Expressions Church, Christopher Spolar
After the Eaton fires swept through our city earlier this year, we—like so many—were deeply impacted. The building we worshiped in was completely lost, along with all of our equipment. As a brand-new church plant, this could have ended our story before it really began.
But instead of breaking us, it formed us.
Though our numbers were smaller, our church became stronger—more trusting of God, more united together, and more engaged with our community. By God’s grace, within weeks of the fire, we were given a new worship location with a morning service time and able to borrow some sound and video equipment. Even more, God has opened doors for us to serve our city in ways we never imagined. We’re still partnering weekly with Dena Relief to distribute supplies to families in need, and we’ve launched a Relief Sponsorship Program, committing to walk with 25 households affected by the fires—offering prayer, practical assistance, and spiritual encouragement.
We’re actively looking for more churches and individuals to sponsor families, so that every household is surrounded by a community that sees them, supports them, and prays for them.
Through it all, we’ve seen God move powerfully. Churches from across the country have come alongside us to support relief work. We celebrated Easter with double our usual attendance, welcomed many new faces, and witnessed our first baptism. To date, over $100,000 has been raised for local relief—and we’re still praying and working toward another $150,000 to meet the urgent needs of families still recovering.
Like many other fire-impacted churches, we’re now sharing space with multiple congregations. And even that has become a sign of God’s work—building a more unified church in Pasadena and Altadena. We believe true renewal in our city will come through a united church, and we’re seeing that vision take shape.
Through the ashes, renewal is coming. And we’re just getting started.
But instead of breaking us, it formed us.
Though our numbers were smaller, our church became stronger—more trusting of God, more united together, and more engaged with our community. By God’s grace, within weeks of the fire, we were given a new worship location with a morning service time and able to borrow some sound and video equipment. Even more, God has opened doors for us to serve our city in ways we never imagined. We’re still partnering weekly with Dena Relief to distribute supplies to families in need, and we’ve launched a Relief Sponsorship Program, committing to walk with 25 households affected by the fires—offering prayer, practical assistance, and spiritual encouragement.
We’re actively looking for more churches and individuals to sponsor families, so that every household is surrounded by a community that sees them, supports them, and prays for them.
Through it all, we’ve seen God move powerfully. Churches from across the country have come alongside us to support relief work. We celebrated Easter with double our usual attendance, welcomed many new faces, and witnessed our first baptism. To date, over $100,000 has been raised for local relief—and we’re still praying and working toward another $150,000 to meet the urgent needs of families still recovering.
Like many other fire-impacted churches, we’re now sharing space with multiple congregations. And even that has become a sign of God’s work—building a more unified church in Pasadena and Altadena. We believe true renewal in our city will come through a united church, and we’re seeing that vision take shape.
Through the ashes, renewal is coming. And we’re just getting started.
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