Thank you for your support and prayers so far.  Please pass on the following through your networks.

In one way or another all of us have been greatly affected by the devastating bushfires in Victoria over the weekend of February 7-8. For some of our churches this has been very personal. It has meant the loss of property, in some cases housing, and in one case the loss of life of a leader. For some, it has been the loss of loved ones or friends, or knowing others who are experiencing tragic grief because of death or property loss. For others all this has been real but surreal, from a distance, as we have observed disturbing footage and images via the media. For yet others, it has re-connected them with an earlier grief, sometimes caused by fires, or by other disasters. This impact will go on, in different ways, for a long time. These are indeed tough times. We all want to do something, to make a difference, to offer help and hope to those whose lives have been so suddenly and indiscriminately changed.

I’m sure most of our churches have already been praying for people right around the state who have been impacted by the fires. I know that you will continue to do so. With regards to Churches of Christ, at the time of writing, we are aware of the fire’s impact on members of the following churches. Please join us in praying for them, their ministers and for their communities.

Horsham (senior minister Simon Risson). Property losses, including sheds etc.
Latrobe Regional/Morwell (no minister currently). Property and housing losses.
Warragul (ministers Tracey and David Ware). Property losses.
Wallan Gateway (a joint CofC/Baptist church plant, minister: Andrew Adams). Property and housing losses. One death.
Bendigo (minister Andrew Colquhoun). Some temporary evacuations, but no losses.
Upper Yarra (Yarra Junction, minister Malcolm Clark). Fire surrounded the area, precautions were taken, all are OK.
Foothills (Ferntree Gully, minister Steve Barrington). Some temporary evacuations.
Nillumbik (Eltham, minister David Buesnel). Members in the affected areas, but no reports of impact.
We have yet to hear back from Churchill Co-operating Churches (minister: Bob Brown) and River Valley church (minister: Andy Bennett, although we know their community support office has been inundated).

In partnership with the Council of Churches of Christ in Australia (CCCA), and as an immediate, emergency response, the Vic/Tas Conference has today put in place the following actions:

(a) We will make an immediate donation of $10 000 from the CCCA National Disaster Fund (NDF) to the current Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal,

(b) We will release a further amount of up to $10 000 from the NDF to enable local churches impacted by the fires to make small grants/gifts to those in need in their community,

(c) We will invite churches and members nationwide to support the Churches of Christ CareWorks 2009 Bushfire Appeal. All donations to this appeal will be distributed to the current Salvation Army or Red Cross Bushfire Appeals in Victoria or to enable local churches impacted by the fires to make small grants/gifts to those in need in their community.

We believe it is realistic to have a target of $100 000 for this Appeal. Donations over $2 will be tax deductible, when made on the attached form, by cheques made out to Churches of Christ in Vic/Tas Community Care, or by credit card.

(d) We will invite churches in Victoria to make pastoral skilled people resources available for support of people in the areas affected by the fires through the Victorian Council of Churches Disaster Plan. Support is already being given to people through the VCC Emergencies Ministry. Please notify the VCC office on (03) 9650 4511 regarding your church’s response capacity.

(e) We will seek the support of churches nationwide to replenish the NDF as early as possible.
 

Prayer Gathering

For Melbourne metropolitan churches, One Community Church (184 Surrey Rd Blackburn) is holding a special time of prayer in response to the devastation resulting from the bushfires on Tuesday 10 February commencing at 7pm.

One’s Ministry Team is concerned for those who have lost everything and especially those associated with One and other church communities who are grieving the loss of family members and friends. All are welcome to join in this time of prayer, to seek the presence and power of God, and to ask Him to meet with those who struggle with the outcomes of this horrific event.

We will continue to bring you updates as the situation becomes clearer, and as the need for community healing and rebuilding continues. Please note that if you need forms to fill out to make a donation, these will have been e-mailed to your church. 

Paul Cameron—Executive Officer, Vic/Tas Conference

Craig Brown—Federal Co-ordinator, CCCA

In the second week of January the west coast of Fiji was impacted by two massive floods one after the other. It is Fiji’s worst flood disaster in 50 years. Eleven people have died and more than 10,000 have been living in emergency shelters. Many are now returning home to see what they can do with what has been left behind. The worst hit areas include most of the main towns on the western low lying side of the main island of Fiji. Nadi, Sigatoka, Ba & Lautoka have all been affected by flooding due to heavy rains.

The Churches of Christ members living in Lautoka and Ba have not been directly affected. However several families living in the low lying area of Vitogo have had to move out of their homes which have been inundated with water. They are living with friends and relatives.

The impact of the flooding will be ongoing since some of Fiji’s best agricultural land has been impacted. Roads have been destroyed and this is affecting the distribution of essential services, particularly to rural areas where people are now in desperate need.

Bhimrao reports that the church at Nakasi has taken up an offering, and supplied groceries and food for the families impacted by the floods in Vitogo. ‘We request prayer for those who are flood victims taking shelter at temporary shelters.  Pray for people's safety in general.’

Donations and gifts to provide relief to the victims of the flooding in Fiji can be sent to Churches of Christ Overseas Aid.  Some financial support will be forwarded to those families impacted and donations received in excess of that need will be forwarded via one of the other church based agencies to assist people struggling with the loss of home, community and income. You can give online via this link at  http://www.gmp.org.au

or mail your donation to COCOA, 33 Sturt St, Adelaide SA 5000.