Disaster Relief – Australia and Mozambique

What wild weather we have been having. Weeks of searing temperatures, followed by destructive bushfires across several states. Then massive flooding in Queensland and northern New South Wales, with the area around Bundaberg being declared a natural disaster. The armed forces had to be called on to helicopter people to safety. More fires are being reported today, with more rain on the way in other areas. The Red Cross are operating a government approved Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund to aid individuals and communities around the country in the immediate moments of crisis, as well as the ongoing recovery process.

Estimates of  the costs resulting from the floods are running into the billions. Many people have been without power (a relatively minor inconvenience compared to those who are without their homes.) SES volunteers have been kept busy – for example, there have been 850 jobs on the Gold Coast alone (which kept Office Manager and SES team leader Dave Jordison busy last weekend and on follow up occasions this week). The good news is that as far as we know, all of our members are safe, with several being stranded or suffering power loss for several days, but otherwise doing fine. We thanks God for this, and add our prayers for all those who have suffered loss and grief through these events.

We would like to make a donation as a fellowship to the Red Cross Relief fund for the fires and floods. Naturally, individuals can donate directly to whichever fund they choose if they wish. However, in the spirit of helping those in need, we – as we have often been asked – want to make it possible for members to donate as part of our national Grace Communion International fellowship contribution. This can be done either of the following two ways:

Donate directly to the fund via our web site.
Congregations can take up a specific collection for the emergency contribution. Go to www.gci.org.au/forms, and select the Emergency Fund form. If any such collections could be made this weekend, we will be able to send off our contribution later next week.

Donations made in either of these two ways will be passed on in full to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund (that is, there will be no 75/25 split).

The current weather emergencies remind us of the transitory nature of all things physical. They can also remind us of the blessings of living in a first world country, with electricity, infrastructure, emergency services, organised volunteers, and different levels of governments able to help in times of crisis.

We are an international communion, and I have just received the following deeply disturbing message from Tim Maguire, National Director in South Africa about devastating floods in the northern provinces of Mozambique:

It seems that 32 GCI congregations/villages have been destroyed, leaving  794 of our families destitute.

A 20 kg bag of maize can be purchased for the equivalent of $12, which would feed a family for about 10 days. As you can see, the needs are huge and I will be starting a special relief fund, to try to assist them.

Please keep praying for our brothers and sisters in Moz.

Without diminishing from our current Australian realities, this does help put things in perspective. In addition to our prayers, I’m sure we would all like to help with the relief efforts for our 794 families and thirty two villages in what is already a grindingly poor country. So this emergency collection is made for them as well.  Half of the funds collected will go to Tim’s fund for our members in Mozambique.

Our hearts and prayers go out to those suffering in such circumstances. While we pray that our gracious God will provide the comfort of the Spirit, and a peace of mind and soul, we nevertheless seek to help their immediate physical needs that fall within our ability to help.

Thanks for your prayers, and generosity as you are able.

John McLean
Mission and National Director