Tsunami ravaged Japan needs prayer for spiritual renewal: Presbyterian Church

As the second largest unreached people group in the world, tsunami ravaged Japan was a country that desperately needed the Gospel, Presbyterian Church of Australia Moderator General Rt Rev David Jones said today.

Mr Jones has urged Christians to pray for all Japanese people in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami which has left more than 10,000 people dead, around 600,000 homeless and 1.4 million without power and water.

“The suicide rate in Japan averages 90 per day,” he said. “There are very few Christians. We urge Christians to pray that the Japanese people will hear the voice of God in the earthquake and Tsunami and that in the midst of their devastating loss they will receive that `kingdom which cannot be shaken’.”

National Director of the Presbyterian Church of Australia’s mission arm, Mission Partners, Kevin Murray, was having lunch with some recently returned missionaries from Japan when the news broke about what has been described in the mainstream media as Japan’s greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II.

“Naturally I felt stunned by the magnitude of the disaster,” Mr Murray said. “I was immediately very concerned for the one missionary we have serving in Japan and how the very small Christian population would cope.”

Thankfully, Mr Murray was soon to hear that the female missionary, who is serving with OMF, was safe.

Pray for Kiwi neighbours, urges Presbyterian Moderator

Presbyterian Church of Australia Moderator General Rt Rev David Jones has asked Christians to pray for their sisters and brothers in New Zealand following the devastating Christchurch earthquake.

PAC welcomes Ashfield seniors centre approval

Presbyterian Aged Care (PAC) has warmly welcomed the approval of a new centre for seniors in Ashfield.

The project will involve renovation of the heritage listed Pittwood House at 17-33 Charlotte St Ashfield as a centre for PAC’s Inner West community care services, with a secure area for dementia day care as well as space for the current day therapy and respite programs.  It will also see construction of 23 independent living units built in a new building to the north of Pittwood House and 2 villas to its south.

The development application for redevelopment of the Pittwood House site in Ashfield was approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) covering Ashfield Council on 1 December 2010.

PAC NSW and ACT Chief Executive Officer, Paul Sadler, said the approval was another important step in PAC’s plan to provide improved services to older people around the State and in Sydney’s Inner West.

“We completed earlier in the year an upgrade of the David Gillies Wing at PAC Ashfield, just across the street from this site,” he said. “And last year we opened a new aged care home at Drummoyne – PAC Minnamurra.”

A ministry of the Presbyterian Church, PAC exists to provide care and accommodation for older people, with a commitment to excellence inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus. It operates 10 aged care homes, 10 community care services and 12 retirement villages in NSW and the ACT, providing care and accommodation to 1200 people.

The Presbyterian Church has been providing aged care services from Pittwood House for many decades.  Work is likely to commence on the new project in 2011.

Mr Sadler said, “The new focus on community care services is very appropriate.  We find most older people want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.  We already run a wide range of services for people in their own homes across the Inner West and the new centre will allow us to expand these further.”

He added, “PAC is also delighted to be able to build 25 units and villas purpose-designed for older people.  We believe these will be very popular as they are located so close to Ashfield town centre and station, as well as our residential aged care service.”

For enquiries regarding PAC services phone (02) 9690 9341 or visit www.presac.org.au .

Presbyterian Youth welcomes Opposition SRE decision

The NSW Opposition’s commitment to rolling back the Government’s schools Ethics course was welcome news for students and voters in NSW, Presbyterian Youth General Manager, Murray Norman, said today.

Mr Norman, who heads up the arm of the Presbyterian Church of Australia’s organisation responsible for Special Religious Education (SRE), said the Opposition appeared to be listening to the electorate across the whole of NSW.

“Parents and community leaders across the State are very concerned that some Government ministers re promoting a radical ethics course for a few vocal parents,” he said. “The marginalisation of SRE teaching in preference for an ethics course where the students make up their own mind on what is right and wrong is an issue of substance to thousands of people.”