Southern Baptist churches in California — some whose buildings were narrowly missed by the recent raging fires — are rallying to help those members and nonmembers alike who fell victim to the flames. And amid disaster, Baptists are finding God is saving lives and souls.
Surrounded on three sides by roaring flames a mile away, Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, Calif., became a beacon of God’s love to families in crisis. Of the 80 people who found the church to be a safe haven from wildfires, six of them accepted Christ as their Savior Sunday morning Oct. 26.
When families in the San Bernardino County area were evacuated Oct. 25, the church opened its doors as a shelter for some 100 fire victims.
Another shelter in the area received aid form one of three California Southern Baptist Convention mobile kitchens and a portable shower unit deployed in Southern California.
In these efforts, Southern Baptist volunteers prepared 2,000 meals each for lunch and dinner Oct. 29.
In the Del Rosa area of San Bernardino, Sal Martinez, pastor of Del Rosa Baptist Church, was one of the few who did not lose his home in his neighborhood.
He rallied church members to pass out bottles of water, dust masks and 100 turkey sandwiches to those in need.
“Mostly we just ask if we can pray with them, and giving them a bottle of water opens the door to share our faith with them,” he said.
Two Baptist churches in San Diego County within the raging wildfires’ striking distance stopped Sunday morning services to evacuate and help fire victims.
First Baptist Church of Tierrasanta was saved as the fire skirted around it and First Baptist Church of Mira Mesa saw flames as close as a half mile away.
Between the first and second service, the church took food planned for a pastor appreciation lunch to the Mira Mesa shelter, which was housing more than 100 fire evacuees.
(BP)
Share with others: