Faith in the Flames: Stories from the Southern California Wildfires w/ Matt Hocking

SPEAKER 01 : 0:00

Well, hey, it’s Mike Train with Crawford Media Group. I’m here with the president of Hope for Today, Matt Hocking. And Matt, thanks for taking some time with us. Thank you for having me. Hey, Matt. So we want to talk about the fires in L.A., what God’s doing there, some personal experiences you’ve had. Tell us, first of all— But you know what? Let’s do this. Hope for Today is heard on all of the stations where this interview is going to be heard. KBRIGHT, KCBC, and KLTT. Go to your respective websites where you can hear David Hocking and Hope for Today. That’s Matt’s father. Matt is now the president of Hope for Today. And Matt, tell us about the L.A. fires. That’s affected you and some people you know. So what’s going on there right now with the fires?

SPEAKER 02 : 0:43

Well, as many know, the wildfires in Southern California have been quite severe. I mean, just really, really bad, especially with the prolonged dry conditions. Strong winds have been just out of control here. But they’ve created an environment where these fires just spread so rapidly that the firefighters are just laboring day and night. To contain the flames, many families have been displaced. It reminds me of Romans 8.22, which says, For we know that the whole creation groaneth and traveleth in pain together until now. And the fires underscore how life is so fragile. And creation, it prompts everyone to turn their hearts to God in prayer and compassion for those who are affected.

SPEAKER 01 : 1:26

Matt, you and I have talked. This provides some amazing ministry opportunities and chances for people to share. Tell us some of those you’re seeing and what you think folks listening to our stations can do.

SPEAKER 02 : 1:40

Well, you know, our offices are in Tustin, right? But I’m in Huntington Beach, which is obviously not under immediate threat. But the air quality has been impacted tremendously. just to the next level. You get outside, you feel that smoke just kind of gets in. I have a son who just, he can’t go playing out on school, kind of keeps him in because the air quality is so bad. But there’s a concern for everybody nearby, whether you have lung problems or whatnot. But then I’m thinking right there, just a hop, skip, skip, and a jump, these people are just have lost their homes. It’s moments like these that Psalm 446 where it says, God is our refuge and strength. I just find that just everybody, if we turn to Him, that’s where I’m finding my refuge and strength. And I hope that it stirs both gratitude for our safety, but a heartfelt resolve to help others any way we can. And trials, I think, test our faith. Well, not only test our faith, but they also draw us closer as a community, demonstrating the comfort that only the Lord can provide.

SPEAKER 01 : 2:46

Matt, we have a daughter down there, and she said… What they’re experiencing is kind of this wonder, this stress, this constant pull. Even as you and I record this, now the winds are starting to pick up again. There’s just this worry that pervades. Even the people that weren’t evacuated might be miles away. They’re saying, well, is it coming for me? Are we going to have to evacuate? It’s going to be get out of here now and everything’s gone.

SPEAKER 02 : 3:18

Yeah. It’s amazing because that fire just turns on a dime, too. And you think you’re fine, and all of a sudden it’s, boy, did that thing move fast. Go ahead.

SPEAKER 01 : 3:29

Your dad preached about this and talked about this so much. Talk about where we do have safety and how we can help people that are having that fear.

SPEAKER 02 : 3:38

Well, many people view Southern California, especially L.A., as just a highly secular place. But I believe this is exactly where the light of the gospel can shine the brightest. You know, in Matthew 5, it says, we’re the light of the world, right? So our light’s got to shine before men, but they may see our good works. So we’ve got to get out there and really, whether it’s, you know, because we have churches offering shelter and ministries who are distributing supplies, believers who are comforting those who are hurting, you know, and that could be, you know, a text, a call. You know, there’s so many people who need our help.

SPEAKER 01 : 4:11

Matt, tell us about, it’s affected some people you know directly. A couple of those stories, just so people can get a sense of, again, what’s happened, but what God’s doing too.

SPEAKER 02 : 4:23

You know, it is amazing to see how many people are connected to somebody who lost their home. You know, I had a dear friend of mine who had to evacuate on short notice, taking only a few essentials with her. And you think about that when you’re leaving and your house is burning and you got to go, you know, what do you take, you know? Um, because they weren’t planning on it two days ago. And, uh, you know, despite the fear and uncertainty, she found refuge among believers who opened their home to her. And I thought, isn’t that showing Christ’s love? You know, it just, it just simplifies Galatians six, you know, bear one another’s burdens, fulfill the law of Christ. So, you know, seeing her church community now, it’s not, um, in my church, cause obviously I’m, I’m, uh, you know, a few miles south of her. But her church community just really stepped up so quickly. I think that’s a powerful testimony, Mike, of faith in action. You know, reminding us that even in the face of tragedy, God’s people can shine a light of hope and support.

SPEAKER 01 : 5:19

Yes, absolutely. And you have another story, too, that you mentioned.

SPEAKER 02 : 5:23

Yeah, yeah. And I have a family member also who lost a barn, just burned right to the ground. And it, once again, turning on a dime. You know, that fire just, you know, from before on the other side of the hills just turned on a dime came right back the other way before you know it everything’s just everything’s aflame you know and uh and they barely got out with their lives but the uh you know the lord had his hand but so when everything just burning around you you know it’s just you know you think about that as an impact for the individual like what if everything burned here right now you know i mean it’s just stuff but but At the same time, it’s everything. You know, your family, everybody’s safe.

SPEAKER 01 : 6:07

We’re speaking with Matt Hocking, president of Hope for Today. The program is Hope for Today with David Hocking. So as we unpack this, then there is kind of the secular nature of L.A. and a lot of us, you know, we see that. And then there are also you’re seeing churches and organizations mobilized. Talk to us about that. What are you seeing? Right.

SPEAKER 02 : 6:32

Well, you know, like I said, it’s a place with a salty earth, with a light. We want to shine right now. And this is where the mission field is. You know, we are right here. And so what do we do? Like, if I was going to make a difference, right? You know, first, I want everyone to pray. And that’s the number one thing, you know. First Thessalonians tells us to pray without ceasing, right? In 517, we got to lift the firefighters who are risking their lives up in prayer. The families who lost their homes or just destitute with nothing left, got to pray for them. And the leaders also who are coordinating relief. I know we can, you know, throw the… finger blame it and we need to pray for them they need prayer just like the rest of us because someone died for us you know and we get out there and share the gospel these people but but you know you can do that by well there’s places you can volunteer obviously you know in the nearby shelters or community centers that need supplies or just like an extra pair of hands but um third just getting to reputable organizations you know um that you know churches um anywhere that is where they need something financially. I think mostly, though, Mike, if I was going to say something, it’s reaching out on a personal level as well, whether it’s a text, a call. Because James 2.17 says, even so faith without works is dead. So it could be just that simple call, text, or gesture, and that provides profound comfort and reminds somebody that they’re not alone because a lot of these people do feel alone. Especially you see people who just lost their homes. They just look around. They need prayer and they need support. They need a friend. Yeah. Good time to share the gospel too. Really great time to share the gospel.

SPEAKER 01 : 8:15

You know, Matt, almost all of us have someone that if you talk to them and say, you know anybody out that have been affected by the fires? Well, you know, I have a friend who their friend was, their family member was. Right. You just said it’s not that hard to personally find an opportunity to encourage somebody that was affected by these fires.

SPEAKER 02 : 8:36

Yes. Especially as time goes on, because, you know, we forget about it because we go back into our lives. Yet these people are still needing their help. You know, they still need, they lost everything. I heard that time and time again, people lost everything. And just rethink about it from your perspective. How are we showing God’s love if we’re not helping?

SPEAKER 01 : 8:56

I heard five years, probably at a minimum for rebuild, just because things are so hard to do in California. Yeah.

SPEAKER 02 : 9:05

And it’s so easy to point the finger at blame when you say, oh, well, 10 homes out there in the Pacific Palisades were Democrat. It’s like, that doesn’t matter. They lost their lives. And what would Jesus be doing? It’s like if we see a woman at the well, do we go talk? Yes, we do. We have to reach out where the Lord’s calling us. Nineveh might be over here for you, and you maybe just say, I don’t want to go over there and say something, but we need to. Because People need to hear the gospel. We’re coming to the end here, and we’ve got to share the gospel with everything that we are.

SPEAKER 01 : 9:42

I like what you said. Pray. Amen. People can stop right now and pray for those that have been affected by these fires. Number two, organizations, whether it’s Red Cross, Find a Church. It’s a quick search these days online to find churches and palisades throughout L.A., whatever area, up over by Pasadena. You can find a way to help and you can find someone that’s on the ground helping out there. And then you can point that person, possibly even connect with somebody personally to say, I want you to know I’m praying for you. Yes. Our church is praying for you. Our prayer group is praying for you. We’re involved.

SPEAKER 02 : 10:25

Amen. Amen.

SPEAKER 01 : 10:26

So tell us your dad’s program, Hope for Today. He was always that guy, the straight shooter with you. There was always hope, though. Hence the name, Hope for Today. Talk to us about that, how that can be a rock for people, too.

SPEAKER 02 : 10:42

You know, it’s because my dad has always had this saying where you say the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible. Right. Because it’s so true because the Bible is the same yesterday, today and forever. The message has never changed. And my dad has always been very clear about that with the warning, the admonition, as well as the hope. You know, I was listening to him just the other day. And it’s funny because for me personally, it’s weird because, you know, it’s, it’s that same guy who says pass the butter is preaching this message growing up. I had kind of had that, but now I just, I really hear the gospel being preached, you know, um, so profound. So, you know, um, in depth, I want to say, you know, that, that I find myself just go and grab my Bible and go, wait a minute, wait a minute. So what does this mean? You know, that was always my dad. Cause he always said, look it up yourself, study it yourself. But the fact that he was a willing vessel, you know, um, and preach so much, you know, uh, it’s, it’s just such a blessing to listen to him. You know, I, it’s kind of hard to go to other preachers to be totally honest. Yeah. You know, he’s still, yeah, he’s still dad because he’s so Billy, he’s yelling right at you, you know, but the Lord has really used him for him to be a willing vessel, you know, and, um, and, uh, just to get these ministries to see hope for today. We’ve always, we’ve always, our goal is to strive to connect with people on both a spiritual level and, but have the tangible resources. Cause my dad’s written so many books and he’s in so many programs. It’s like on the radio. Yeah. And, and it’s amazing cause they can really hit the specific area that chances are, if you have a question, there’s a book on it. But it’s funny because even in the darkest storms, like people are going through right now, the Lord remains our rock. And as we come together in unity in prayer, we become his hands and feet to a hurting world. We just got to remember to share the gospel, be that light, be the salt of the earth.

SPEAKER 01 : 12:35

Matt, I’m going to end it there because that’s perfectly said. It’s Hope for Today with David Hocking. Matt Hocking has joined us, and Matt is the president of Hope for Today. You can go to KBRIGHT, KCBC, and the KLTT websites and hopefortoday.org, correct?

SPEAKER 02 : 12:52

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER 01 : 12:53

Hopefortoday.org. Or davidhocking.org too, yep. Both ways. And you’ve got the books, you’ve got the programs and the archives. You can get archives, too, of the podcasts of the programs through the website on the station. Matt, thanks for taking the time with us. Such a blessing to have time with you.

SPEAKER 02 : 13:10

Thank you so much. I just want everyone to know, do not forget Psalm 46. God is our refuge and strength, the very present help in trouble. And I just hope this truth guides our hearts as we work together to aid those who are affected by these fires. But thank you for having me, man. I appreciate that. God bless you and keep you during this challenging time. Thank you, Matt.