Building Update
Thank You For Your Prayers
October 30, 2007
Comments (10)
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for and offered support to us these recent days following the fire destruction of our preschool and church building. Thankfully, all we lost was a building and no lives were harmed or lost. We are grateful and humbled by the love and support we have received from our Malibu and local communities, and by the prayers and pledges of help we have received from people around the world.
Our church remains a vibrant community of faith, alive and well in the
spirit and grace of our God. We cherish our resurrection faith. We
believe that in the midst of darkness, God brings forth hope and
salvation through Jesus Christ. The Lord will make something beautiful
out of the ruins and ashes of our church building. I believe we will
mature and grow stronger as a result of this challenge.
It is humbling to know that God does not give us a challenge greater than our capacity to meet it. So the Lord believes in us too. He will never leave us or forsake us. We are also blessed with a tremendous and dedicated staff, elder and deacon board. There is no one I would rather go through this with than them and you. Our current trial marks the start of something new. Our church building served our community well the past 50+ years, it's now time to build the next structure that will serve us for 50 more. With God's empowering grace I am looking forward to writing the next chapter of Malibu Presbyterian Church with you.
We also know that we are not the only ones affected by this tragedy - and that a crisis continues. As fires continue to rage across Southern California, our hearts and prayers go out to those who are fighting the fires, to those displaced from their homes, and to those who lost their homes in the fires. We are eager to learn of their needs also, and about how we can serve them in this time of crisis.
Please check this website daily for up- to-date information about our programs and services, and contact phone numbers. We will continue to keep you informed as soon as information develops. Please pass information on to people from our congregation who may not have internet access. In the interim, we look forward to worshipping and fellowshipping with you on Sundays (beginning October 28th) and participating with you in our many ministry programs.
Peace and Grace,
It is humbling to know that God does not give us a challenge greater than our capacity to meet it. So the Lord believes in us too. He will never leave us or forsake us. We are also blessed with a tremendous and dedicated staff, elder and deacon board. There is no one I would rather go through this with than them and you. Our current trial marks the start of something new. Our church building served our community well the past 50+ years, it's now time to build the next structure that will serve us for 50 more. With God's empowering grace I am looking forward to writing the next chapter of Malibu Presbyterian Church with you.
We also know that we are not the only ones affected by this tragedy - and that a crisis continues. As fires continue to rage across Southern California, our hearts and prayers go out to those who are fighting the fires, to those displaced from their homes, and to those who lost their homes in the fires. We are eager to learn of their needs also, and about how we can serve them in this time of crisis.
Please check this website daily for up- to-date information about our programs and services, and contact phone numbers. We will continue to keep you informed as soon as information develops. Please pass information on to people from our congregation who may not have internet access. In the interim, we look forward to worshipping and fellowshipping with you on Sundays (beginning October 28th) and participating with you in our many ministry programs.
Peace and Grace,
Greg and the Malibu Church family,
Please know our prayers are with you. Our God is an amazing God and He will see you through this.
Chad Neal
Blessings on your ministry. Thank-you for this faithful witness, Pastor Hughes. I am looking forward to meeting you today.
In faith,
Rev. Beth Goss, Herndon VA
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Want to say how very sorry I am to see the devastation of the church by the recent fires. A photo was carried by the Nation newspaper over here in Thailand.
I remember with great kindness and joy the community and FAITH I experienced among you a few years ago.
May that boldness of faith and assuredness in Christ's love in His own troubled times encourage you to press on each day during this troubled time of rebuilding. May what rises from the ashes be greater for the golden faith that builds upon His foundation --- both in the church and in the community surrounding you.
yours in Him
Paulette
in Thailand or thereabouts
On behalf of all of us at SOS, Malibu's outreach to the homeless, our prayers and thoughts are with you. You all have been such a blessing to our ministry and we hope to return the blessings by being available to help during this time of transition. One news channel said, "you are the heart and soul of Malibu" and we agree!
It will be a very special time to come together tomorrow evening. We have an amazing congragation!!!!!!!!!
Hi Greg,
I'm sure God is proud of the way you mentioned Him to the media. Your faith is evident and your congregation is blessed to have you as their Pastor. Or is it Father? (ha, ha) I'm happy to call you my friend in Christ. Peace be with you brother.
In Christ,
Mark Pace >
I was born the same year the church was built, in 1951. I remember the original church with the altar, choir loft, pulpit, and cross hand-carved by dear old Dr. McQuary. I learned in Sunday School while playing "This is the church, this is the steeple" that a church is defined by its members -- the body -- not its physical structure.
Now that the building has burned -- a sad, sad day indeed -- I have a Scripture for you. It's from Isaiah 61:3:
He gives me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,
That we might be trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord,
That He might be glorified.
I attended every Sunday at Malibu Pres as a child, I accepted Christ there as a teenager in 1970, made it my home church as a young adult, and was married in its original sanctuary. I loved that building. But it is you, its members, that make up Malibu Presbyterian Church. The church is now rubble and we all cry for it -- but the same God who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem will help Malibu Pres rise again. If the church could begin by meeting in the Courthouse with the choir in the jury box and the Sunday School classes in the jail, then surely they can meet anywhere!
God bless you
Bonnie Lais
Las Vegas, NV
Malibu Church,
We are remembering you in our prayers and thoughts.
Across our denomination, many are thinking of you today. My prayer for you is that God increases you
spiritually and numerically and gives you a very special ministry to all those in your area in the coming days and weeks.
In His Service,
Rev. John Burke, Ph.D.
Bonny Doon Presbyterian Church
Santa Cruz, CA
Hope that someone can put together an online photo gallery of the church and congregation pre-fire. There are very few photos of what the church looked like before it burned.
Blessings on your vibrant congregation!
Edgar Pace & AMos Pervez said:
Dear Brothers and sisters,
Just two days ago We heard a news from our a missionary partner and
friends in USA that there has been a terrible fire in the Church. This is
heartbreadking news for me and all our staff here. We extend our full
sympathy and prayers for you at this curcial time and pray for recovery
from this loss. This was such a wonderful church and we trust that God
will resotore it into even more excellent shape. may God be with you
espacially the Pastor, Mission Committee, the congregation and all the
staff.
We sent you two emails at your earlier but both came back. So we
opened your website to know the situation.
Love and regards and much sympathy to all.
Yours in Him
Edgar Pace & Amos Pervez
Pakitan Christian Recording Ministries,David Villa, Faisalabad,
Pakistan.
Email: pcrmdvilla@yahoo.com