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Church's Wooden Cross Remains Untouched as Wildfires Rage Around it

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Symbols of hope shine a light on the darkest of times. For the victims of the Camp Fire in California, hope is everything in the wake of this devastating tragedy.

The town of Paradise, in particular, has suffered severe losses. According to Fox News, around 95 percent of Paradise had been consumed by the wildfire.

But wonderful things have been happening despite all that’s been lost. One man handed out $1,000 checks to the students and staff at Paradise High School.

Another man who wanted to help gave a single mom who lost everything a free RV. For those who care to look, faith, love and hope are strong in this town.

What some might call a miracle occurred at Our Savior Lutheran Church. The 54-year-old church building and its parsonage burned to the ground, but one thing survived the flames.

“This is our one true hope in the midst of tragedy that cannot be destroyed by anything,” Pastor Brandon Merrick wrote on Facebook. “God is with us. God is holding you right now.”

Merrick lived in the church’s parsonage along with his wife and two children. They were forced to evacuate the grounds on Nov. 8.

Little did they know, a couple would find refuge in that church parking lot. “It was the first moment we felt safe and believed we would survive this horrific event,” Tyler Frank told Fox News. “We were grateful to be there.”

Frank and his significant other, Elizabeth Osborn, snapped a photo of what remained in that parking lot and shared it on social media. There’s no question as to why the photo has gone viral — look at that cross!

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“I hate this picture. However, I also love this picture,” Merrick wrote. “Over the past 48 hours I have seen both the worst this world has to offer and best things found in this world.

“I have been scared for my life and lifted to a place only God can reach.” Inspiring words from a man who has lost so much.

Fox News reported the church has plans to rebuild and the congregation currently meets at a sister location in nearby Chico.

You can make donations to Our Savior Lutheran by visiting their new website. You can also help support Tyler Frank and Elizabeth Osborn, who lost everything in the fire, through their GoFundMe page.

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Sarah Carri is an avid reader and social media guru with a passion for truth and life. Her writing has previously been published in print and online by Focus on the Family and other well known media outlets. Her experience in ministry and Disney entertainment gives her a unique perspective on such topics.
Sarah Carri is an avid reader and social media guru with a passion for truth and life. Her writing has previously been published in print and online by Focus on the Family and other well known media outlets. Her experience in ministry and Disney entertainment gives her a unique perspective on such topics.

Sarah's experience as a successful working stay-at-home mom and business owner has given her the chance to write and research often. She stays up to date on the latest in entertainment and offers her views on celebrity stories based on her wide knowledge of the industry. Her success as a former preschool teacher and licensed daycare provider lend to her know-how on topics relating to parenting and childhood education.

Her thoughts on faith and family issues stem from home life and ministry work. Sarah takes time to attend workshops and classes annually that help her to improve and hone her writing craft. She is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature program and her writing has been acclaimed by ACFW and ECPA.
Education
Institute of Children's Literature, Art Institute of Phoenix (Advertising), University of California Irvine (Theater), Snow College (Early Childhood Education)
Location
Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Entertainment, Faith




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