM

California wildfires fast facts

These are the current numbers as of Sunday night from Cal Fire.
Camp Fire  Location: Butte County

  • 150,000 acres burned
  • 65 percent contained
  • 77 fatalities confirmed
  • 1,276 unaccounted for
  • 12,794 structures destroyed

Woolsey Fire  Location: Los Angeles County, Ventura County

  • 96,949 acres burned
  • 91 percent contained
  • 3 fatalities confirmed
  • 1,452 structures destroyed, 337 damaged

Prayer

Please continue to pray for first responders and for the on-going grief from this destruction. We pray for families who are still waiting to see if their loved one will be found. We give thanks for the many, many people who are responding with care and love, even from a distance through gifts to Week of Compassion.

Oklahoma Connections

We are often surprised at how connected Disciples are. The following is a story from Larry & Diana Brown, First Christian Church Chickasha, Oklahoma, who have extended family in Paradise, California.

Larry & Diana’s niece, who was living in Paradise and at home when the fires started, was able to escape to Chico. She and her family are safe but the status of their home is unknown. The niece also had a horse in a nearby stable. Of course, there was no time to tend to the horse. Some good news is that all the horses in that stable somehow survived the fire. Their nephew, who lives in Chico, is hosting this niece and family. All the homes that Larry’s parents and sister once lived in are burned to the ground. Diana and Larry were in Paradise in early October for their niece’s mother’s funeral. All they have now are wonderful memories of a very special place.

A Message from Week of Compassion

We continue to pray for the communities in California affected by the current, deadly wildfires. On Sunday, First Christian Church, Paradise worshiped at First Christian Church, Chico, as Paradise was, and is, under evacuation orders. Pastor Jan McCollester, of First Christian Church, Paradise shared with Week of Compassion staff today that the church building, which was thought to have burned, appears sound, according to reports from firefighters in the area. However, most, if not all of the members of the congregation expect damage to or total loss of their homes. First Christian Church, Chico also has members whose homes have burned.

Gifts to Week of Compassion can be designated “US Storms and Fires” to support response and recovery efforts for these damaging fires.

Donate HERE

Fire image of Camp Fire courtesy of USDA Forest Services. Public Domain image 20181116-FS-LEICampFire-TH-007 11/16/18

Vigil Held in Chico, CA for Wildfire Victims

The town of Paradise, California, held a vigil Sunday night to remember the dozens who died in the wildfire that swept through the region. The vigil at First Christian Church in Chico was a time for residents to quietly reflect, pray, bring photos or mementos of lost friends, family and pets and was a chance to seek help from counselors and mental health experts.

A sign at the vigil read: “We will rise from the ashes” and two hashtags: #paradisestrong #buttecountystrong

People hugged and shed tears as Pastor Jesse Kearns recited a prayer for first responders,”We ask for continued strength as they are growing weary right now.”