GLORIFYING AND ENJOYING GOD AS CHRIST-LIKE COMMUNITIES 
Presbyterian church goers around Australia have donated a whopping $220,000 to the Moderator General’s Queensland flood appeal – and it’s not over yet
Money is still being pledged for the appeal following the unprecedented deluge that struck Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley, Ipswich, Rockhampton, Emerald, Dalby, Chinchilla, Condamine, St George, Bundaberg, Maryborough, Gympie and many other centres, as well as Brisbane, in Queensland – including the Queensland Theological College – and resulted in the deaths of 22 people.Three remained missing as The Pulse went to press.Travelling south, the floods then threatened and isolated more than 4000 people in northern NSW, and then severely hit Carisbrook, Horsham, Kaniva and Nhill, Kerang, Pyramid Hill, Rochester, Skipton and Swan Hill in Victoria, affecting many Presbyterian families. All up, three quarters of the State of Queensland and 45 local government areas have so far been declared natural disaster zones.
As the cleanup continued, media reports told how the Queensland floods had hit businesses all across Australia, with a National Australia Bank survey estimating they cut five per cent off the revenue of large and medium-sized businesses.
Not surprisingly, the biggest hit was to Queensland businesses, where revenue was down 9.8 per cent and the utilisation of machinery was down 13.8 per cent. But other states were also hit, with a four per cent drop in business revenue in NSW and Victoria last month attributed to the Queensland floods.
The floods caused disruption to 10 per cent of businesses nationally, the survey found, while 25 per cent of those surveyed in Queensland had experienced some disruption or closed. The building and construction sector was hardest hit -
although this sector stands to gain most out of the reconstruction following the floods and cyclone - while the impact on the retail sector, agribusiness and mining was also sizeable.
Meanwhile, the State Government says flood damage in NSW has cost farmers at least $850 million in harvest losses. Almost half the 2.8 million hectare wheat crop has been downgraded to feed quality due to weather damage caused by rain and flooding.The latest Clarius Skills Index -- a measure of the supply and demand of skilled labour in Australia–hasshowedthefloodsacrossthethree states would add to the increasing skills shortage issue as labour resources would be deployed to rebuild destroyed infrastructure.
Insurance Australia Group said that claim costs from floods in Queensland, NSW and Victoria were estimated to total $135 million-$170 million.
Presbyterian Church of Australia Moderator General David Jones acknowledged the devastating floods in Queensland had brought hardship to many people.“The full extent of the damage to lives, church, businesses and property will not be known for some time,” he said. “We ask all to remember the people in the flood areas in private prayers and in prayers at public worship as they rebuild their communities following this devastation.”
Queensland Moderator John Langbridge said the hearts of every member of the Church went out to all who had been affected by the recent floods and devastation in so many parts of Queensland.“We weep with those who weep for the loss of loved ones; grieve with those who grieve over the destruction of their homes and livelihoods. Our prayers and love are with you all.We stand ready to help in whatever way we can. I urge all Presbyterians to give generously to the Moderator-General’s Flood Appeal. You can all be assured that all the money donated will be used to help alleviate the loss and suffering of people in such need.”
Victorian Moderator Andrew Bray said the floods had caused hardship and loss for many “on a scale hard to reckon”. “Continue in upholding God’s people and the people of the affected communities in prayer, for it will take time for these folk to get their lives back in order with any sense of routine and stability,”he said.“Please also pray for our Ministers, Home Missionaries, and church leaders as they seek to alleviate the physical, mental and spiritual issues of those to whom God has called them to minister. Notwithstanding the devastation and serious dramas, there has been a testimony of God’s goodness in so many and various ways from those I have spoken with – praise be to our great God. Indeed,“Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psa.124:8).”
NSW Moderator Peter Graham said to his knowledge no NSW Presbyterian people or property had been severely affected by the floods.“We were spared,” he said,“but we continue to pray for and support the Moderator General’s call for all Presbyterians to support the appeal for Queensland.”
In the broader community, Principal of Emmanuel College, Queensland Theological Centre, Professor Stewart Gill said the flood reached up to the second floor and required evacuations but the accommodation on both floors remained water tight. “I am very grateful that the College has survived the flood but our thoughts and prayers are with our many friends and supporters and especially students who have suffered loss because of the flood. I have indicated to the University that we will be targeting scholarships and bursaries particularly for students who have been impacted by the flood.”