Romans 13:9b-10: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."

The Camp Fire of 2018 destroyed the town of Paradise, California, killing 85 people and destroying more than 18,000 structures. Two years passed before all of the ash and dead trees were removed from the area. By 2023, only one-third of the population of Paradise had returned to rebuild. Now considered a fire-prone area, homes in Paradise are nearly impossible to insure against wildfires.

In 2023, United Methodist pastor and videographer Ryan Grace viewed the aftermath of multiple wildfires across several communities in Northern California. He and his wife, Mariellyn, a West Ohio staff member, spoke to survivors of the Camp Fire that struck Paradise, met with church members who had volunteered to help neighbors both near and far after numerous burns, and learned from leaders who were adopting more sustainable ways of life to protect themselves and their communities from future blazes.

'Spreading Like Wildfire' is a 4-Session Bible Study that invites you to come face to face with the human toll of climate disasters; to examine the United Methodist Church’s teachings on Global Climate Stewardship; to celebrate people who are creating new and innovative ways to build local resilience to the global crisis of climate change; and, to ask: What does it mean to love your neighbor in the age of climate change?

The 'Spreading Like Wildfire' documentary, which focuses on wildfires, disaster response, and climate change in Northern California, is now available to churches and other groups. Contact mgrace@wocumc.org for more information.