'Though life be wrenched away'

Lutheran, The, Jan 2004 by Fursman, Marilyn

Lutherans and Lutheran Disaster Response work to recover from California wildfires

At the 8 a.m. service on Reformation Sunday at Tierrasanta Lutheran, San Diego, the congregation sang: "If they take our house, goods, honor, child or spouse; though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day. The Kingdom's ours forever." Little did they know that within two hours, members would face the reality of those words from A Mighty Fortress.

Tierrasanta's pastor, Kenneth Licht, said members noticed flames coming over nearby hills during coffee hour. They quickly went home to rescue important documents and treasures before the evacuation order came from police.

The church building escaped the October wildfires that swept across southern California. Licht reports that police officers took a church directory so they could check on parishioners' homes. Three members' homes were destroyed.

Evacuation orders came at midnight for Vernon Jahnke, director of social services at Claremont Manor in northeast Los Angeles County. The ELCA pastor and his wife had 15 minutes to evacuate the home they'd spent more than two years renovating.

"We'd been myopically focused. This was to be our financial security," Jahnke confessed. Although their neighborhood was successfully defended, a spot fire erupted after firefighters left.

The next day the Jahnkes returned to their neighborhood. "The first thing I noticed was that our pine tree was pure black," he said. "After that it was kind of a blur. Ours was the only house gone.

"But if this is the worst that ever happens to us, we're lucky. We really have been blessed. Good stuff is going to come from this."

Worst wildfires in history

Sights and sounds of those days will stay with people for years. Fearsome black clouds of smoke burned eyes and throats; screaming fire engines and police sirens jangled nerves; lowflying air tankers and water-dropping helicopters trekked back and forth overhead. The sky took on an eerie orange glow and distant towns received a dusting of white ash. As temperatures hovered near 100 degrees, a thick blanket of smoke extended from the desert to the ocean.

The wildfires left 26 dead, displaced tens of thousands, destroyed 3,500 homes, and burned 750,000 acres in five counties across the ELCA Southwest California and Pacifica synods. It was the worst wildfire outbreak in California history, with damage estimated at $2 billion. At least two of the fires were set deliberately, officials say.

In the Pacifica Synod, ELCA member Andy Shohara lost his mother, father and brother; 11 others lost their homes; and many more had property damage. Several ELCA pastors conducted services of thanks for firefighters and law enforcement officers, receiving offerings for members who lost homes.

For fire victims with insurance, there was some relief knowing they'd be able to replace damaged or lost property. But those without insurance will need a lot of help.

"San Bernardino had already been experiencing an economic meltdown, and at least 50 percent of the victims in San Diego were uninsured," said Andrea Muir, coordinator of Lutheran Disaster Response of Southern California. One of LDR's tasks is to help the most vulnerable access available aid.

"LDR will be here up to three years," Muir said. "We act as advocates for disaster victims and help families develop a recovery plan."

In California, LDR's case management for long-term recovery is done cooperatively with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the American Red Cross, as well as local Methodists, the Episcopal diocese, and other Protestant groups.

Other congregations affected include:

* Highland Avenue Lutheran, San Bernardino: Pastor Mark Johnson reported the loss of their intern's house. "She had five minutes to grab and go, saving pictures, important documents and baby clothes for her toddler and newborn," he said. The congregation is planning to help her rebuild and has received many helpful calls from Pacifica Synod Bishop Murray Finck and staff.

* Our Savior Lutheran, Simi: Pastor Gary Stevenson drove around the neighborhood checking on members' homes. He said two members, one a veterinarian, went into the canyons to help save some horses. In all 3,000 horses and 260 dogs were rescued.

Fursman is The Lutheran 's Southwest California Synod correspondent.