I Am Proud Of Our Chaplains!
I have had the great privilege of leading our movement, The Australian Christian Churches (AOG) for the past 12 years. When the Victoria Bushfires began nearly two weeks ago, I was thrilled to hear that nearly forty of our own chaplains had gathered so quickly to minister Christ’s love to those in some of the most affected areas.
These men and women of God were there at a time when many heard the tragic news of their deceased loved ones, and came to the realization of lost property and business.
To date, this is Australia’s worst-ever national disaster, and has caused so much grief, shock and sorrow to our nation. Yet, on the same scale, it has also highlighted what a generous people Australians are at times of crisis.
I received an email today from our state (NSW) director of chaplaincy Australia, Craig Maher, and thought to share it with you:
"On Saturday Pastor Anne Iuliano, Pastor Phil Ohman (ACT Emergency Services Chaplain) and myself, joined three Chaplains from the Victorian Council of Churches. We accompanied buses taking residents of Marysville (one of the worst hit areas) back to their township to see the destruction that the bush fires, a week before had wrought on their community.
This was a great honour for the three of us involved, and given that half the Chaplains involved were from Chaplaincy Australia – a great blessing in the midst of great despair. During the fire, unfortunately approximately 101 residents of a population of 500 died. There were 514 houses in Marysville and 500 were destroyed by the inferno. Almost every person on the bus either had a family member who died or had lost friends or neighbors to the fire.
Whilst people were not able to get off the bus, opportunity was given to go past every person’s home to see what had happened. Many broke down as they saw their homes & businesses, and as they saw where relatives and friends had died. The atmosphere on the buses was of great grief and tremendous sadness, yet there was also thankfulness for survival, and many expressed the hope that their homes could be rebuilt. Many told stories of miraculous survival & great heroism.
We were able to speak personally to every person on the buses both during the visit and following. Everyone appreciated our ministry and we were given lots of hugs and kisses as people left. On the bus I was on, the local Marysville Policeman (who lost his own home & saved the lives of many) gave great words of reassurance to people and invited me to lead a minute of silence, and to pray for everyone as we returned to the reserve where folks were being dropped off. Mitchell Area Health Service, CEO, Mr. Chris McConnell commended our Chaplains on the excellence of their pastoral care and the compassion displayed to the surviving residents of Marysville. Senior Sergeant Jon Richardson also thanked Chaplaincy Australia for the support we gave to his officers, who also accompanied residents on the buses, and I had the opportunity to convey my thanks to him for the excellent work of his officers.
On another note, yesterday at a Memorial Service in Wandong (held open air on the back of a truck) the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd met two of our Chaplains and thanked Chaplaincy Australia for our involvement, then publicly acknowledged the great work Chaplains are doing in the midst of great pain.
The Lord is enabling our Chaplaincy Team to do extraordinary things as we support Victorian Communities impacted by Australia’s worst peacetime disaster."
Praise God. What an incredible testimony we have, that we can claim to have hope in the midst of what would seem like such hopeless circumstances. What a blessing to serve the people of this great nation, and work alongside the everyday heroes of our communities.
Well Craig, may I extend my congratulations and appreciation to Mark Bateman and yourself, plus each and every one of our chaplains. We are just so proud of you at this time.
Blessings,
Brian Houston
