Congregants of the Altadena Church destroyed by Eaton Fire rely on faith after the loss

More than 40 people poured into a small gray and brick church in the midst of torrential rain to gather and worship God. The congregation gathered his hands and sang hymns while people continued running from the side entrance.

Lifeline Fellowship Christian Center in Lake Avenue in AltadenaCalifornia, who has been the home of some people for more than a decade, was destroyed by the Eaton fire in early January. Now, its congregants are in a host church approximately 2 miles away.

He Sunday message theme It was “beauty for ashes.” Pastor Charles Dorsy directed the church in prayer for the third time since his childhood church caught fire.

Margaret and Simeon Alexander, an elderly couple from Altadena, told Fox News Digital that they had attended Lifeline for 15 years.

“We were devastated,” Margaret said after hearing that his place of worship had long been reduced to debris. “We miss our Church. Lifeline is our spiritual family.”

“We soon He faced reality That all things work together forever “, her husband Simeon intervened from a seat on the front.

Theo Hawkins, who directed the church in worship, admitted that initially he did not want to come due to the “new norm.”

Lifeline has been part of The Altadena community For 19 years and regularly serves people for people every two Wednesday, twice a month.

“It is a great community, very diverse and workers. Families have had property in the area, they have transmitted it to their children, children to grandchildren or granddaughters and daughter. And it is a beautiful place to live and Create the family And a great place to have a church, “said Pastor Dorsy.

He estimated that 19 people from Lifeline have been displaced due to fire and another 13 have lost their homes.

More than 9,000 The structures were destroyed And more than 14,000 burned acres, according to Cal Fire, which makes Eaton Blaze one of the most fatal forest fires in the history of the gold state.

The maps show the extension of the devastation of forest fires, houses destroyed

Dr. Lisa Dorsy told Fox News Digital that there are currently phases in her place to allow residents to return to their homes. The first phase is the elimination of hazardous waste and The second is the rubble Elimination, although the process schedule is not clear.

The only thing left of the Lifeline church is a purple and white cross that is on a rectangular structure.

Slide the white bar to see fire damage

“The cross is still standing,” said Pastor Dorsy. “He gave me hope, and I felt strength. And I was happy that the cross is still standing because it is the work of the cross that we can be forgiven. It is the love of the cross, the work on the cross, that we can be redeemed.

“Right now, The physical building Lifeline is reduced to Ash. But the Lord promised to give him beauty. And so he told us to get up from it. We grow from him. And we are grateful for that, “he told Fox News Digital.

Some members of the church were able to see what was left of their worship house last week after the service, while others have not yet returned. Lifeline is waiting for the next steps to Start the reconstruction processBut the church dreams of bringing chairs and tents to the parking lot of the old location and seeing the new building while singing, praying and preaching.

Fox News Digital traveled to an evacuation zone to see the damage of the Eaton fire. This is what we saw

“We are looking for that day … where we can look and see the process. The construction process, looking for The houses of the neighbors and communities and see them building. People who drive down the street, stop because they listen to the Word of God or listen to music. Feed people, love people, listen to people, all things that do a rich community, “said Pastor Dors.” And Altadena is that, and also pass. “

Before Eaton Fire devastated his community, the four -year -old father felt called at the end of last year to begin 2025 with a message of progress. I wasn’t very sure of the moment, but it became clearer After the fire was devastated House after home and construction after construction.

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“We lost houses and our church, but we have each other,” said Pastor Dorsey from the lectern in the front of the host church as he continued his message about the search for beauty of destruction.

“Amen,” the congregation shouted. “Amen.”