Franklin Graham weighs in on whether God is 'judging' Hollywood with Calif. fires

“I just want you to know this tonight — Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” Franklin Graham shared at BGEA's God Loves You Tour in Birmingham, England., adding, “Jesus Christ loves you.” | Courtesy BGEA

Evangelist Franklin Graham has weighed in on whether or not God is “judging” Hollywood as fires continue to ravage Los Angeles, destroying entire communities and leaving thousands homeless.

“People have lost everything. A lot of people are asking ‘Why?’ and that’s a hard question to answer. We want to reassure them of God’s love — that He cares for them and that He hasn’t turned His back on them,” Graham, the CEO of Samaritan's Purse, said when asked about the fires, which have killed at least 24 people and swept through 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area.

"Could God be judging Hollywood? I don't know, but I don't think so,” he continued. 

Convoy of Hope, CityServe, World Help and Send Relief have also launched relief efforts, while Zoe Church, led by Pastor Chad Veach, is partnering with organizations like the Los Angeles Dream Center to collect and distribute emergency supplies for victims of the fires.

On social media, Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Church has repeatedly encouraged Christians to pray for a reprieve from the blazes and recently set up a donation fund through his church to support relief efforts.

“Let’s join together in prayer for the brave firefighters battling the devastating wildfires here in Southern California. Pray for their safety and strength as they work tirelessly to contain the blazes. In the aftermath of this tragedy, let’s also pray that people in our state turn to God, who alone can bring ‘Beauty out of ashes.’ (Isaiah 61),” he wrote in a Jan. 13 post.

Jack Hibbs, pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, recently blasted “horrific politicians” and labeled California a “third-world state,” citing what he described as profound leadership failures in the government’s handling of the fires.

“California is a third world state. … I have asked someone to run for governor, pleading with him to run for governor, he told his congregation. “He lives in the San Francisco Bay area. He loves America. … He moved from Europe because he loves California. ... Steve Hilton.”

Hibbs added, “Democrats … destroyed America and California,” referring to what he saw as government mismanagement.

On social media, Hibbs contended in a Jan. 8 post that environmental regulations worsened the crisis, alleging that state officials’ water policies resulted in “our environment … a scorched earth policy.” He wrote, “Every single Democrat in California must go, and we will do everything we can to help them pack in 2026.”

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Paul Jude is a gifted wordsmith and storyteller who serves as a writer for Across Tribes Missionary Society. With a passion for sharing the gospel through compelling narratives, Paul crafts inspiring stories, articles, and devotionals that ignite faith and fuel spiritual growth.