WA’S BAPTIST NEWSPAPER
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IN CONVERSATION Vose Seminary Principal, Dr Brian Harris talks about teaching theology in the 21st century. PAGE 12 >>
FEBRUARY 2020
“The beautiful thing was, this gospel wasn’t the foreigner’s gospel; this gospel was their own.” BEN GOOD PAGE 13 >>
6 Team evacuated
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Scripture Union team brought to safety. >>
8 Colouring ashtrays “It’s not rocket science, it’s loving people.”. >>
More than $200 million has been donated to the Australian bushfires, which will go to victims and the fire and emergency services.
Fires destroy Australia The worst wildfires in decades are ravaging Australia. According to CNN, since the fire season began in July last year, across the country 27 lives have been lost, over one billion animals killed, more than 2,000 houses damaged or destroyed and over ten million hectares of land burned. “The bushfires … are causing unspeakable heartache, massive devastation and huge loss of livestock,” Director of Mission and Ministries at the Baptist Union of Victoria, Rev. Daniel Bullock said. “This is a time for all our Baptist family to stand together to help those in need,” he said. Many farmers were already experiencing hardship with the
drought and now face additional pressure with their livestock in danger. Baptist churches in Victoria have already taken initiative to provide free hay to these farmers. Members of Baptist churches in the region have lost properties and homes; some are still without power and water. While the Federal Government has committed to an initial $2 billion for a national recovery fund, still plenty of support is required. The United States, New Zealand and Singapore are among many countries who have offered aid through providing personnel and financial assistance. Natural causes are primarily responsible for the extent of the fires – heatwaves, strong winds and Australia’s hot, dry weather
makes it easy for blazes to start and spread. The consequent damage significantly exceeds that of the 2019 Amazon rainforest fires, which destroyed more than seven million hectares, and the deadly California wildfires, which burned through over 400,000 hectares in 2018. Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT Prayer Coordinator, Carolyn Altman, has written a prayer for the bushfire crisis: “Almighty God, we are powerless to stop these bushfires that are crippling our nation … but Lord, we remember that You have made the heavens and the earth, and nothing is too hard for You.” “Lord we ask for a special blessing and a ring of protection upon all of those people that have put their lives on the line fighting fires on our behalf.”
“We ask that You comfort those that have lost so much, and that we as Your children will be Your hands and Your feet to those that need help in putting their broken lives back together.” “We ask You to send droughtbreaking rain to cleanse our country and put out every single one of these fires. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.” For more information on how you can help, visit nswactbaptists.org.au or buv.com.au Author – Gilbert Siahaan The content of this article was correct at the time of writing.
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We are stronger when we work together. BAPTIST CHURCHES WESTERN AUSTRALIA