Malibu Presbyterian Church Doesn’t
Need Walls to Have Impact
• Despite Losing Its Edifice,
Congregation Celebrates the Spirit of Giving
Despite last year’s loss of their
buildings to wildfire, Malibu Presbyterian Church donated
$500,000 on Sunday toward a new teen center in central Los
Angeles to support the World Impact Ministries.
On Oct. 21, MPC’s edifice was
destroyed in the first of a series of two fires that
claimed over 70 structures and burned thousands of acres of
land, however this did not stop the church from staying
faithful to their pledge.
Just two days after the fire, the church
leadership announced their intent to follow through with their
support for World Impact Ministries: a Christian missions
organization committed to empowering America’s urban
poor.
“While we have lost a building, we
are still a church,” said MPC’s Pastor Greg Hughes.
“We are proud to partner with World Impact. Together, we
work toward a common vision—to serve our community, help
those in need and, in turn, bring Christ’s love to the
City of Los Angeles.”
The donation was given at the MPC’s
Easter Services, which were held Sunday under a tent at Malibu
Bluffs Park.
In addition to over 800 attendees, L.A.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, L.A. Councilmember Wendy
Greuel, and Dr. Keith Phillips of World Impact joined together
with the people of Malibu to celebrate the joyful holiday and
the donation.
“Malibu Presbyterian made a
commitment of $500,000 the night before their church burnt
down. When that happened, my heart dropped,” said
Phillips. “About three days later, Pastor Hughes
called saying they would honor their commitment. It was
stunning.”
World Impact will be converting a
9000-square-foot building to a community center for teens
across the street from the new West Adams Preparatory High
School, which opened in September 2007 at Vermont and the
Santa Monica Freeway.
The center is scheduled to open in 2009. It
will provide Bible study and worship classes. Additionally, it
will provide academic tutoring, counseling, mentoring,
leadership development, drama productions, college SAT prep
classes, vocational planning and music classes.
“What Malibu Presbyterian did struck
everybody in Los Angeles as an amazing act of compassion that
can only be explained by the Church,” said Phillips.
MPC continues on a trajectory of optimism
and sharing as members begin to choose architects, as well as
deal with the complexities of rebuilding.
“Malibu Presbyterian has stood as a
beacon of hope for 58 years,” Pastor Hughes said.
“We are still here. We love our city, and we intend to
continue to worship and serve the Malibu and Los Angeles
communities for decades to come.”
