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Churches take on role of “holding up hope” amidst devastation in Christchurch

www.challengeweekly.co.nz

Christchurch church leaders are working closely to respond to the needs of both church congregations and the wider community after the devastating earthquake.

Alan Jamieson, senior pastor at Spreydon Baptist Church, said members of the church have lost loved- ones and others were unable to be contacted in the days following the disaster.

Christchurch Cathedral

Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews stands outside the ruins of ChristChurch Cathedral. PICTURE: Lloyd Ashton (www.anglicantaonga.org.nz)

The official death toll from the disaster currently stands at 148 but the number of fatalities caused by the quake was expected to rise as rescuers continued to dig through the rubble.

Mr Jamieson said the church campus, which was not badly affected by the 6.3 magnitude quake which struck near the city of Christchurch on 22nd February at 12.51pm, was focused on matching up volunteers with needs they have been made aware of.

“The resources now are people, there’s a lot of liquefaction in the city – and many people cannot dig themselves out of their homes or down driveways – so we’ll be trying to get teams to help there.

“There are homes that have been red-stickered. You can’t live in them. There are people who are frightened and scared who just need someone to sit with them and have a cup of tea”.

Gideon Hoekendijk, senior leader of Harmony Church, described the quake as “the worst nightmare” that has seen a handful of his church families lose their homes.

“What do you say to people? You’ve just got to walk them through it. The danger is that people blame God, but God is still good, and this is not something that He does. This is part of nature, and these things do happen.”

Mr Hoekendijk said the church was considering suspending Sunday services in favour of serving in the community, and that offers of help had come from around the country.

“We’ve had calls from Greenlane Christian Centre and Hamilton who want to bring teams down. We are just looking at ways of going around and loving our community.”

Max Palmer, Life Resources director, was grieving the death of Don Cowie, a retired church leader and architect, who was killed in the rock fall at Sumner Beach while picking berries.

“It is time for the church to engage at whatever level you can, whether it’s your neighbour, or across the street. We must begin.”

Mr Jamieson said the disaster was an opportunity for local Christians to be a witness. “It has to be. There is hope, there is a sense of a God who loves and cares and holds people. It’s our role to hold that hope up for people in the wider community”.

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