Community Does Not Burn Down

During the height of evacuations, approximately 32,000 residents were displaced. President Obama visited the affected area on June 29 and declared it a major disaster, offering aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. By Sunday, July 1, firefighters reported 55% containment of the blaze.

While the devastation spared the Colorado Springs Christian Church building and church members’ homes, many disciples were affected by residential and workplace evacuations.

Several men in the congregation have been working tirelessly on the fire. Manitou Springs police officers Orian Hendrickson and Justin Pikul spent days on end working near fire lines, sometimes sleeping at the police station between shifts. Craig McLaughlin, an electrical lineman for Colorado Springs Utilities, worked 16-hour days performing mass electricity shut-offs and is now rebuilding blown transformers in the fire’s aftermath. Toby Littau is a lineman apprentice working to repair services destroyed by the High Park Fire in Fort Collins, north of Colorado Springs.

Evacuations lifted, memories of flames remain

With many of the evacuations lifted, most of the displaced families in the church have returned home. The church building is no longer under evacuation and no members of the church have lost their homes.

Still, memories of 65 mile per hour gusts blowing the fire into the city aren’t easily forgotten. “It was very surreal on Tuesday afternoon seeing the smoke and flames coming down the ridge toward our neighborhood,” says Christina Wells, whose family was evacuated shortly before the fire consumed many homes near their subdivision.

“In the days before the evacuation, with the fire slowly moving closer, I looked around our home and yard with sadness that I might never see it again. We could rebuild, but many precious things would be lost, including the wonderful wooded valley we overlook.”

But she says she has remained faithful and secure. “I have spent time in the Bible and have been reassured that God is with us and works through all things.”

The Wells’ youngest children are four, six, and seven. “To help our kids understand, I have shown them pictures of the fire and where our house is,” Wells says. “We have talked about different things that could happen, but we also made it clear that we are grateful to be safe and together and that we have all that we need. We pray together for the fire to be put out, to protect the firefighters and the homes.”

Their youngest son attends Wilson Christian Preschool near their home. April Beckel, a disciple and the preschool director, ran into the school to gather important documents minutes before the mandatory evacuation was ordered. As they went inside, her three-year-old son asked, “Mommy is that fire?” They evacuated shortly before the flames rushed down the ridge.

While the preschool was spared inside of a ring of untouched green grass, many other properties were not--including the historic Flying W Ranch, whose owners, Russ and Marian Wolfe, donated the land for the church where the preschool is located. “The ranch has a great deal of importance to me,” Beckel says. Russ Wolfe once took the children and families from the preschool on a hayride through “the once beautiful ranch that was full of horses, cows, and deer, but is now burned to a crisp.”

“My heart is thankful that the church is standing tall, but the neighborhood right across the street was in the direct path of the fire. Many families that are served by my school lost their homes which leaves me speechless and my heart devastated.”

While the Colorado Springs Christian Church and Wilson Christian Preschool remain unscathed, many families need help healing and the community needs help recovering. “The fires have, and will continue to have a catastrophic affect on our community,” says Jason Wells, director of HOPE worldwide: Colorado Springs. “As the initial shock wears off, our community members will still need physical, spiritual, and emotional support. Long after the fires have receded, souls will need to be loved.”

“We are the lifeline to the victims of the Waldo Canyon Fire,” he says.

Though the healing process will take years, members of the Colorado Springs Christian Church and volunteers for HOPE worldwide: Colorado Springs are already supporting the community. One HOPE volunteer, veterinarian Alicia Humlicek, spent a day performing check-ups on evacuated pets who were temporarily sheltered at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, and members of the CSCC gathered Thursday night for prayer and fellowship.

When their evacuation was lifted on Thursday night, the Stallworth family returned home for a short time, then went to the church building to check for smoke damage. At that time, the boundary for the evacuated area was located on the street corner where the church building is located. They brought coffee and donuts and opened the building and restroom facilities to law enforcement officers patrolling the area that remained evacuated.

“We just wanted to help in some small way, the little bit that we can do,” says Yuriko Stallworth, who works as the church accountant. The family stayed overnight, with more volunteers relieving them in the morning. The volunteers manned the church, serving officers cold drinks, coffee, food, and encouragement throughout Thursday and Friday until more evacuations were lifted and the barricade changed locations.

“This is what being a Christian is all about,” says Jason Wells. “Everyday Christians imitating Christ and providing tangible love to others.”

God’s power through us

“I’ve seen God’s power work in the ominous effects of the fire.How amazing the [fire was], how big it was, how much damage it did and could have done. God whipped up the wind with just the pinky of His hand to 65 miles per hour to make it go where He wanted it to go and then in one fell swoop He stopped the wind so that the firefighters could do something to put out the fires,” says CSCC evangelist Allen Gower.

“I truly believe that God has allowed these things to happen to show His power, and long after the fires are gone [He] will continue to show His power through us.” He says it’s a great opportunity to share our faith with a community that needs comfort and support.

Aid agencies including the Red Cross and Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado have been overwhelmed with volunteers and donations for firefighters and evacuees. Many businesses are offering free meals to firefighters, discounts to evacuees, and portions of sales as donations.

“As I look at our community here in Colorado Springs, I think what has transpired typifies the spirit of this city,” says Gower. “I feel like the city has banded together immensely. Prayer, tears, willingness to help, to jump in and do whatever it takes to get the job done. So it’s encouraging. I love living here. I’m grateful to be in this community”

And that’s the prevailing sentiment in Colorado Springs, perhaps best expressed by a piece of artwork circulating on Facebook that resembles the Colorado state flag and reads: “Community does not burn down.”

NOTE: The Colorado Springs Christian Church took a special collection for fire victims on Sunday, July 1. Donations can be made to HOPE worldwide: Colorado Springs at www.hopeww.org/coloradosprings.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Bree Abel

Director of Communications for HOPE worldwide: Colorado Springs