This edition reports on the Chief Apostle’s visit to our district, the recent departed service in Sydney, and our confirmands for 2022. There is also an update regarding the recent natural disasters in our region, and the assistance that NACare is providing.
The sequential events of a major undersea volcano erupting, the ensuing tsunami and the raining down of ficopious amounts of volcanic ash on the inhabitants of the Pacific nation of Tonga has caused utter devastation. This came at a time when the nation’s approximately 100,000 inhabitants, most of whom depend on small crop gardens for their food supply, were enduring a rare drought period which was already creating hardship. The catastrophic events that took place have been described as “a perfect storm” and took away the ability of the nation’s people to provide for their daily needs.
Thankfully the governments of their ‘good neighbours’ were swift to provide drinking water and basic foodstuffs for immediate relief. Basic supplies of food and essentials for hygiene are now reaching the stores in Tonga but until the crops can be planted and harvested and businesses can restart so people can be employed again, there is a great need for assistance for the people of Tonga to purchase these items. We will work directly with the people of Tonga in their communities to ensure they are assisted.
Let us show we are ‘good neighbours’ and donate to this appeal. All funds collected will be distributed to assist the families to endure this unprecedented time of hardship. All donations over $A2.00 are tax deductable for Australian tax payers.
TO DONATE TO THIS APPEAL, PLEASE CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FLYER
Chock full with information and inspiration… Edition 2/2022 of the New Apostolic member magazine community can now be downloaded.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He had just brought the dead Lazarus back to life and thus aroused many hopes among the people. When the people noticed that He was not about to fulfil these hopes, they dropped Him like a hot potato.
But not His disciples, they stayed with Him—even though they would have had every reason to doubt in Him as well. The agenda Jesus had presented was great, but His strategy was still an issue for the disciples. How could He, the Son of God, suffer and die? He hides? And then He suddenly wants to go to Jerusalem! Why would He want to do that? They are planning to kill Him there! And after a brief triumph on Palm Sunday, they quickly realised just how dangerous it was for them to be there. For them it would have been reason enough to say, “Count me out!” So why did they stay? Because they had followed the impulses of the Holy Spirit, who had revealed to them: “This is the Christ, the Son of the living God”, and counselled them: “Stay with Him! Listen to Him!”
Today, we are even a step further than the disciples then. We have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not just give us impulses. In fact, he dwells in us? Even if many leave the Lord disappointed and even if we often do not understand His plans, we know after all: this is the Son of God, who came into the flesh, who suffered and died, rose again and ascended into heaven, and will come again to redeem us once and for all! This is what the Holy Spirit reveals to us. And that is why we stay with Him!
Food for thought from a divine service by the Chief Apostle
Australia has had its share of natural disasters over time and the flooding that has recently occurred along the east coast of the continent is certainly one of the major disasters of our time. The damage to homes, businesses, farms and infrastructure will eventually be tallied up and a dollar figure will be provided. However, the toll on the victims who have been directly affected by the loss of loved ones and others who have lost their homes and livelihoods can never be assessed.
An appeal has been launched by our charity arm, NACare, to raise funds in order to enable us to help these victims in their time of need. Please consider making a donation of any size; every gift helps. You may also wish to download a flyer to share with family, friends, and colleagues.
All donations over $A2.00 are tax deductable for Australian tax payers and all funds collected will be used to assist the victims of this major tragedy.
TO DONATE TO THIS APPEAL, PLEASE CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FLYER