Northern Rivers, New South Wales, Australia
Les Moreman is pastor of Evans Head Presbyterian Church. It is a small coastal village just half-an-hour south of Ballina and an hour from the well-known tourist destination of Byron Bay on the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.
His church is made up of people living in Coraki, Woodburn, Broadwater, Bungawalbin and Evans Head. All have been hit hard by the never-ending inundation of rain and storms that La Nina has presented this past week. Many have lost all their wordly possessions.
“The body of believers who make up the church are homeowners, business people, students, workers whose homes, jobs and businesses are dotted along the Richmond River,” said Moreman.
“Thankfully no-one has faced anything life threatening but we are all bracing for what might happen as the waters drain away to the coast.”
Floods in the town of Woodburn, New South Wales. PICTURE: Samantha Elley.
As the nearby city of Lismore, situated on the Wilson River, goes under water for the second time in five years, the bulk of that water along with the rain, has travelled down the Richmond River to affect the rivertown communities where the members of Moreman’s church live.
Church members have grabbed their boats and are continuing to rescue stranded people from roof cavities and roof tops as the water continued its relentless rise, at the time of writing this article.
Others have rallied to provide meals and beds to those who have suddenly found themselves homeless. The church has opened its doors to become a donation point for those who will need the support.
“It’s been encouraging to watch care and helping just happen, as people become aware of needs and are prompted by love to put others’ needs ahead of their own,” said Moreman.
“[Also] to see church not as a weekly event but as a community of believers who love and care deeply for one another as an overflow of Christ’s love for us.”
Moreman released a ‘rally call’ to church members through social media calling for clothes, bedding, food and other necessities as they became more aware of the needs of the community, not just for church members but all who need help.
“As the floods subside there will be a great opportunity to care for and love one another by teaming up and getting out to the homes and businesses of church members that have been affected,” said Moreman.
“From there I hope to see us also extending loving care to friends and neighbours throughout the community. There may be times to feed people, give generously and offer care. It, no doubt, will also mean listening well to one another and showing compassion as we process all that has happened.”
Floods in the Australian town of Woodburn, New South Wales. PICTURE: Samantha Elley.
For those who are wondering where God is in all the hardship and heartbreak being felt, Moreman acknowledged it can be hard to fathom how He is working.
“I’m encouraged to see God at work among His people in His church here who are looking out for one another with great love and care,” he said. “I’m encouraged to speak to people from church who are in the thick of it and they’re not in a state of panic but able to trust. I’m encouraged to see people from church responding to prayer requests by not only praying but acting within their means to be God’s answer to prayer.”
Moreman drew on an example in which a prayer point sent out for a family who were struck on their roof in South Lismore awaiting evacuation was practically answered within minutes.
“Within a few short minutes another member of the church had their boat hitched and were asking for an address, taking it upon themselves to drive from Evans Head to Lismore to seek them out. When I phoned the lady whose son’s family was stranded, asking for the address and explaining this spontaneous plan, the relief in her voice was so clear.
“In the end her son and family were picked up by SES and the man from our church with his boat was turned away from heading to Lismore…but that action was an answered prayer for the stress and worry.”
Moreman sees moments like this as God refining our faith and to trust in His promises.
“Faith is based on a combination of the clarity of the promise that God has made and the goodness of His character that He has revealed,” said Moreman.
“How clearly any of us can see that working out in the moment, is not the most consistent thing, but his promises and his goodness are unchanging, that’s what we cling to, even in the face of death.”
