Apocalypse Now! – Greg Albrecht
For decades, residents in Southern California have talked about and feared “the big one.” The Big One has almost exclusively been thought of and prepared for as a devastating earthquake. Now, many are saying the January 2025 wind-driven fiery inferno is at least “a” Big One, assuming a horrific Big Earthquake is yet to come.
Commentators are speaking of these January 2025 Apocalypse Now raging wildfires, driven by ferocious winds, igniting a parched landscape in desperate need of rain, as perhaps the single most devastating natural catastrophe to ever befall Los Angeles.
In the early evening of Tuesday, January 7, fierce, erratic gusts and gales grew in intensity, becoming hurricane-like winds experienced all over Southern California. Sometimes reaching more than 100 mph, in ways yet to be determined, these winds ignited or propelled many individual fires (one must hope none were deliberately set) – the wind acting somewhat like a blow torch for existing sparks or flames.
Destructive wildfires, large and small, started Tuesday night, January 7, and during the early hours of Wednesday, January 8, burning thousands of structures, businesses and homes. The Eaton Canyon fire affecting Plain Truth Ministries, our offices, work and staff, is the second largest of all the numerous individual fires. Hundreds of homes have been lost, among them residences of acquaintances, friends and current or former neighbors of our staff, including friends and partners, supporters, listeners and readers of Christianity Without the Religion/Plain Truth Ministries.
The sheer magnitude and scope of all these simultaneous fires crippled firefighting resources. Savage, tempestuous winds kept water and repellant-dropping aircraft (normally effective in fighting massive conflagrations like these) on the ground. Calls went out to nearby states to send machinery and firefighters.
In at least two locations, the needs of water were so great that municipalities ran out of water. Officials explained they had adequate water reserves but they could not pump it into the system fast enough to keep up with firefighting demands. At times, television newscasts showed a home burning up, with several fire trucks parked in the street, without water to battle and extinguish the blaze. Sadly, looters decided to prey on the remains of burned-out homes and businesses, attempting to profit from the misery of others.
In the aftermath, as recovery and firefighting efforts continue, grief and heartache overwhelm Southern California. It’s somewhat like a war zone. Memories are up in smoke. Survivor guilt plagues those who escaped. Many are in a state of shock. Air quality, given the smoke that pervades everything, is toxic. Officials advise that tap water should be boiled before drinking. Whereas “Have a nice day” used to be a greeting or a goodbye, now many favor saying “Stay safe.”
Everyone on our staff and team here at PTM is actively helping neighbors, friends and family as we can in a variety of ways. That said, two of our staff have evacuated from their homes for at least one night – one of our staff members is without electricity and, from all estimates, will be for several days.
When the COVID pandemic hit, Plain Truth Ministries did not even think about pausing our operations. Many businesses, closed by the government, had no recourse, but media was allowed to continue. As a media ministry, our staff continued wearing masks in our shared workplaces, keeping a safe distance from one another, and disinfecting our offices and workplaces, but our mission was undeterred.
This January 2025, Apocalypse Now momentarily shut down the power in our offices, as well as our tech and electronic outreach… but heroic efforts on the part of many have ensured that we only experienced a slight pause. As Christ leads and lives in us, empowering us, by God’s grace we do not intend to allow this Big One to minimize, impede or obstruct our Christ-centered mission, purpose and work. We deeply appreciate your prayers and support – our faith is strengthened, and we recall those comforting words from Paul:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Greg Albrecht
President, Plain Truth Ministries and Team CWR/PTM
Plain Truth Ministries | Box 300 | Pasadena, CA 91129-0300
