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A Request for Prayer
By Mark D. Roberts | Monday, October 22, 2007
I want to interrupt my regularly scheduled blogging to put up a request for prayer. No doubt many of my readers have seen the stories related to the fires in Southern California. You may even have noted that Malibu Presbyterian Church burned to the ground in the still-out-of-control fire in that seaside city. This is sad news, indeed.
The remains of the sanctuary of Malibu Presbyterian Church
I have known Malibu Pres over the years. It has always been a vital, Christ-centered community. This church has a heart for mission, especially outreach to the nearby campus of Pepperdine University. The current pastor, Greg Hughes, is a friend and a faithful, godly man. My heart is heavy for Greg and his flock today. It must be a devastating experience to watch your church buildings burn to the ground.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Greg explained that he rushed to the church at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday morning when he recieved a call telling of fire near the church. At first he and his colleagues hurried to remove valuable items from the buildings, but then they were forced to evacuate. Greg watched the church campus burn on television. (Another photo of the sanctuary on fire. For the news clip from which I took this still photo, click here.)
What does one say at a moment like this? Here’s Greg’s conclusion: “We didn’t lose any members. We only lost a building. We’re going to regroup. We believe God will make something beautiful out of ashes.”
Many headlines read “Malibu Church Destroyed.” That’s true with respect to the building. But the real church, the people of Malibu Presbyterian Church, were not physically hurt. They are still a strong congregation. Of course they now face major challenges. But the church survives because the church is people, not buildings.
Please join me in praying for Malibu Presbyterian Church and for its fine pastor, Greg Hughes. Let’s add prayers for others in the Malibu area who have lost homes in the fire, and for firefighers throughout Southern California who are putting their lives on the line this very moment.
Added: The Children’s and Family Ministries Director of Malibu Pres has a blog, with some pictures and open-hearted commentary. Thanks, Kristi, for sharing this with us. .
Topics: Prayer Requests |
4 Responses to “A Request for Prayer”
Comments
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October 22nd, 2007 at 10:08 am
Mark, thank you so much for your wonderful words. I read your blog frequently. I’m the Children’s and Family Ministry Director at Malibu Pres. It means so much to know that so many of this body of Christ we are in are thinking of us, praying for us, and showing the kind of love that blows me away.
I look at my journey and see how God has prepared me for this time, and know that this only goes on to refine me…grow us…make us more like Jesus.
As I have been looking through my pictures, it struck me that we take pictures so often of places unfamiliar to us…trips to cities we don’t live in…events that come and go. Though they are meaningful…and remind us of these times, it is so apparant that life is all of the ordinary moments…and the pictures we cherish are glimpses of that ordinary when it is gone.
It’s childhood bibles, college portfolios, and a quilt that my former church Newhall Pres created for me upon my departure that I grieve. The essence of a place where I have experienced God, held hands with sisters and brothers, prayed and taught children who Jesus is.
But…as Greg said…we will rebuild…our hopes and hearts and the building…will be rebuilt. Thank you to anyone who is reading this an is praying for us!!!
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:15 am
This reminds us
“don’t go to church” but “be the church”
We will keep praying for you Malibu Pres. You will impact your community maybe more than ever now.
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:13 pm
[…] Massé has called our attention to the fires in California and calls on us all to pray. So does Mark Roberts, and he notes that Malibu Presbyterian Church has burned to the ground. Here are two pictures of […]
December 25th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
Please pray for the salvation of my best friend Sohrab, he is a non believer of the Zaurastrian faith, he believes that Jesus is not the only way to the Father but one of many ways. He is presently in India on a secular mission trip, I ask that the Lord take him off his track just as he did Saul, and renew his spirit. I ask for the Holy Spirit to hover over him and empower him. I ask that the Lord remove the blinders from his eyes and enlighten him with his presents. I ask that the Lord have mercy on him as he transforms him in this country. Let him come home with a testimony that praises the Lord Jesus every day of his life. Give him revelation that Jesus is the only way to the Father. I feel an urgency and a pressing from the Lord to call on the Lords prayer warriors to intercede for this young man, please come along side me and present this man to the Lord. Bless you.