In light of the continuing drought and water crisis in many parts of Australia, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia has called for church members to pray for this situation as part of worship services on February 17.
"Australia is experiencing drought conditions unparalleled since records have been kept in many areas of the country," says Pastor Chester Stanley, president of the Adventist Church in Australia. The statistics, figures and broken records keep coming.
"I have had a number of church members correspond with me from around Australia suggesting it would be very appropriate for us as a church to take time for earnest prayer in relation to the extremely serious situation we have here in Australia in relation to these issues," he explains. "The Church's executive committee at our year-end meetings enthusiastically endorsed this idea and consequently decided to invite our churches to unite in a special season of prayer."
According to Pastor Stanley, the impact varies across the country but particularly in the rural areas in southern Australia.
"We have many church members who have been impacted by the drought," he reports. "Certainly, conference presidents talk about the drought impacting upon tithe and the picture I get is that some of our members are doing it extremely tough."
The focus for prayer on this will obviously include prayer for rain, but also for those people who have been impacted by the drought and also praying for more responsible use of Australia’s natural resources.The Australian Union Conference is asking church members in almost 500 churches across Australia to pray at the same time on February 17, suggesting 11.30 am in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, 11 am in South Australia, 10.30 am in Queensland, 10 am in the Northern Territory, and 9.30 am in Western Australia.
"There’s something I like about the church corporately, down on its knees, together across Australia, earnestly seeking the Lord," says Pastor Stanley.
And he is also extending the invitation to prayer for Australia to others across the South Pacific.
"Others from across the Pacific have expressed their desire to join us in this,” reports Pastor Stanley. “It’s nice that the church in the rest of the South Pacific can pray with and for us."
Pastor Stanley believes this event can be used to connect with the church’s local community. "If I was a pastor, I would probably advertise in the local newspaper, inviting the community to come and join us in prayer," he suggests. "Also I’d challenge my church members to invite their friends and I would focus the worship service on prayer," recommends Stanley.
“This is a crisis and I think as a church we need to be on our knees,” says Pastor Stanley. “But I think also it is a great opportunity to declare to our communities around Australia that we are Christians and that we are a praying people. We should not be seen as a group of people who lock ourselves away but that we are people who care for our communities—that we’re Australians who do have a love for our country. [Editor: Nathan Brown for ANN Australia]
