Christchurch Earthquake Relief

We have been in contact with a number of key folk in leadership and involved in forming a strategy to best use the funds that have been given.  There is strong co-operation across our churches there.  One initiative involves employing someone to work through existing church contacts to assist with the lodging of claims to ECQ and insurance companies, making applications for financial assistance to WINZ and other support agencies, etc.  There are also plans to run holiday programmes and camps for children to get them out of the continuing uncertain environment.  In all these plans, the key driver is to be able to demonstrate the love of God to others and to be able to pray with and offer spiritual counsel to the people they are assisting.

 

There are two Assemblies who met in buildings within the cordon area.  We have not had an update on the structural damage to the Durham St facilities.  However, the Korean group met in rented facilities, an older building opposite the Pyne Gould Corpn high-rise.  They have not been allowed to go back to their building which has been severely damaged.  There are records, computers, sound gear and other equipment they would like to retrieve if they could.

 

Within the Korean congregation, there are three families who lived in the Eastern suburbs and who cannot now inhabit their homes.  One family had boarders to help pay the mortgage.  The boarders have naturally had to find other accommodation leaving the owners with a mortgage, but not having access to their house, and not having the supplementary income they were relying on.

 

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christchurch.  Pray too that there will be a deep reach for God into the community there.  The funds that we hold will be used to support these and other ‘people-focussed’ initiatives through our network of churches.

 

Japan Disaster Relief

We are currently exploring effective means to distribute our Aid funds in Japan.  Recently, we have heard from our folk in Japan that there are Christian men working at the crippled nuclear plants to repair them and on electrical lines nearby.  Their lives are in great danger.  Sato San, a Christian from Hokkaido, is heading up the whole operation team.

 

We also have reports telling of Christians in the Tokyo area who have obtained the use of big vehicles and special Government permission to go on closed roads and take supplies to stricken areas.  The big problem is getting fuel to run the vehicles.

 

 

With heavy hearts, we also wish to inform you that Robert passed away last week on Thursday. 

Please continue to pray for Heather and the family at this time.