GLORIFYING AND ENJOYING GOD AS CHRIST-LIKE COMMUNITIES 
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Karen Thornton, Media &Communications Manager
Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW
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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.
Mr Jones has also written to the Moderator of the Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa, Rt Rev Peter Cheyne, expressing the support of the PCA. The earthquake, which struck Christchurch on the South Island on February 22, destroyed many buildings, leaving hundreds trapped and homeless.
The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa sustained damage to church buildings but to date there is no report of serious injury or loss of life. In Christchurch two elders of Grace Presbyterian Church were trapped in their workplaces by the quake but subsequently rescued unharmed. Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand also has a congregation at Ashburton and the people there are preparing themselves to receive refugees from Christchurch.
Mr Jones asked people to uphold the rescue workers and medical staff in their
prayers. "Pray for those still trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings and Pray for those who have lost loved ones, that they may receive comfort from the Lord through his people and through his word.
In his letters, he asked the Moderators to be assured of the prayers of their fellow Presbyterians in Australia. "We ourselves have just experienced devastating floods in Queensland and Victoria and bush fires in Western Australia. In it all we take comfort in God and his word.
"We follow the news reports with prayerful concern for those still trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. Our hearts go out to those who have been bereaved and our admiration to those involved in the rescue operation. May our Sovereign Lord use this for the furtherance of his Kingdom."