“Deadliest U.S. Wildfire Since 1918”

BPC’s selected recipient* for this year’s Peace and Global Witness Offering will go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance  (PDA) in their efforts to support those responding to the recent catastrophic wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, which authorities are calling “the deadliest natural disaster in state history.”  

At least 115 people have died in the fires with many still unaccounted for.  Thousands of acres burned, thousands of buildings — mostly homes — destroyed.

PDA has already released two emergency grants to help provide immediate care and cover the basic needs of  those adversely affected.  They are coordinating with groups already there with “boots on the ground,”  including a local United Church of Christ congregation.

The magnitude of this tragedy, however, will require the development of long-term projects and assistance.  Years of recovery lie ahead. 

Your gift to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will  extend the hands of Christ to those who have suffered immeasurably.  So please give generously as well as continue to hold the people of Maui in your prayers.  

Matthew 25:37-40

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

BPC is a Matthew 25 Church! Matthew 25:31–46 calls all of us to actively engage in the world around us, so our faith comes alive and we wake up to new possibilities. Convicted by this passage, Brentwood Presbyterian Church joins our denomination, the PC(USA), to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned or poor.

The themes of the Matthew 25 invitation are grounded in the gospel. Jesus calls us to serve with and for “the least of these” — not as a group to be pitied, but as people who are deeply loved by Jesus. This loving commitment to radical and fearless discipleship has three focuses:

• Building congregational vitality by challenging congregations and their members to deepen and energize their faith and grow as joyful leaders and disciples actively engaged with their community, seeing new disciples engaged in ministry and longstanding believers develop in faith as the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared in word and deed.

• Dismantling structural racism by fearlessly applying our faith to advocate and break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice and oppression of people of color.

• Eradicating systemic poverty by acting on our beliefs and working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.

· Link to BPC’s INTERNATIONAL MISSION PARTNERS

· Link to BPC’s SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE