In 1983, Hope Lutheran Church burned almost...

In 1983, Hope Lutheran Church burned almost to the ground, leaving a heap of ashes on Melrose Avenue and a disheartened congregation ready to call it quits.

Next week, the church will jubilantly celebrate its 50th anniversary.

What happened over the last nine years is a story of spunk, tenacity and a creative spark that ignited a force more powerful than the fire.

After the catastrophic blaze--a still-unsolved case of arson--the pastor and members considered abandoning the site that their church had occupied for 41 years and merging with another congregation.

But the flock decided to stay put as a symbol of hope to the community. They deliberated on a course of action. A year later, the Rev. Mark Rasbach, inspired by Jesus’ parable of the talents as told in the Book of Matthew, decided to give each of the 120 members a $10 bill, with instructions to use their talents to make the money grow.

A historian led a tour of Melrose Avenue. A chiropractor gave checkups for donations. Rasbach raised $1,000 by serving a seven-course meal in his home for $50 a head. In two weeks, through a variety of creative fund-raisers, the congregation raised $47,000.

As the rebuilding began, they continued to worship on the charred site, sometimes under a tent, wearing hard hats when necessary.

The creative money-raising continued and became a tradition. The most famous project was a 160-ton rendition of ancient Jerusalem by sand sculptor Todd Vanderpluym, unveiled on the site on Palm Sunday in 1986.

A 15,000-square-foot church was erected in 1985. What arose from the ashes was not only an impressive structure, but a new sense of identity for the congregation.

Rasbach said there has been a decision since the fire to reach out to the community. The church now houses service and social activities, including a dozen 12-step groups for recovering addicts, a high-risk infant care program and child care, a resource center for battered women and children and an emergency food program.

Membership has more than doubled since 1983 to nearly 300.

Hope was originally Methodist and located about a mile away. It was moved to Melrose in 1926.

The church will celebrate with a worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25. Agnes McClain, assistant to Bishop Roger Anderson, will speak and retired Bishop Nelson Trout will deliver the sermon. Afterward, a new courtyard will be dedicated.

The festivities will culminate in a banquet at the Hotel Nikko in Beverly Hills. The church is at 6720 Melrose Ave., Hollywood. For information, phone (213) 938-9135.

GATHERINGS

The National Italian American Foundation and the Italian government will present a conference titled “Italians and Jews: Rescue and Aid During the Holocaust” Sunday and Monday, Oct. 25-26, at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The event is co-sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee.

Speakers include scholars from Italy, the United States and Israel, as well as Italy’s ambassador to the United States, its minister of justice, the editor of a Rome newspaper and a Holocaust survivor. For registration information, phone (213) 655-7071 or (310) 466-8000.

Emmanuel Presbyterian Church of Thousand Oaks will host a conference, “The Holy Spirit and the Presence of God’s Kingdom,” next Friday and Saturday. Don Williams, pastor of Vineyard Christian Fellowship in La Jolla, will address the general sessions. Several workshops will be offered. About 500 people from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles are expected to attend.

Registration is $10. Reservations are not required. The address is 588 Camino Manzanas. (805) 498-4502.

Global Village ‘92--featuring replicas of nine subsistence habitats from four continents, and a “quilt of unity,” containing hundreds of squares designed by schoolchildren and university students--will be held Oct. 22-31 at the Stahl Center for World Service at Riverside’s La Sierra University, which is sponsoring the event with the Seventh-day Adventist Development and Relief Agency. Jon Robertson will conduct a concert of European, Latin American and African liturgies at 4 p.m. on the final day. Admission to the Global Village is free; concert tickets are $5. For information, phone (714) 785-2000.

DATES

Tibetan meditation master Sogyal Rinpoche, author of “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying,” will speak on “Living Up to Death” at 8-10 p.m. next Friday and conduct an all-day seminar, “In the Light of Death,” next Saturday. The events will be held at the Scottish Rite Memorial Auditorium, 3147 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. For information on admission prices and scholarships, phone (619) 755-3941.

Immanuel Baptist Church of Compton will sponsor a workshop, “Coping: When the Going Gets Tough,” at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. next Saturday. The Rev. Ronn Elmore, pastor of counseling at Faith Central Church in Los Angeles, will speak. Admission is free; donations accepted. The address is 506 E. Laurel Street. (310) 635-6537.

Father Michael Engh will examine how pioneers of many religious faiths and cultures came together to build Los Angeles. His presentation, “They All Pulled Together,” sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of Southern California, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. The talk will be at the Jewish Community Building, 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Admission is $7.50, $5 for members. (213) 653-7740.

CELEBRATION

Louise Robinson Chapman, a former missionary to Africa and leader of the missionary auxiliary (Nazarene World Mission Society) for the Church of the Nazarene, celebrated her 100th birthday Oct. 9.

A resident of Casa Robles, a retirement home for Nazarene missionaries in Temple City, Chapman has worked throughout her retirement years to raise money for the Nazarene World Mission Radio Fund.

Please address notices to: Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, Calif. 90053. To receive consideration, an item must be brief and arrive at least three weeks before the event.