‘Holding to God’s promises’: Wildfires in California

Damage from the Palisades fire is seen on Jan. 13 in Pacific Palisades, Calif. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Sarah Hjulberg

LOS ANGELES — On Jan. 7 some of the worst wildfires in California history broke out across Los Angeles County.

Firefighters battled the fires — worsened by the Santa Ana winds, which continued to spread the flames — for days before they were able to make any headway in containing them. The two largest fires, the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire, grew to 23,713 acres and 14,117 acres respectively.

As of this writing, the death toll has reached 27 and is expected to grow as search and rescue efforts continue.

Though the fires have destroyed over 12,000 structures, no congregation or school of the LCMS has burned down. Due to hazardous conditions, however, Palisades Lutheran Church in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and its parsonage have been rendered unusable for at least six months.

In addition, members of many LCMS churches, including Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, Calif.; Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Pasadena, Calif.; and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Arcadia, Calif., had to evacuate their homes when the fires grew close. And some students at Pacifica Christian High School, affiliated with Pilgrim, have lost their homes.

Historic First Lutheran Church in Pasadena, Calif., was severely affected by the Eaton fire. Many members had to evacuate and are now spread far and wide as they stay with family and friends. Six families have lost their homes, and an additional six families (who are former members or immediate family of current members) have also had total losses. One former student of First Lutheran’s school died in the fire.

Members at Palisades Lutheran Church faced the brunt of the Palisades fire. At least 16 homes of members have burned, and roughly 85% of members had to evacuate. In addition, roughly 50 families who are served by various ministries of Palisades Lutheran lost their homes, and hundreds more had to evacuate. It will be at least six months before anyone with homes still standing can return to them.

‘Just like a torch’

George Wilken, longtime member of Palisades Lutheran, said he first saw the wildfire come rapidly down a nearby hill and spread to the apartment building right next to his building.

Wilken, who has lived in the Pacific Palisades for his whole life, has dealt with wildfires before. He knew immediately what to do. He went up to the roof of his apartment building, watering can in hand (there wasn’t a hose long enough to use), and began putting out spot fires. The apartment building next door burned down, but his remained standing.

Wilken lives two blocks from Palisades Lutheran. The timely arrival of a fire truck and a change in the direction of the wind prevented the worst of the blazes from reaching the church.

“I was born here,” said Wilken. “My brother actually designed this church, so we just have a lot of roots here. I’ve been through maybe 10 fires up here, [but] this is crazy, how this fire spread. I never thought it would happen like this. I just know that if you’re around, you can put out little spot fires, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Much of the destruction Wilken saw was caused by the spot fires that started in trees and bushes.

“If the fire gets up into the canopy [of a palm tree], then it’s just like a torch, and it starts throwing [embers] out all over,” said Wilken.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 7 and 8, Wilken worked around the clock to put out spot fires that started in the blocks surrounding Palisades Lutheran. He said he got to bed around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, just for a few hours.

Spot fires continued to be a threat for the next few days. Wilken didn’t evacuate, knowing that if he left, he would not be allowed back across the security blockade; instead, he kept vigil around the church’s property, running a generator to power a refrigerator for his food and listening to the news on his radio.

He used the church’s garden hoses, sometimes stringing together three hoses at a time, to put out spot fires that cropped up. He also ran sprinklers around the property to keep the ground wet.

Even after the worst of the fire had passed, Wilken said that houses kept randomly catching on fire, started by embers from nearby trees and houses that were still smoldering.

On all sides of Palisades Lutheran, apartment buildings and rows of houses were destroyed. The Presbyterian church immediately across the street also burned to the ground, with only its steeple standing tall amid the charred ruins. Palisades Lutheran is the only Christian church still standing in the area. Its parsonage was also spared.

“The Lord was with us,” said Wilken.

George Wilken, a member of Palisades Lutheran Church in Pacific Palisades, Calif., hoses ash off the exterior walls of the church on Monday, Jan. 13. After the Palisades fire began on Jan. 7, Wilken worked around the clock putting out spot fires. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

‘Content and thankful’

The Rev. Richard Z. Meyer, pastor emeritus of Palisades Lutheran, and his wife of 70 years, Carrie, lost their home and cars in the fire. They evacuated with little warning — Carrie Meyer had time only to throw a few items into an overnight bag, and then their neighbors drove them to safety.

When he first heard the house where they had lived for 50 years had burned down, Richard Meyer recalled saying to himself, “I don’t have anything.”

“Then I caught myself, and I said, ‘Richard, the devil just got you.’ And then I laughed — and the devil can’t stand laughter. And then all of a sudden, I found myself saying, ‘Richard, you have everything.’ I’m getting meals every day. I have people checking in on me, all day long. … I’m content and thankful.”

Now, both in their 90s, the Meyers are preparing to start their lives over, praising and thanking God all the while for His faithfulness.

“This very day I said, ‘Lord, keep my heart open to be a thankful heart.’ What is life? It isn’t a house,” said Richard Meyer. “[The Lord promises,] ‘I am here to give you hope and a future’ [(Jer. 29:11)]. What a promise! The Lord told me He is with me, and He gives me the hope I need, and I have a future, though I don’t know what it is yet.”

The Meyers plan to live with their daughter in San Jose, Calif. Richard Meyer, who still preaches at area churches when needed, is already eager to figure out ways to continue his ministry in a new city.

The Rev. Dominic Rivkin (left), mission executive for the LCMS Pacific Southwest District, talks to retired emeritus pastor Rev. Richard Meyer and his wife, Carrie, on Jan. 13. The couple, who lost their own home, stayed with friends in the fire’s immediate aftermath. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

‘Walking by faith’

The Rev. Dr. Martin Lee, pastor of Palisades Lutheran, and his wife, Anne, were out sightseeing with their adult children, who were visiting, when the fires first began.

“We were actually watching [the fire] from a distance because we were taking [our kids] out to show them around,” said Anne Lee. They were miles down the coast at the beach in Palos Verdes when they first started seeing clouds of smoke billowing up from the hills.

“We just got over fires in Malibu a couple months ago, so we initially didn’t think anything of it,” she continued.

But they soon learned that the fire was in the Palisades, and that strict evacuation orders meant they would not be able return to the parsonage.

Martin Lee faces many challenges as he shepherds his flock during this difficult time. With the vast majority of members evacuated, everyone has scattered to stay in hotels or with family and friends.

Some members who lost houses may never be able to return and rebuild, as the value of their property has skyrocketed in recent years, and house insurance will simply not cover the millions of dollars it may take to rebuild a single house. These old neighborhoods will likely never be the same.

Those attempting to find temporary housing — like renting an apartment — are facing an incredibly competitive market. Other members have lost their small businesses, because it could be years before their clientele return to the Pacific Palisades.

Since Palisades Lutheran is one of the only structures in the area that has gathering space, restrooms and functioning utilities, Martin Lee has been fielding many phone calls from government agencies and non-profits seeking to use the space for relief and rebuilding efforts once the evacuation orders are lifted.

The Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, director of LCMS Disaster Response, traveled to Los Angeles on Jan. 11 to work with Martin Lee and the Pacific Southwest District (PSD) on a response plan.

“As the Palisades community rebuilds, Palisades Lutheran Church stands uniquely positioned to proclaim the Gospel to a hurting community,” said Johnson. “Despite the significant smoke damage, our priority is to restore the church so it can serve as a center for outreach and Gospel proclamation.”

“In the coming weeks,” he continued, “we will focus on how the church can support the community both spiritually and practically. Pastor Martin Lee, with his theological insight and evangelistic heart, is perfectly suited to lead this effort, showing Christ’s compassion to those in need.”

An opportunity

Lee sees the response effort as a tremendous opportunity to show the Palisades community the persistent hope we have in Christ Jesus, who has won for us eternal salvation.

“Our [Palisades Lutheran] leadership team did not seek this particular adversity, but the Holy Spirit is opening our hearts and eyes to see it as a blessing,” said Lee in a Facebook post.

“God is giving our church an opportunity to reach so many with the Gospel. … The reach into Hollywood and corporate America is truly unprecedented for our parish. … Please continue to pray fervently that we [would] have courage and … make the most of this opportunity to give testimony to the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.”

Since most members of Palisades Lutheran are displaced, it could be a long time before the church looks anything like it used to. For the time being, Lee said online worship is a good way for his flock to gather. Because of COVID, “everybody’s comfortable with online services. … We do not want to lose community.” Furthermore, being able to gather on Zoom for a “family huddle” to check up on each other and see each other’s faces will be very heartening for the congregation.

“We come in with our burdens, and the Lord lifts those burdens so that we can go back out and face [these] trials and tribulations. … This is what we testify to when we worship and praise God, and we honor Him by holding to those promises. This is our faith active in love. We have an opportunity … to put into practice everything we’ve been rejoicing and singing about on Sunday,” said Lee.

Response underway

“Through the generous donations of people across the district and the Synod, the Pacific Southwest District has been blessed to provide initial financial aid to our pastors in the fire zones who immediately and personally deliver that assistance to the individuals and families in their congregations who have lost so much,” said the Rev. Dr. Michael Gibson, PSD president. “While there are many organizations and agencies that join us in offering aid to the victims, the church alone offers that which is most important, the eternal hope of Jesus that touches hearts and heals souls.”

On Sunday, Jan. 12, Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Santa Monica held a joint service for victims of the fire. The Old Testament reading for the Baptism of Our Lord was from Isaiah 43: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. … When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” (Isaiah 43:1–2).

“I watched on Sunday as our congregations gathered as the Body of Christ, to love, to receive the life-giving Word of God and the Lord’s Supper, and to simply share one another’s burdens,” said Gibson. “It was a glorious reminder that no matter our circumstances, we are never alone. Jesus is always with us, and so is His church. It is our baptismal promise. Nothing can take that joy away.”

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Posted Jan. 29, 2025