February 28, 2009 In this issue ADRA Australia now part of AUC Seven Secrets audio book released Finding Christ in a Muslim country Phil Hyland, Jeff Courtney and Tom Smith (left to right) load Sanitarium products for delivery to the Whittlesea relief centre for bushfire survivors in Victoria. Church responds to bushfire tragedy MELBOURNE, VICTORIA he president of the Australian Union around Australia to pray for those who Conference (AUC) has expressed have experienced the horror and loss of deep sadness and grief over the tragic family, homes and possessions. Speaking bushfires in Victoria. The death toll in the days following the tragedy, he urged Tfrom the fires is estimated to be in excess Adventists to also pray for the firefight- of 200 people, and more than 1000 houses ers, State Emergency Service personnel, have been destroyed by the fires that burned police, army and others who are stressed out of control around the state earlier this by the enormity and shock of the tragedy, Makeover month. and pray for favourable weather to bring “I was stunned by the viciousness, speed an end to the fires. and scope of the fires, and join all Austral- Some Adventists have lost property but for Cook ians in mourning the terrible loss of life,” Pastor Stanley says it is still too early to as- said Pastor Chester Stanley in a statement certain whether any church members have released to the media. been killed or injured. Islands HQ Pastor Stanley called on church members (Continued on page 3) ISSN 0819-5633 editorial Any “answers” are too neat; any questions are too raw. It is well? onday, February 9, 2009, 7:30 the emerging stories of loss fill our day. It I stumble through a closing prayer and am—staff worship, Signs Pub- is one thing to speak of people’s dreams shuffle out of the worship room behind lishing Company, Warburton, being turned to ash; it is another thing to the rest of the staff, escaping to the soli- Victoria: hear of the people themselves being incin- tude of my upstairs office. I sit and look MIt has been described as the worst disas- erated. We feel helpless in the face of the out to the mountains above me. Today ter in Victoria’s history. Saturday was the enormity of what has happened and con- their usual beauty seems menacing, with hottest day ever recorded in the Melbourne tinues to happen. Little wonder people are just a few wisps of smoke clinging to the region, following years of drought and giving—food, clothes, accommodation, distant treetops. weeks of heatwave conditions. Driven by household items, time, money, blood—so It just doesn’t seem the day for “It is well gale-force hot winds, wildfires tore through generously; it is the only way to feel like with my soul.” And I would venture to sug- the surrounding mountains, obliterating regaining a measure of control, the only gest that “those who mourn” feel neither whole communities, leaving more than 100 way to respond to numbing tragedy. “blessed” nor “comforted” (see Matthew people—and still counting— dead, more in And so we arrived early on Monday 5:4). Other promises seem to tear at the hospitals and thousands homeless. morning in our cars stained with the sky’s wounds. When walking “through the dark A billow of smoke had blacked out our ashen tears, crossed the car park littered valley of death” (Psalm 23:4, NLT) is so ob- sun on Saturday afternoon, showering us with the charred leaves and other debris viously filled with terror and tragedy, how with ash, leaves and bark, and filling our dropped from the billowing pall that had can we glibly say, “I will not be afraid”? homes, clothes and valley with the biting shadowed the weekend, now under a sky Despite the office phones not working for smell of smoke. We felt the same winds and that was almost clear. the morning, the day assumes a measure of shuddered at the thought of what it might Not just another Monday morning. A everydayness, punctuated by sombre con- do to stoke a fire. But our fears were not couple of our staff are still away as volunteer versations about the weekend’s tragedies large enough. members of the country fire brigade. and checking on further fire reports. A weather change comes and the winds By accident of rostering, I am the wor- Later in the day, I watch the spectacular begin to ease. But a late evening sprinkle ship speaker and whatever I say feels like smoky sunset at the end of the valley. But of rain is more mocking than useful and the inappropriate mumbling it probably even the red-gilt edges on the clouds look the few raindrops fall as mud. is. Fumbling to find hope, even amid life like another fire turning the clouds to ash With major devastation less than an stained with death. Any “answers” are too and another day to blackness—yet another hour’s drive in a couple of directions, neat; any questions are too raw. smoking ruin. As well as the tragedies that we have our nervous moments, listening In accord with the worship practice, I had have been, there are still fires and fears. intently to emergency radio broadcasts selected a hymn to be sung. It had seemed Tonight, “It is well” is definitely a state- late into the night. And we almost feel like it might fit—at least, the rolling “sor- ment of faith, rather than feeling. And kind of guilty about being so close but so rows like sea-billows”—but the chorus’s the hope-filled, God-present conclusion is unaffected. assertion that “it is well with my soul” just no less real—but will need to be written The next morning, the wind has died doesn’t flow. Yes, I can say it. I can prob- another day. away, allowing our valley to fill with smoke ably even believe it. But I don’t feel it. Not and an almost eerie quiet. The smell and here, not now. Nathan Brown Official Paper of the South Editor Nathan Brown Mail: Signs Publishing Company Pacific Division Seventh-day Editorial assistant Adele Nash 3485 Warburton Highway Adventist Church Editorial assistant Jarrod Stackelroth Warburton, Vic 3799, Australia ABN 59 093 117 689 Copyeditor Talitha Simmons Phone: (03) 5965 6300 Fax: (03) 5966 9019 www.adventist Editorial secretary Kristel Rae Email Letters: [email protected] connect.org Layout Kym Jackson Email Newsfront: [email protected] Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver Email Noticeboard: [email protected] Vol 114 No 07 Subscriptions: South Pacific Division mailed within Cover: Tom Smith/ Australia and to New Zealand, $A43.80 $NZ73.00. Sanitarium www.record.net.au Other prices on application. Printed weekly. 2 February 28, 2009 news Church responds to bushfire tragedy (Continued from page 1) total extent of the damage to the friends, families and neighbours of our church fam- No Adventist churches, schools or retire- ily. We are aware of a number of families ment villages have been damaged or de- who have lost their homes. We are also stroyed. Pastor Stanley said the church was aware of a number of friends of the Ad- on the ground quickly to lend support. ventist Church who have lost their lives in “I’d also like to encourage every Advent- the fires. Our hearts and prayers go out to ist to join other Australians by providing these people and their families.” cash donations as being the quickest and “Please keep our community in your most effective means of providing sup- thoughts and prayers as many continue to port,” he says. battle the flames and sift through the rub- The Victorian Conference donated an ble,” he says. “May God be with our fire- initial $A25,000 from its funds and a spe- fighters: we thank them for their bravery cial offering was collected in all churches and pray that God will protect them. Our Students from Edinburgh Primary School in Victoria on February 14 to be used for hearts go out to those who are victims of (Lilydale, Vic) help load donated household immediate assistance of church families. this tragedy: may God be with them as they items for delivery to bushfire survivors. Pastor Wayne Stanley, general secretary rebuild their broken homes, families, hopes families are safe, although there was some of the Victorian Conference, says, “This and dreams.” loss of property for families of the school. offering is an initiative of the Victorian The Sanitarium Health Food Compa- Sadly, two former students were killed in Conference. The money will go direct- ny has delivered Weet-Bix, So Good and the fires. ly—and as quickly as possible—to those Up&Go products to emergency centres All 60 Adventist schools around Aus- Adventist family and friends impacted operated by the Salvation Army and Red tralia are also taking up gold coin col- by the fires.” Cross in Whittlesea, Yea and other fire- lections from students to assist with the “I am sure there is not a single person in affected areas. bushfire relief. Victoria who does not feel impacted by the The principal of Ironbark Christian Counselling services and emergency ac- current situation and the devastation caused School, Raelene Devlin, has reported the commodation are also being provided to by the bushfires,” he adds. “At a time like school is safe. The school, located in Yar- people affected by the fires. Pastor Richard this, we feel helpless and confused as we rambat, was under no threat at the time of Araya-Bishop, pastor of the Warburton stand beside friends, neighbours and fellow writing but is in an area in which fires have church, is organising and coordinating church members who have been impacted been active.