Congregation devastated after fire roars through decades-old church in Pomona

A congregation is heartbroken after a fire roared through a church in Pomona on Sunday. 

The Victory Outreach Church, located at 177 W. Monterey Avenue, was getting ready for a holiday program when the flames tore through the building overnight.

Firefighters, who were first dispatched to the scene at around 2:30 a.m., were finally able to extinguish the blaze hours after it started at around 6:15 a.m. The church appeared to be a total loss, according to firefighters.

Monica Flores, a congregant, shared that the church was preparing for a Belief Play, which was the church's Christmas production that was expected to be followed by the toy drive. 

"It was really important to us," Flores said. "It is just our way to bring people in the community together. ... It is just a chance for us to share our hearts with people and to share God with people and to save some souls during this time of the year."

Despite the devastating fire, hundreds of Pomona residents still gathered for the holiday event late Sunday afternoon, making sure that the 600 children who were going to be given toys could still enjoy their Christmas. 

The church, which was formed in the 1980s specializes as an inner-city ministry, with a focus on those who have a history of drugs, according to congregants, who shared that the church has been vital to their lives.

"We specialize in inner-city ministry with a focus on those who have a history of drugs," said one of the congregants. "I was one of them ... and we're all trudging out of darkness and this is a place where we find hope."

"At the end, the building is going to be burned down but the church is still going to be standing because we are the church," said Reverend Robert Garcia. "We know we are going to come out stronger and something is going to come out better from all of this tragedy."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.