Right after the Eaton Fire, I witnessed incredible signs of unity among the local churches in Greater Pasadena as they came together to help fire victims. There was an urgent need to respond quickly, and the growing connections among local pastors became a launching point for large-scale relief efforts—reaching out to evacuees, establishing collection centers for food and water, and gathering essential supplies for those displaced by the fire. It was a powerful and much-needed movement led by the churches.

However, just a few days later, I began to feel uneasy. While the large-scale response was necessary, I sensed that something was missing—something I wasn’t hearing from the pulpit. I realized I was hoping for a clearer call to the people—an encouragement for more grassroots, spontaneous engagement with the people directly rather than waiting for the church to organize everything.

This blog article was born out of that experience.

The Challenge After the Eaton Fire

After the Eaton Fire impacted Altadena and Pasadena, church leaders have been organizing large-scale relief efforts. While these initiatives are essential, they require a significant number of volunteers and have already become exhausting for pastors and leaders.

I recognize the value of pooling resources and personnel to provide assistance on a broad scale. However, I also see this moment as an opportunity for churches to strengthen their community connections—not just through organized events led by pastoral leadership but by encouraging members to engage in simple, everyday acts of support, love, and kindness. By trusting members to take initiative—whether individually or in small groups—without always waiting for church-directed plans, the church can have a more genuine and far-reaching impact.

Breaking the Cycle of Dependence on Church Leadership

Traditionally, church leaders have been the primary organizers of outreach efforts, which can sometimes limit members from acting independently. If every community engagement requires prior approval or direction from leadership, it fosters a dependence on structured church events. This may stem from a lack of trust in members’ ability to interact with the community or uncertainty about how to empower them effectively. In reality, it reflects a deeper issue—the absence of intentional training and trust-building in the church’s practices.

Local pastors need to encourage their congregations with a clear and direct message: 

“Go and love people. Listen to them, pray for them, bring them a meal. Open your homes for gatherings where you can eat, share, and pray (and/or worship). Collaborate with others to help and minister. Welcome your neighbors, hear their stories of loss, fear, and instability, and be the light of God to them.”

This kind of encouragement can motivate church members to be active in their communities, serving as the hands and feet of Jesus. It releases them from the need for top-down structures and empowers them to engage in organic outreach. Some church leaders, who tend to focus on long-term planning and organized efforts, might find this approach a bit unsettling. I recently spoke with a pastor of a large church about this idea, and he found it to be a fresh perspective amid his concerns about how to respond. It wasn’t something he had considered outside of structured, long-term solutions.

A Shift Toward Everyday Acts of Love

By promoting simple, everyday acts of love in the name of Jesus, the church can become more relevant and responsive to the immediate needs of the community. This approach aligns with the principles of servant leadership—emphasizing empowerment and support rather than centralizing all ministry efforts within church programs.

My hope and prayer for the church is that it embraces this other opportunity (alongside larger, long-term efforts) for organic, daily outreach, allowing its members to act independently and compassionately in serving their families, friends, and neighbors.

A Wake-Up Call for the Church

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Christian leaders initially recognized that God was calling them to change. However, many failed to seize that divine momentum to reevaluate how church was being done or to reshape ministry and leadership methods in a way more aligned with the teachings of Jesus. In general, I believe the church missed the transformation God was calling it to.

Now, here in Southern California, in the wake of these fires, I again sense the same strong call from the Lord to wake up and change.

I pray that we move forward and do not return to the past!