Greater than 40 folks poured right into a small grey and brick church amid the pouring rain to come back collectively and worship God. The congregation put their palms collectively and sang hymns as folks continued to stream in from the facet entrance.
The Lifeline Fellowship Christian Heart on Lake Avenue in Altadena, Calif., which has been house to some folks for greater than a decade, was destroyed by the Eaton fireplace in early January. Now, its congregants meet at a number church roughly 2 miles away.
Defend of Religion Christian Heart in Pasadena serves as a number church for the Lifeline Fellowship Christian Heart after it was destroyed by the Eaton fireplace. (Ashley Carnahan / Fox Information Digital)
The theme of Sunday’s message was “Beauty for Ashes.” Pastor Charles Dorsey led the church in prayer for the third time since his childhood church burned down.
Margaret and Simeon Alexander, an aged couple from Altadena, advised Fox Information Digital that they had attended Lifeline for 15 years.
“We were devastated,” Margaret mentioned after listening to their longtime place of worship had been lowered to rubble. “We miss our church. Lifeline is our spiritual family.”
“We quickly confronted the fact that each one issues work collectively for good,” her husband Simeon chimed in from a seat within the entrance.
Congregants of the now-destroyed Lifeline Fellowship Christian Heart collect throughout a wet Sunday afternoon to worship. (Ashley Carnahan / Fox Information Digital)
Theo Hawkins, who led the church in worship, admitted that he initially didn’t wish to come because of the “new norm.”
Lifeline has been part of the Altadena neighborhood for 19 years and commonly serves free meals to folks each different Wednesday, twice a month.
“It’s a great community, very diverse, hardworking people. Families have owned property in the area, passed it on to their sons, sons to grandsons or granddaughter and daughter. And it’s just a beautiful place to live and raise a family and a great place to have a church,” mentioned Pastor Dorsey.
He estimated that 19 folks from Lifeline have been displaced because of the fireplace and one other 13 have misplaced their properties.
Greater than 9,000 buildings had been destroyed and greater than 14,000 acres burned, in keeping with Cal Hearth, making the Eaton blaze one of many deadliest wildfires within the Golden State’s historical past.
MAPS SHOW EXTENT OF WILDFIRE DEVASTATION, HOMES DESTROYED
Dr. Lisa Dorsey advised Fox Information Digital there are phases at the moment in place to permit residents to return to their properties. The primary section is the removing of hazardous waste and the second is particles removing, though the timetable for the method is unclear.
The one factor left of the Lifeline church is a purple and white cross that stands atop an oblong construction.
SLIDE THE WHITE BAR TO SEE THE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE
“The cross still stands,” mentioned Pastor Dorsey. “It did give me hope, and I felt strength. And I was happy that the cross still stands because it’s the work of the cross that we are able to be forgiven. It’s the love of the cross, the work on the cross, that we’re able to be redeemed. And it signifies our existence and how we’re able to even have strength in the midst of sorrow.”
“Right now, the physical building of Lifeline is down to ash. But the Lord promised to give beauty for it. And so we were instructed to — let’s rise from it. Let’s grow from it. And we’re thankful for that,” he advised Fox Information Digital.
The Lifeline Fellowship Christian Heart was burnt down by the Eaton fireplace in Altadena. (Fox Information Digital / Ashley Carnahan)
A barely burnt purple and white cross stands atop the Lifeline Fellowship Christian Heart in Altadena. (Fox Information Digital / Ashley Carnahan)
Some members of the church had been capable of see what remained of their home of worship final week after service, whereas others have but to return. Lifeline is awaiting the subsequent steps to begin the rebuilding course of, however the church has goals of bringing chairs and tents into the parking zone of the outdated location and watching the brand new constructing go up whereas singing, praying and preaching.
“We’re looking for that day…where we can look over and see the process. The process of building, looking to the neighbors’ homes and communities and see them building. People driving up the street, stopping because they hear the Word of God or they hear music. Feeding people, loving people, listening to people, all the things that make a rich community,” Pastor Dorsey mentioned. “And Altadena is that, and so is Pasadena.”
Pastor Charles Dorsey preaches from the Defend of Religion Christian Heart after the church he leads was burned down. (Ashley Carnahan / Fox Information Digital)
Earlier than the Eaton fireplace ravaged his neighborhood, the daddy of 4 felt referred to as on the finish of final yr to begin 2025 with a message of transferring ahead. He wasn’t fairly positive in regards to the timing, however it grew to become clearer after the blaze devastated house after house and constructing after constructing.
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“We lost homes and our church, but we have each other,” Pastor Dorsey mentioned from the lectern on the entrance of the host church as he continued his message about discovering magnificence from destruction.
“Amen,” the congregation yelled again. “Amen.”
