Tod Bolsinger

Mission in the Midst

While Rev. Greg Hughes and Malibu Presbyterian start to work their way through the rubble and pull their community of faith together in life and witness, another pastor friend, Rev. Neal Nybo reports that 57 members of Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian church lost homes in the recent fires.

While our church evacuation site has been able to close up shop and begin the process of moving the ample amounts of donated goods onto partners and other organizations who continue to work with evacuees, today a team from our church will travel to Tijuana to build homes and offer support to a church partner with Baja Christian ministries.

When we recognize how vulnerable every one of us is to unexpected tragedy, it only inspires to live lives of compassion for all.

The Rebuilding Begins

The skies remain full of ashes,the schools were canceled and none of us are back to normal by a long shot. While the fires are no longer on national news, some still burn. But last night at the end of our prayer service, we received word that the families evacuated from Camp Pendleton were allowed to go home.  So those who had fled in the middle of one night were home the next and we give thanks to God for that grace.

Others are still homeless, some will be for a long time.  But one way or another rebuilding is beginning. Here Pastor Greg Hughes looks over the damage of what was once a beautiful, welcoming sanctuary.

If you'd like to help the good folks at Malibu Presbyterian, click here.

Fires and Friendship

500,000 people have been evacuated from Southern California homes because of the ongoing firestorm.

Early, early this morning 21 people showed up in our church parking lot after fleeing their homes in Fallbrook.  When we were able to get them into some comfortable rooms in our church, they told us that they were members of Fallbrook Presbyterian Church.   They didn't know where to go, so they headed to a Presbyterian church that is outside of the burning area, knowing they would be safe to stay there.  We are so glad they did.

Today, the members of our church are being lined up to take in families who are being evacuated from San Diego neighborhoods. One of our elders is organizing the effort and our church will become the "base camp" for those who need a place to go.

Please pray for the many, many families in LA, Orange County and San Diego County, the firefighters who are stretched to the breaking point and the many small acts of friendship that can make all the difference.

Update Wednesday Morning: The number of displaced now exceeds 1 Million people according to reports. Families from Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton are being evacuated and our church is privileged to welcome them.

Tragedy, Perspective and Witness

Doris Stephens, the wife of our church's unofficial "pastor emeritus" came into the prayer room before the second service yesterday to tell me that Malibu Presbyterian Church had burned to the ground in the recent California fires.  Doris' daughter-in-law, Valerie is the sister of Malibu Presbyterian's Pastor, Greg Hughes.  Greg is a friend and colleague going back 15 years. I met his wife, Kay 20 years ago at Forest Home.  And about 12 years ago I was the speaker for Malibu Pres' family camp. When Malibu was looking for a new Senior Pastor some years back, I had the privilege of being a reference for Greg.

Yesterday in two of our three services we announced the loss of the church and prayed for them.  After the service, I sent an email to Greg with my prayers and support.  Greg's leadership in this tragedy is unmistakable.  As he told the LA Times, “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.”

Indeed God will.  What some may not know is that  Malibu Presbyterian Church has often been in years past the center of relief efforts when fires and floods have hit Malibu.  This church is known for being a true Christian community that cares for it's larger community and no doubt they will do far more than simply look after themselves.  The Mayor of Los Angeles has already commended Greg and Kay and the church for being the center of support for others.

I commend you also to the blog by the Children's director at Malibu Presbyterian (where I got the picture above), another honest and faithful voice of witness in the middle of tragedy.

Greg, Kay and all of the Malibu Presbyterian Congregation, may the peace of Christ that passes all understanding be with you.

UPDATE:  Greg Hughes on Fox News last night when asked what his church is going to do: Well, you know, we're an Easter Faith people, so you know on Friday, it looked like things were bleak for Jesus, but we saw that Jesus rose again. And our church is a resurrection church. We'll gather again. We're going to regroup again...and we believe we'll be stronger as a result of this.

2nd Update.  Here is a video link to Greg speaking on CNN, including some pictures of what the church looked like before the fire.

An Incomplete Marathon, A Completed Goal

Our SC Marathoners for Malawi Team took part in the Chicago Marathon today in temperatures in the 90s that were over 22 degrees above normal and with 86 percent humidity.  The unusually hot temperatures led to the death of a Michigan man. ( My heart goes out to his family.) As well as an most unexpected conclusion: The Race Organizers canceled the race because their were so many people going down with heat exhaustion and the City of Chicago had no more ambulances left (300 people were hospitalized.)   

Most of our runners were not able to complete the marathon and even those of us who did, did so, "unofficially."  (I finished but only after being ordered to walk the last two miles.) To make matters worse, the organizers did such a poor job with stocking the Aid Stations, many runners had to go with no Gatorade or water for up to seven miles in the scorching heat.  While there were many very disappointed runners, most of our Team World Vision Crew had a different perspective.  We ran for people who live in a very hot place and often don't have water.

So, while the race itself was disappointing, our goals were fulfilled and we had a most memorable experience and  will have many stories to tell...and maybe made a bit of difference in this world.

$25000, 88 degrees, 72% Humidity, 26.2 Miles

All for this little guy and his friends.  This was the first friend I made in Malawi and his is the face I kept before me in the training.  Now, tomorrow morning we are off and running.
Thanks again to all of you "back home."

Off to Chicago!

Our San Clemente Presbyterian Church Marathoners for Malawi Team is off to Chicago to run Sunday's Chicago Marathon with a team of 500 runners representing World Vision.

As a team, we have now raised $24,585 both online and offline. Which means we are just a little over $1600 from reaching a team total of $26,200 or $1000/mile. 

Thanks to everyone who has supported us, is cheering us on and is helping us to make a difference in a little country in Africa.

"Joy in his blood..."

Robert Browning's poem that made the Athenian herald Pheiddipides famous for his run from Marathon to Athens to tell of the victory over the Persians, is credited for creating the myth, romance and renaissance of the Marathon.  The "joy in his blood" was announcing the good news of a battle won. (Of course, ole' Pheiddy dropped dead at the finish line..)

On Sunday, Our team of Marathoners for Malawi Team is also running with great joy and with good news to some children in Malawi.  We have raised over $20,000 together as a team. (Our new goal is to get to $26,200 or $1000/mile).  With this money the leaders of the Malawi Area Development Project can decide what to do:  Keep building their first school, putting in a new well, get medicines for those with HIV/AIDs, give resources to children whose parents have died.

I sure fills me with joy to think about what a group of folks going out for a run on the shores of Lake Michigan can do.  Thanks for supporting us. If haven't yet and you still want to, go here.  Or here to my own sponsor page.  I'll try to blog from Chicago as the race nears.

6 days, $7875 to go...

The Chicago Marathon is just six days away and so far our SC Marathoners for Malawi team has raised a total (both online and offline) of $18,325.  That means if we can raise $7875 more dollars together in the next week, we'll have raised $26,200 or as a team $1000 per mile. 

We have trained hard and tried to spread the word and now we are ready to run. If you have already supported us, thank you very much. We will run for you and because of you.  If you'd like to support us, you can do so here at our team roster page, or here at my own sponsor page. (I am personally $800 away from $5000, my own personal goal.)

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead