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Where There’s Smoke . . .

October 23rd, 2007

The Stevenson Ranch Fire from my backyard(By Nathan Busenitz)

As most of you are probably aware, we are experiencing massive wildfires here in Southern California. What you may not know, however, is how those fires are affecting those of us at Grace Community Church.

Though the church itself is outside of the Santa Clarita Valley (located south in the San Fernando Valley), many of our church members and staff (myself included) live in Santa Clarita. (In fact, the slightly blurry picture at the top was a snapshot I took from my back balcony.)

A guess would be that at least 50% of our people come from Santa Clarita, where Grace to You and The Master’s College are also both located. Several of our staff pastors had to be evacuated yesterday (Monday), as did a number of other families in our church.

On the map below you can see how the fires were affecting Santa Clarita yesterday afternoon (the red exclamation marks represent road closures due to fires nearby). Grace to You, as you will notice, is very close to the Castaic Range Fire. (On a side note, just south of the map, where the 5 and 14 freeways meet, is where the terrible tunnel collision occurred just over a week ago.)

In the midst of it all, we are rejoicing in God’s sovereign control over the natural elements, including the wind which is what is making these fires difficult to contain (cf. Amos 4:13). We know there is no reason to be anxious; and we are looking for opportunities to serve our communities while also reaching them with God’s glorious gospel.

We would add, finally, that we do deeply appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

(For an updated map of fire-related activity in Santa Clarita, click here.)

Fire Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Miscellaneous |

26 Responses to “Where There’s Smoke . . .”

  1. on 23 Oct 2007 at 5:02 am   Oratai

    We will be praying for you. Our Lord is sovereign and also faithful.

    Tai

  2. on 23 Oct 2007 at 5:46 am   Josh Buice

    We will be praying for you, your staff, and your church during these days. It is during the times of severe trials that God will often grow our faith to higher levels. May that be the case for you and your entire church body.

    All for the glory of God!

    Rev. Josh Buice
    www.deliveredbygrace.com

  3. on 23 Oct 2007 at 5:54 am   Pastor Mike Lovely

    My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    I am attending a conference at Prestonwood in Plano, TX. Please know that we are praying for each of you! Our prayer is that God will keep you safe as you seek to minister to so many hurting people in your midst.

    God bless you!
    Pastor Mike Lovely
    Queen City First Baptist Church

  4. on 23 Oct 2007 at 5:59 am   Carla Rolfe

    You’re all in our family’s prayers, to be sure.

  5. on 23 Oct 2007 at 6:06 am   Mrs. Burrows

    Thanking God while also praying His will. Won’t say that is so easy to grasp.

  6. on 23 Oct 2007 at 7:57 am   Danna Schmiedt

    Please post on your website what we (from far away) can do to help the fire victims. Will there be a fund drive? We are concerned and praying for all of you.

  7. on 23 Oct 2007 at 8:11 am   connie @ practicing theology

    We received a call through our church’s prayer chain last night shortly before 10:00 p.m. (rare at that time of night) alerting us to the situation and calling us to prayer. We have a number of church friends and family in your area–some former and current students/families. Most definitely praying…

  8. on 23 Oct 2007 at 8:53 am   Jenn

    I am praying that the fires will cease, that the Lord may so graciously and mercifully provide a rain that will put them out, that He would calm the winds, that He would protect His people, and give them urgency in getting His great gospel to the people in California.

  9. on 23 Oct 2007 at 9:09 am   Phillip Johnson

    Thanks for the map. Darlene has been looking for that info. We saw that your neighborhood had been evacuated, and we have been praying for you guys.

  10. on 23 Oct 2007 at 9:13 am   Nate B.

    Thank you all for prayers and concern.

    The fires by our house (on the west side of Santa Clarita) have moved farther west (away from us). However, a new fire sprung up last night on the east side of Santa Clarita. The police are suspecting arson. This new fire is quite close to The Master’s College, and poses a new threat to residents on that side of the valley.

    Also, I received an email this morning from the pastor of Faith Community Bible Church in San Diego. He asked us to pray for him and his church down there. So far, nearly 300,000 people have been evacuated in San Diego and the surrounding areas.

    - NB

  11. on 23 Oct 2007 at 11:46 am   Michael and Joan Reeves

    Nathan…

    We are so sorry to see (on the news) the destruction that is taking place in Southern California, the Grace Church area, and in the area where so many church members live. We are praying for all of you and thanking the Lord for the ministry.

  12. on 23 Oct 2007 at 12:12 pm   Dave N

    Wow! What a crazy few days! Many of us in Santa Clarita have been evacuated, myself included, and it was kind of a cool learning experience. Well… let me explain. The fire department banged on our front door yesterday, telling us to leave immediately. Okay. We have to leave immediately - But, what do we grab? We told our young children to grab things that they valued most, but could not be replaced - they had 5 minutes to fill up a large duffle bag. It was interesting to see the things that they valued most. My youngest grabbed some toy glasses because her sister gave them to her. My middle one grabbed some dolls that were given to her by grandparents, and my oldest (10 yrs old) grabbed his pictures, notes from mom, trophies, and Bible. My wife and I packed up pictures, important documents, pictures, videos, pictures, camera, and more pictures. Upon returning home (no damage from the fires) we had a great time discussing why we chose what we did and what the proper focus should be on the “treasures” of this world. Thanks for this post Nate!

  13. on 23 Oct 2007 at 12:26 pm   Frank Emrich

    We at Valley Bible Church are praying for all of you and the citizens of California. Also we are praying for those brave firefigthers and thier families,. We have two students at Masters College and was wondering if the school has been evacuated. I have not been able to reach thier parents. May God protect you all..

  14. on 23 Oct 2007 at 3:25 pm   Bill Lawless

    God bless you all. We are praying for you.

  15. on 23 Oct 2007 at 3:38 pm   Jeff Flora

    We’re praying here in the “Heartland” of Kansas. May God move in and through you all as you seek to glorify Him in this trial by fire.

    Dave N.

    Thank you so much for sharing your story. I will be using it tomarrow morning in family worship.

  16. on 23 Oct 2007 at 4:27 pm   jen elslager

    You are in our prayers as well. And I pray that there will be much opportunity to minister.

  17. on 23 Oct 2007 at 5:18 pm   tia

    We are praying for all of you down there.

  18. on 23 Oct 2007 at 6:53 pm   Bryan Turley

    You all are in our prayers. I was just reading how over 1 million have now been evacuated.

    We will keep you in our prayers and we pray that the Lord will use this opportunity to be able to enable us to reach out to those affected by the fires.

    Ptr. Bryan

    Heavenly Manna Ministries Int’l

  19. on 23 Oct 2007 at 10:30 pm   Tiaan Boshoff

    Heard of the fires on our news here in South Afric. Praying that while officials say nothing can be done - that the Power of God be demonstrated in many miracles.
    Grace to you!

  20. on 24 Oct 2007 at 6:57 am   Filipe Niel

    There are many brazilians praying for you, we are thankfull for your ministry and we trust God will use it all for your good, thus make you all more like Christ.

    God bles you all.

    Pastor Filipe Niel

  21. on 24 Oct 2007 at 9:34 am   Tom Sullivan

    Dear Friends:

    Across the miles, we in the East will pray for the sovereign hand of our great God to use you in these fearful times for His glory and praise.

    By Grace Lone,

    Pastor Tom Sullivan
    Seven Springs Presbyterian Church
    Glade Spring, Virginia

  22. on 24 Oct 2007 at 11:26 am   Mr. and Mrs. Custer

    Our prayers go before the Throne of Grace on your behalf and many others. We pray for your perseverance and the opportunities to come. We have been blessed by your ministry, The Master Seminary and Grace to You.
    Psalm 71:14 “But as for me I will always have hope, I will praise you more and more”

  23. on 24 Oct 2007 at 3:01 pm   debbie

    Dear John, Phil and Nathan we at First Baptist Dallas are praying for you. All those who listen to KCBI are praying too.

  24. on 24 Oct 2007 at 3:06 pm   Larry Mayo

    Nathan - Thanks so much for this post(map). I have two grandsons at Master’s who are keeping us somewhat informed. We here at our church in S. Texas are praying for you and that God will use this disaster to reach many with the gospel. God bless and keep you.

    Pastor Larry Mayo
    Country Bible Church
    Taft, Texas

  25. on 30 Oct 2007 at 12:19 pm   Jeri Stevens

    I live in Edmonton, AB, Canada, and often when there are disasters in California (fires, earthquakes) I immediately think of Grace and all you down there. Thankfully God has continued to protect you and His ministry to enable you to keep of preaching the truth. Please put a map link (pic of California) on your home page with the location of Grace Comm Church and Master’s College - so we know where you are (when we see ‘maps’ on the news) and in the event anyone is travelling in your area, they could visit. God works in mysterious ways!

  26. on 31 Oct 2007 at 9:50 am   Olga Chvorun

    My husband and I will be praying for you. We live in Brush Prairie, WA. We have two members of our church (Word of Grace Bible Church) attending Master’s college (my cousin included). both of our pastor’s graduated from your seminary and we feel very blessed and thankful to be able to see God working through your ministry.
    We know and pray that “All works together for good, for those that know the Lord”. May He continue blessing you and protecting you in this time, that you may continue to be used by Him in preaching His Word and be tools in His hands to lead more brothers and sisters to Christ. His ways are always perfect, maybe it’s just a situation like this which He will use to bring more people to seeing the gospel, through your lives. We truly thank God for you and pray for your safety daily.
    May God bless you all.

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