What to know and how to pray for California amid wildfires
Firestorms continue to rage in LA-area
The firestorms in California continue to rage as renewed Santa Ana winds threaten the Los Angeles area until at least Thursday. The fires started Jan. 7 and have burned almost 39,000 acres, claiming at least 24 lives and thousands of structures.
The Palisades fire (the largest in LA history) was only 17% contained, while the Eaton fire was 35% contained as of Tuesday morning.
After days of destruction, many ask, “How could this happen?”
Actor and California resident Stelio Savante said he was left “seething” after seeing how some California leaders reacted to deadly wildfires that have been ripping through the Los Angeles area.
“[It has been] awful, unfathomable, unrecognizable,” Savante said of the dire situation on the ground. “I have friends who’ve lost homes that they built with their children growing up in them that have burned to the ground. So many people have lost so much.”
Savante spoke with Billy Hallowell on Jan. 10 and the outcry over the disaster response has only grown as a Change.org petition, with more than 135,000 signatures, is calling for LA mayor Karen Bass to resign. Meanwhile, the heroics of firefighters and citizens are being praised by many.
But what happens next? And how can those outside of the immediate area help?
First, we are called to pray for those in need. Pastor John Piper shares how to effectively pray for protection, even in the midst of suffering, on his “Ask Pastor John” podcast.
And one California pastor shared his first-hand experience of prayer's power in the impacted communities. Steve Wilburn, senior pastor of Core Church LA, had one simple goal: to show up with his son and fellow pastor Brentten Wilburn and minister to those suffering.
“This is the most liberal part of L.A. that you’re gonna get,” Wilburn said. “This is the people that … support the most liberal things, but let me tell you — there was no liberal action going on today. It was all people in need and they were crying out to God.”
Everyone aside from one individual took Wilburn up on his prayer offer — and he even read the Bible to some. And none of these individuals were Christians, something he found notable.
Despite the destruction, miracles and stories of survival are being shared, like the Calvary Church of Pacific Palisades being undamaged despite being in the direct path of the fire. Or how a statue of the Virgin Mary was found intact after the Eaton fire destroyed the home of Peter and Jackie Halpin home.
The family gathered to praise God for almost four decades spent in the house and their impromptu acapella rendition of Regina Caeli is going viral on social media.
