In the aftermath of the 1992 riots in Los Angeles, churches payed an important role in guiding and assisting recovery efforts. The local and national press noted the efforts of religious leaders and reprinted portions of their messages to congregations and to the public at large. This study explores the texts of sermons preached to congregations on the Sunday following the riots.The goals of this study are to evaluate how religious leaders responded to this crisis and how they promoted an active role for their congregations in the recovery process. This study reveals some of the potential influences that religious leadership may have in times of crisis and the messages appropriate for such situations.