By Melissa Wuske
When wildfires tore through Los Angeles leaving a path of destruction, they brought immense suffering and need to the doorstep of Victory Bible Church.
โOur church is just 2 blocks south of the fire line,โ said Quanesha Moore, the churchโs director of communications. โWhile weโre fortunate to not have suffered any major damages to our property, our congregation has been greatly impacted. Over 90 of our members have been displaced, 42 of which lost everything. It has been devastating to watch our congregation and our community suffer.โ
โThe devastation has been riveting, and it has changed the very scope of our lives,โ Pastor Jon DeCuir said in a video. โThere are at least twelve pastors whose homes have been burned down. There are another ten churches that have been burned to the ground.โ
Immediate Relief Efforts
As soon as the disaster occurred, the church became a hub for those in need in the community. In the initial weeks since the fires were contained, โweโve been working diligently to provide immediate relief to anyone impacted by the fire.โ They helped connect neighbors to food, blankets, clothes, short-term housing, and other emergency supplies.
The church began creating systems to connect people to resources quickly and manage the vast scope of the disaster. โAt the onset of this crisis,โ Moore said, โwe started a database and mini-call center to track the needs of people, get them connected to resources, and provide follow-up for care and support as they transitioned from one short-term housing solution to another.โ
โTo date, we have personally called and followed up with over 600 families impacted by the fire,โ Moore saidโa stunning feat given the deep needs of their own congregation.
DeCuir cites the importance of collaboration and partnership with other congregations as critical to Victory Bible Churchโs efforts.
โBecause of the generosity of people near and far,โ Moore said, โweโve given away cars to people who lost theirs, mobilized over 400 volunteers, and distributed over 10 truckloads of essential items, including things like food, water, and air purifiers.โ
โWeโve seen God show up in some miraculous ways to say the least,โ Moore continued. โFrom unexpected donors to divine partnerships, weโve been able to give away over $800,000 relief aid to families and individuals in need. That is almost our entire budget for the year.โ
โThe best part of it all is hearing peopleโs stories and really seeing Godโs hand at work in every interaction and connection,โ Moore said.
The Current Need and Long-Term Vision
While many initial needs have been met, the recovery is far from over. In many ways, itโs just beginning. Victory Bible Church is shifting its focus as the community moves toward the long work of full restoration.
โWhile we still hope to provide immediate aid where needed,โ Moore said, โwe have moved into phase 2 of our plan which focuses on helping families stabilize and regain a sense of normalcy by providing housing, self-sufficiency resources, and essential infrastructure, like stable transportation and income replacement.โ
As the focus of recovery efforts shift, the scope of the disaster becomes even more clearโas does the immense effort it will take to help the community recover.
โOne of the biggest challenges weโre facing in the process is simply not having enough financial resources to serve everyone,โ said Moore. โThe gap between insurance and FEMA and what people will need to rebuild and restore their lives is so great. We want to be able to provide wrap-around services and support, which also presents as a challenge if weโre unable to hire an adequate number of staff members.โ
It will take many months for families to rebuild, years for the community to recover. From the outset, Victory Bible Church has had its eyes on long-term recovery for the neighborhood. Many families in their area have been there for three to four generations, and the church wants to ensure that this rich history and deep rootedness is preserved.
โOur ultimate goal is what we call the Legacy Land Project, which is designed to ensure long-term recovery and empowerment by providing comprehensive support in rebuilding, legal protection, financial stability, and emotional healing.โ
A Call to Believers Nationwide
For families to rebuild, for the city to recover, for the church to fulfill its missionโVictory Bible Church needs the help of Christians and churches across the country. After the initial disaster, itโs all too easy to forget about the needs of those recovering from the fires. โThis will be a long process and the level of generosity and care will need to rise exponentially,โ said Moore.
โThis isnโt just about rebuilding a city,โ reminded Moore, โitโs about rebuilding lives and restoring legacy.โ
Victory Bible Church is poised to help its community for the long haul, but they need support. โThe best way Christians and churches across the country can help is by leveraging their influences, resources, and relationships. This looks like financial support and fierce advocacy for those who are most vulnerable and in need during this time.โ
In addition, DeCuir shared one simple request: โPray for us.โ
Please go to https://vbcpasadena.org/eatonfire/ to find out more about Victory Bible Churchโs relief efforts and donate to help people in need.
Melissa Wuske is a freelance editor and writer. She and her husband, Shawn, and their son, Caleb, live and minister in Cincinnati. Find her work online at melissaannewuske.com.
Author: Christian Standard
Contact us at **@********************ia.com
