Everence grants bring relief and hope to churches impacted by 2025 California wildfires
Everence distributed a dozen grants to churches throughout the Los Angeles area from February through May 2025.
Churchgoers in Altadena, California, lost homes and were displaced during the 2025 California wildfires.
More than a financial gift, this short-term grant program represented a deep-rooted commitment to walking with communities through crisis – offering practical hope and tangible support when it’s needed most.
Everence distributed a dozen $3,000 grants to eight churches throughout the Los Angeles area from February through May 2025. To receive the grants, the churches needed to be either an active Everence Stewardship Partner or part of an Everence-affiliated denomination or church network. At Wholicare Community Mission Church, located in Pasadena, most church attenders were displaced due to the wildfires.
The church received a California Wildfire Assistance grant and disbursed it to members to buy food, pay utilities, and afford repairs. Another one of the grant recipients, Royal Dominion International Church in Los Angeles, used the funds to provide food, rent money, and cleaning services for those whose homes were impacted by the fire.
“The community's experience was that of fear, sadness, and the loss of lifetime memories of their lives together, which cannot be replaced,” Olufemi Fatunmbi, senior pastor of Royal Dominion, said. Despite the crisis, the church family came together to assist one another, he added.
“Church families opened their homes for affected members. It sparked a fellowship and sharing that has led to lifelong friendships,” he said.
The California Wildfire Assistance Grants and Everence Sharing Funds are just two examples of the many ways Everence and its members provide financial support to those in need, through the organization’s long-standing commitment to community investment, grant-making, and charitable giving.
“Our African churches that are members of the African, Belizean & Caribbean Mennonite Mission Association cannot thank Everence enough for the mutual aid of grants awarded to assist our brethren in times of need,” Fatunmbi said.