Mobilizing Prayer and School Supplies to Help Families Recover from the Eaton Fires

Committed to Prayer and Generosity

As followers of Christ, we know that prayer is where mission begins. Arbor Christian Fellowship’s Women’s Ministry is committed to lifting up those affected by disaster, as well as those faithfully ministering in challenging places. We invite you to join us in prayer for Pastor Trenton Mueller, his church, and the families he serves in East Los Angeles.

Arbor member and faithful prayer warrior Carol Allen shared:

“A couple of years ago, we had a Christmas in August party at Arbor. There’s an amazing story in this month’s issue of Mission Mosaic about the impact of Christmas in August. Growing up, we celebrated it every year. God recently put it on my heart to focus on Christmas in August for next year’s Vacation Bible School.”

Carol’s reflection reminds us that Christmas in August is not just about giving gifts—it’s about planting seeds of gospel hope that can grow for generations. As we come together in prayer and action, we’re continuing a legacy of joyful generosity rooted in Christ’s love.

Supporting Missionary Pastor Trenton Mueller

This year, as part of the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) and North American Mission Board (NAMB) Christmas in August initiative, Arbor Christian Fellowship’s Women’s Ministry is collecting donations to support Pastor Trenton Mueller, a NAMB missionary serving in East Los Angeles. He pastors a young, multiethnic church plant committed to bringing the hope of Jesus to its community through worship, discipleship, and compassionate care.

A Community in Need

Following the recent Eaton fires, many families in Pastor Mueller’s neighborhood have lost their homes and belongings. As dozens of school-aged children prepare to return to school this fall, they do so with very little.

In response, his church is organizing a Back-to-School Giveaway to provide 200–300 backpacks filled with essential supplies for students impacted by the fires.

How Arbor Christian Fellowship is Helping

The Arbor Christian Fellowship Women’s Ministry is leading an effort to gather school supplies and gift cards to support this important outreach. We’re inviting our entire church family to participate through both giving and praying.

Items Needed:

• Backpacks (child and youth sizes)

• Spiral notebooks

• Pens and pencils

• Folders

• Crayons

• Colored pencils

• Gift cards ($10–$25) to Target, Walmart, or Amazon
  (These allow families to purchase personal or additional supplies.)

Packing Instructions

Please follow these helpful guidelines to ensure your donations are easy to process:

• Send only new items from the list above.

• Other churches are participating, so you don’t need to provide everything listed.

• Place items that could leak inside sealable plastic bags.

• Do not wrap items, as this adds extra work for the missionary team.

• Label the outside of each box with the contents for easier sorting.

A Note of Encouragement

We also invite you to include a brief note of encouragement or a written prayer for Pastor Mueller. You may include your email address in case he is able to respond. However, please understand that missionaries may receive many packages and might not be able to reply personally. Regardless, your gift and your prayers are a blessing.

Join Us in This Kingdom Work

This is a meaningful opportunity for Arbor Christian Fellowship to reflect the love and generosity of Christ to those who are hurting. By participating in this mission effort, we stand alongside Pastor Mueller’s gospel work and help children return to school with dignity and hope.

Donations can be dropped off at Arbor Christian Fellowship.

Together, through prayer and generosity, Arbor Christian Fellowship has the opportunity to shine the light of Christ into a hurting community—one backpack, one prayer, and one child at a time.