A Live Report From San Diego By Guest Blogger and Church Launcher, Brad Graves

Dr. Floyd invited me to be a guest blogger for today and share our first hand experience of the Southern California Forest Fires.

My family and I arrived in San Diego this past Saturday after a wonderful send off and great trip across the country to launch San Diego’s newest church, Cross Church San Diego. First Baptist Church of Springdale and The Church at Pinnacle Hills are our lead sponsor in this project. However our welcome was not at all what we had envisioned over the last 12 plus months of preparation. On Sunday night we were told the forest fires in Malibu, over 100 miles to the north, had jumped to San Diego. My neighbor received a reverse 911 call to evacuate and our home was placed in the evacuation zone. We quickly decided not to enter our home and stay longer at our hotel. A few hours later the evacuation zone encompassed our hotel as well. We then accepted Scott and Deanna Grimm’s gracious offer to stay at Deanna’s parents home in Oceanside, about 19 miles up the north coast. We were finally allowed back into our home tonight with parts of our community still under mandatory evacuation. No homes in our development have fire damage but there are many within a few miles north and east of us that were lost. Our moving truck with all our furniture arrives tomorrow, that timing could not have been better.

More than once this has been called the worst fire in California history and the greatest disaster in San Diego. At least 22 fires have spread and at times combined to torch over 420,000 acres (and counting) of Southern California prime real estate. Over 1,000,000 people in Southern California have been evacuated and displaced, with over half of those in San Diego County alone. In San Diego County over 1200 structures have been burned, 1000 business have been lost, and that does not include the damage to nature and wildlife habitat. As we walked around today we had to wear a breathing masks to prevent inhaling smoke. But now the winds have died down and the many brave Firemen are beginning to contain the fire.

We have learned two valuable life lessons through this fire: First, we can accomplish more together than we can alone. Under Scott Grimm’s leadership and contacts with Deanna’s Father’s company and church we were able to distribute food to 3 evacuation centers. We did this without advertising, branding, or promoting the name of our church. When you give without regard of recognition that leaves the burden of reward on the God and not man. Bryan Claypool, FBCS short term missionary to Cross Church San Diego, has been an incredible help with this.

Second, we have learned to be sensitive to change during times of crisis and challenge. Some of our plans and steps have been changed due to these fires. Our first ministry is now compassion, our worship service options will be altered, and our community groups will be tailored to fit our communities needs. Pray for us in the coming days as we seek to minister to the real needs of our neighbors and new friends. Pray we miss no opportunity to share our faith and experience God. It will be years before the people of San Diego recover from this fire. Their is much to do here, please continue to join us in prayer, and in person when possible, as we seek to start new churches that will bring people to the Cross.

Brad Graves
Cross Church San Diego