Paradise church survives the flames after most of the town burns down

The First Baptist Church of Paradist, California, managed to survive the devastating fire that has destroyed much of the town (Photo: Facebook)

A church in Paradise, northern California, is still standing after most of the town was devastated by the horrific Camp Fire.

The fire - the most destructive in the state's history - has killed at least 48 people and burned down 8,800 structures.

Harrowing video footage showed desperate residents praying to God to keep them safe as they tried to escape the flames.

In Paradise, where ABCNews reports that 'most of the community [is] gone', the First Baptist Church is miraculously still standing.

A picture taken on Sunday morning and posted to its Facebook page shows the church building intact as a cloud of smoke hovers nearby.

The church has been using Facebook to help locate people and confirm their wellbeing.

Another church close to First Baptist, Paradise Alliance Church, is also using Facebook to connect members of the congregation, who like most of the town have evacuated the area.

Lead Pastor Josh Gallagher said he was praying that God would use the church to bring revival after the devastation.

'God, give us Your comfort and allow us to grieve well,' he prayed in a recent Facebook Live.

News
Peacemaking or partiality? Pope Leo and Trump's war of words
Peacemaking or partiality? Pope Leo and Trump's war of words

When the Pope and the President duel in public, is it prophecy versus power, or prayer mistaken for public policy?

Young men are demoralised, not apathetic, says report
Young men are demoralised, not apathetic, says report

A new report is challenging familiar assumptions about the struggles facing young men, arguing that the problem is better understood as discouragement than indifference.

'We want this nightmare to end' - Lebanese civilians fear for safety
'We want this nightmare to end' - Lebanese civilians fear for safety

Israeli strikes have compounded the hardship resulting from years of economic instability.

Trump deletes Christ-like AI image after backlash
Trump deletes Christ-like AI image after backlash

Trump blamed “the fake news” for alleging that the image compared him to Jesus.