As wildfires swept through Southern California, destroying homes, displacing families, and leaving entire neighborhoods in ashes, K-LOVE’s Crystal Thornton spoke with former professional baseball player and pastor Andrew Baxter about how he and his church community have stepped in to help survivors rebuild their lives.
(Hear the full conversation between in the podcast below)
Baxter, who serves as the Young Adults and Outreach Pastor at Summit Christian Church, immediately mobilized his congregation to respond with compassion and action. Together, they have cleared burned properties, distributed essential supplies like food and protective gear, and offered emotional and spiritual support to those who have lost everything.
"When the fires hit, we knew we had to pivot and make this our new focus," Baxter said. "There are over a thousand homes that have been destroyed, so that's a thousand families who’ve lost everything."
Summit Christian Church partnered with The Abiding Church, led by Pastor Trenton Mueller, and other congregations to form a unified disaster response network they call the “Church of LA.” This grassroots coalition has been granted access to fire-ravaged areas that were otherwise locked down allowing them to help families sift through the ashes, searching for heirlooms and keepsakes among the rubble.
"It’s just devastating, it looks like a bomb went off," Baxter recalled. "But even in the tragedy, we’re seeing doors open to share the hope of Christ. Families who would never set foot in a church are coming to us for help."
Baxter, who has long used his platform for good, has helped distribute more than $10,000 in grocery and essential item gift cards every two weeks to those in need. Through connections with major retailers, he has also secured direct donations to maximize relief efforts.
His personal connection to the crisis made the work even more urgent. When the Castaic fire broke out, it nearly destroyed his sister’s newly purchased home and threatened his boat—both located just blocks from the advancing flames.
"There was fire to our east, south, and then suddenly west, up in Castaic near where I store my boat and where my sister just bought a house. We had to negotiate with the National Guard to get in and move it. We prayed over the lot, and miraculously, nothing in that lot burned. Her house was spared too."
Despite the chaos, Baxter stood with his sister, garden hose in hand, defending her home for 48 hours. Their courage and faith were matched by a miraculous outcome: not a single home on their block was lost.
In addition to his relief efforts, Baxter continues to host Ignite, a night of worship he founded to bring the gospel to a wider audience. The most recent event was delayed due to fire season, but he hopes to turn the next one into a benefit concert for fire victims.
"We had to push the Ignite worship night back, but now, we’re looking at turning it into a relief concert. Something that not only brings people together in worship but raises support for those who are rebuilding."
As the region begins to heal, Baxter is urging the broader community to get involved. Donations of funds, gift cards, and supplies can go a long way in helping families recover.
"The needs are great, but we’re committed to walking alongside these families for the long haul," he said. "With God’s help and the generosity of this community, we believe real transformation is possible."
To come alongside, email Andrew directly at andrew@summitchurch.la or visit summitchristianchurch.org.