Calif. Church Destroyed by Fire Finds Strength in a Standing Cross
Members of a modest California church destroyed by the Los Angeles Eaton fire are drawing strength from their faith and hope from the lone remaining structure still standing on the site of their former building: a cross. The Lifeline Fellowship Christian Center on Lake Avenue in Altadena, Calif., was one of thousands of structures destroyed by the Eaton Fire, which ignited Jan. 7 amid strong winds and raced more than 10,000 acres before it was contained.
Members of the congregation now are meeting at a different church building about two miles away as they await the next steps to rebuild, Fox News Digital reported.
Their faith, though, is still strong. Amid the ashes and charred rubble of what once was their building, a purple and white cross stands as a testament to the loving God they serve.
"The cross still stands," Pastor Charles Dorsey told Fox News.
"It did give me hope, and I felt strength. And I was happy that the cross still stands because it's the work of the cross that we are able to be forgiven. It's the love of the cross, the work on the cross, that we're able to be redeemed. And it signifies our existence and how we're able to even have strength in the midst of sorrow.
"Right now," he added, "the physical building of Lifeline is down to ash. But the Lord promised to give beauty for it. And so we were instructed to -- let's rise from it. Let's grow from it. And we're thankful for that."
Lifeline Fellowship isn't a church filled with affluent members. It's a congregation made up of "very diverse, hardworking people," the pastor said.
"Families have owned property in the area, passed it on to their sons, sons to grandsons or granddaughter and daughter. And it's just a beautiful place to live and raise a family and a great place to have a church," he said.
Days after the fire, more than 40 people entered the church's new temporary home, ready to worship the God who spared their lives. The theme that Sunday was "beauty in ashes."
Margaret and Simeon Alexander, an elderly couple, have attended the church for 15 years.
"We were devastated," Margaret told Fox News. "We miss our church. Lifeline is our spiritual family."
Her husband added, "We soon faced the reality that all things work together for good."
The pastor estimated that 13 people within the church have lost their homes, and 19 have been displaced. The congregation will rebuild. It may even erect a tent in the old parking lot for a service.
"We're looking for that day … where we can look over and see the process. The process of building, looking to the neighbors' homes and communities and see them building," Dorsey said. "People driving up the street, stopping because they hear the Word of God or they hear music. Feeding people, loving people, listening to people, all the things that make a rich community. And Altadena is that and so is Pasadena."
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/NBC News
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published January 31, 2025.
