LCANZ members are rallying in support of flood-hit communities, with $41,074 donated to the relief effort via the church’s Disaster and Welfare Fund, as of 17 January.
The LCANZ’s General Church Board in December authorised the release of $40,000 from the fund to the NSW and ACT District to be distributed in the areas of greatest need, particularly around the towns of Forbes and Eugowra. The Lutheran church at Forbes was flooded and may not be able to be used for many months, according to NSW and ACT District Administrator Russell Veerhuis.
Since floods hit the region in mid-November, Central West Lutheran Parish Pastor James Leach and his wife Adele have been supporting locals with visits, home-cooked meals, other food and drinks, gift cards, tracts and other needs.
Floodwaters have since inundated South Australian towns along the River Murray and the Lutheran church at Forster (pictured) and Camp Kedron at Lake Bonney were closed in December. South Australia – Northern Territory District Administrator Angela Rogers said she knew of Lutheran farming families impacted in South Australia by the rising water levels prior to Christmas.
She encouraged LCANZ members to pray for those impacted, donate through the Disaster and Welfare Fund and, when and where practical, support the economies of rural communities. SA–NT congregations were also asked to take a retiring offering in support of the affected communities.
Areas of each state and territory and New Zealand also have had flood events in the past 12 months and with the clean-up and recovery efforts in some parts expected to take months, more support will be needed. Under the terms of the LCA Disaster and Welfare Fund, any funds not used in support of the Forbes appeal can be directed to other purposes, including other flood-affected areas as needed.
Ways to donate can be found on the LCA website www.lca.org.au/disaster-welfare
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