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    An Update on LA Fires Relief & Our Commitment to Long-Term Recovery

    01/25/2025 .
    Saddleback Church

    The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
    -Psalm 34:18

    This Is Just the Beginning:

    Pray

     ,

    Give

     ,

    Go

    We’re thanking God that the fires in LA are almost contained. So many of you have raised your hands to be a part of relief efforts, and we’re so encouraged by your eagerness to roll up your sleeves and help in all the ways that are needed! We will be engaging more once officials finish their critical work and we are permitted to safely go into the disaster area.

    Until then, we invite you to continue to pray, give, and prepare over the next few weeks.

    Our response to a crisis doesn’t stop with immediate relief. We’re in this for the long haul and will be standing with the local churches and communities for the next few years to help them rebuild and recover. Let’s do this together!

    PRAY
    How can I be praying for the relief efforts?
    We are a praying church, so we invite you to first pray as God’s Spirit leads. You can also join us in praying specifically for:
    • The safety of first responders and impacted communities.
    • The 12 local churches we’re supporting and their leaders as they serve their congregations and communities.
    • The 7 schools in Altadena destroyed entirely by fire.
    • The churches and community leaders who are working tirelessly to care for the needs of their communities while also experiencing their own loss.
    • Churches like ours as we prepare to help through giving, going, and rebuilding.
    GIVE
    1) I want to donate a specific item. How do I do that?

    Our church partners distributing supplies in Pasadena and Palisades are moving from providing essential needs to specific immediate needs. You can continue to help meet immediate needs by bringing items from the requested donations list below.

    Requested Donations:

    All requested donations should be new and/or with the original packaging. You can drop off supplies to any of our California campuses.
    • Air Purifiers
    • Backpacks with school supplies
    • Gift cards (Gas and Visa)
    • Laptops or iPads
    • Suitcases
    • Water
    2) Can I give financially to the relief efforts?

    Yes, you can give online to our Relief Fund. 100% of donations will go directly to support impacted communities and churches.

    GO (SERVE)

    We expect the devastated areas to remain secure for at least the next few weeks; during this time, we’re forming teams, training, and preparing to mobilize once permitted.

    There are four ways you can serve:
    1. Our main partner in disaster relief is On Mission Network. They are one of only three groups that are allowed to go in under VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). We’re working through On Mission Network to host specific trainings, such as PPR training (personal property recovery/ash out), clean-up training, etc. To register for specific trainings, complete the registration form here.
    2. If you are a medical professional and/or have a specific heart to pray for patients, learn more about our wonderful partners at Epicentre Church who are running medical mobile mission work: Epicentre Church Serving Opportunities.
    3. We’d love every person who signed up for relief efforts to attend one of our spiritual first-aid training sessions. Dates are coming soon (in person and virtual).
    4. If you’re close to the Lake Forest campus, our main distribution center is located at Ministry Office 2. There’s no prior registration needed—just come during hours of operation! All ages and abilities are needed and welcome.

      Hours of Operation:
      • Tuesday-Friday: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, 1:00–6:00 PM
      • Saturday: 3:00–6:00 PM
      • Sunday: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM

    How does our church respond to disaster relief?

    There are four phases that we strategically engage with in responding to disasters.

    Phase 1: RESCUE (When crisis is active)
    We follow the lead of the First Responders and local city/county agencies (eg. Red Cross, FEMA, etc).

    In this phase, we are asking: "How can we help right now?"

    As a church, we do three things in this phase:
    1. Pray for first responders and our impacted community.
    2. Reach out to our families, friends, and loved ones.
    3. Be a clear conduit for accurate information.
    Phase 2: RELIEF RESPONSE (Responding to immediate needs)
    Typically during Days 1-7, we get Emergency Relief to local churches in the community impacted.

    In this phase, we are asking: "What are the ways we can engage?"

    As a church, we do three things in this phase:
    1. Pray for unity in churches and for believers to share hope in our community.
    2. Collect and distribute much needed supplies.
    3. Begin orientation and training meetings (this typically happens during the first 3 weeks).
    Phase 3: RECOVERY (Short-Term Restoration)
    Once it’s safe to access and city officials permit, we begin the restoration phase (typically Weeks 2-4).

    In this phase, we are asking: "How can we help people rebuild their lives?"

    As a church, we do three things in this phase:
    1. Join efforts on the ground with partners (e.g. On Mission Network and local churches).
    2. Deploy Care and Support (chaplaincy) teams.
    3. Continue collecting supplies and distributing for specific needs.
    Phase 4: REBUILD (Long-Term Relationship)
    This phase typically starts Month 2 and is ongoing.

    In this phase, we are asking: "What can I do to make a lasting impact?"

    As a church, we do three things in this phase:
    1. Coordinate and send Build Teams with partners (e.g. On Mission Network).
    2. Continue building deeper relationships with our partner churches.
    3. Share progress updates and testimonies of the work being done.

    Questions? Email relief@saddleback.com.

     
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