Australasian Record and Advent World Survey for 1974
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../z41I1W AVM/ 111111W1.7, as s AUSTRALASIAN RECORD AND ADVENT WORLD SURVEY 7117111.11:11111 111/.0 11111111/211111nr .1116.11~11,41a en VIM MIMI., III", 0,1101V4.1.. Ar EDITOR: R. H. PARR WARBURTON, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA Volume 78, Number 14 Price: 8 cents April 8, 1974 It's a Great Family R. H. H. THOMAS, Communication Secretary, Victorian Conference THE ADVENTIST CHURCH and its image of "a family" and the expression, "It's a good family to belong to," were never more aptly illustrated than when the president of the General Conference, Pastor R. H. Pierson, visited Melbourne late in 1973. One of the first to greet him was Pastor J. B. Conley, who had worked with Pastor Pierson, when they were young missionaries in India. Others who renewed friendships, and asked concerning mutual friends who had left during the period prior to India's independence, were Mr. and Mrs. Stewart-Jacks of the East Prahran church (Pastor Pierson was their church pastor in Bombay), and Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Watson-Brown and their son, Stephen, and daughter-in-law, Chris- tine, of the Hughesdale church (Pastor Pierson baptized Brother and Sister Watson- Brown in Bombay). Their conversation was of the past, the present and the glorious future of the church in the hands of God. They parted with "Be faithful, be faithful." Pastor Pierson spoke at a combined meeting in the Camberwell Civic Centre, on the night of his arrival, and the following day met with all ministers, teachers, and their Co-labourers years ago in India meet again in wives before flying to Sydney. It was only a glimpse of the man and his leadership, Melbourne: Pastor J. B. Conley (left) chatting with Pastor Pierson. but it cemented again the unity, the brotherhood and warmth that exist in the world- Photos: R. H. H. Thomas. wide Adventist Church. Meeting former converts: Pastor Pierson (second from right) between Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Watson Greeting old friends: Pastor Pierson (left) with Brown. Their son, Stephen and his wife Christine, are on the left. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart-Jacks. Registered for posting as a Periodical—Category A [2] 8/4/74 AUSTRALASIAN RECORD coating of slime and the stench of rotting debris permeating all. It took a strong stomach to enter the ceiling to clear the Floods-- The Local Church Scene nauseating wreckage, then gradually to J. LUDLOW, Pastor work lower down the walls cleaning, scrubbing, hosing and disinfecting, while NO DOUBT, RECORD readers are well acquainted with the general story sloshing in the ever-present ooze and of flood devastation in Queensland and North New South Wales but they may slush. Members started what became an appreciate the picture from the local church angle. Ipswich is a city twenty miles all-too-familiar pattern of taking home south-west of Brisbane with a population of 65,000—a thriving "outer suburb" furniture, carpets, linos, mattresses and on the banks of the meandering Bremer and Brisbane River systems and has an other household paraphernalia to clean; Adventist population of two hundred. dry or shampoo. The river rose nearly 20 metres (sixty up. The church members first tackled the When church members' homes were feet) after torrential, 75 cm (30 inches) cleaning of their less fortunate fellow made somewhat habitable, then both of rain on the week-end of January 26. members' homes. It was a heart-breaking young and old joined the army of Civil The consequential flooding necessitated operation to enter a house with its Defence workers helping the community. the evacuation of six hundred families from their homes. More than thirty houses were completely lost, 250 homes and business premises were submerged, while unnumbered buildings suffered damage. Thankfully, only three Adventist homes were completely submerged in Ipswich. Water in the church basement hall made it useless as a relief depot. Our brick primary school stood like a "dry oasis," according to a neighbour, in the whirling sea of muddy waters. Each member has his own flood tale to tell, for together with much of the com- munity they were isolated into pockets of humanity during the actual flood period. With all modern conveniences non- existent, many areas organized and estab- lished field kitchens and hygiene facilities. The Adventists manned the Goodna suburb kitchen where thousands of sand- wiches, gallons of hot drinks, cauldrons of soup and buckets of fruit salad were provided daily for the flood-disabled community. A Coating of Slime With the subsidence of the water com- This picture shows damage sustained in a street near the church school. menced the stupendous task of cleaning Photos supplied by J. Ludlow. Some of our men were recruited in the survey teams assessing relief needs. The ladies accomplished an almost impossible task as they washed mountains of muddy household linen, clothing and soft fur- nishings. Young people and others lent a willing hand to help rid the community of its slimy, squelching mud bath. But the city will take a long time to recover from its ordeal. As a church we see the necessity of better organization in our local church for Civil Defence. We hope the flood will give a needed impetus to our somewhat lagging efforts to raise funds for a more commodious and functional church build- ing. Above all, to the Christian, the flood made a tremendous attack on the materialistic philosophy of our time. For many, their entire life effort was washed away overnight. For others there were the heart-rending decisions: what to salvage and what to discard to the growing pile of garbage, of things which were once their prized possessions. With muddy emphasis, the words of Jesus re- sounded. "Seek ye first the kingdom of Under this swirling flood at Goodna are the railway station and shopping centre. God and His righteousness." AUSTRALASIAN RECORD 8/4/74 [3] NEWS FROM TWEED HEADS AND THE GOLD COAST HOWARD TREVETHAN, Communication Secretary, Tweed Heads Church AS WE LIVE on the Gold Coast, lawns and trees and the old camping was really pitiful to see. Houses had been we have recently received letters from ground, had practically disappeared. The moved off their foundations; furniture various friends living in other states, sea had come right over the Pacific High- was destroyed; personal belongings that way, covering it with rocks and stones, inquiring if we suffered any serious loss can never be replaced had Just dis- uprooting trees and fences and practically appeared; mud and slush and devastation or damage during the recent disastrous everything else in its path and had gone were everywhere. cyclones and floodings experienced here pounding into the shops opposite. Miracu- in Queensland. lously, there was very little property How tragic for these people to lose all damage, although the hotel on the corner their possessions almost overnight, and Most RECORD readers would know our as very few had flood insurance there Tweed Heads church membership is was almost washed away (which we felt would be rather an asset to the com- were many heart-rending scenes. What supplemented each week by many visitors a blessing will be the offering that was holidaying on the Gold Coast. They munity!). It was such a scene of deso- lation and destruction that it brought to taken up on February 16 in alleviating come from all parts of Australia, New the suffering and loss of these brethren Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and even as mind the description written by Mrs. and sisters. far away as America. No doubt many of White about the end of time. We were these visitors, like our friends, will have more than thankful that our beach was We who live in these areas and went thoughts as to how we fared in this area not as badly affected as that at Kirra, and through this experience, feel that it could during the cyclonic period; so I will no serious damage was suffered by those not be anything else but another sign of endeavour to give you a few details. in our area. the Lord's soon coming. The first cyclone raged for four days As usual, the Tweed River rose and Now, back to our church news. At and nights, bringing torrential rain and flooded the homes of those who live round present, we are endeavouring to raise winds from one end of the Gold Coast about it. One of our church families—the enough money to start our building pro- to the other. One could not believe such Col Marshalls—had the river flowing in gramme. We hope to extend the church rain and wind possible unless one ex- the back door and out the front. They and build a hall at the back, but owing perienced it. The sky was so grey we stacked their furniture high and moved to our limited membership our progress wondered if the sun would ever shine out, new baby and all. They stayed with is rather slow. Our aim is to formulate again. another young family from the church. plans for a more modern church building The second cyclone, although so far The church itself is well out of the that we will be proud to share with our away from the coast, brought the king many holidaying visitors. tides. From our windows the sea was flood-level area, but further up the coast, magnificent to behold—spray and waves from Miami to Southport, many suffered We are in great need of facilities for rising about fifteen feet high in the air. from severe flooding, especially some of our Welfare work and especially for our But almost overnight it caused such those living on the new "water" estates.