As many parts of Queensland suffer in the aftermath of devastating flooding and high winds, communities and the Christians within them are rallying to help each other in whatever way they can.

The floods have affected Bundaberg, Gympie, Maryborough, Rockhampton and the Lockyer Valley. In Bundaberg and the Lockyer Valley, flood levels have been reported to have reached beyond those seen in 2011. The Brisbane and Ipswich areas are also experiencing flooding.

Sean McCartney works for a small Presbyterian counselling organisation in Queensland, Peirson Services. He says that in the past week, they’ve had opportunities to see some real Christian action.

McCartney says that most of the staff of Peirson Services, where they can get out, are offering help in their communities.

One of McCartney ’s counselling staff, Joy, lives in a little isolated township on the coast called Moore Park Beach, with her husband who is on a disability pension. Her neighbour – a lady with a number of children – went to buy a loaf of bread, only to be charged $7. Joy went to the evacuation centre in the town and offered her services as a trauma counsellor. In the meantime, she went home and said to her husband, “We have the supplies. We’ll start baking bread and giving it to people so they’re not ripped off”.

“That’s what we call a Christian response,” says McCartney. “A response of the heart, motivated by the Holy Spirit.”

Peirson Services offers counselling for young people and families referred to them by the Department of Child Safety. McCarthy says they have existing young clients who have been traumatised by what they’ve seen and heard recently. “They see helicopters flying over on mass, and they know they are going to rescue people; this traumatises them. A lot of them have suddenly realised that they can’t go to school this week – either because their schools are being used as evacuation centres or have their access cut off.”

Christchurch Bundaberg rector Cliff Greaves told SBS news this week that with the city’s high unemployment, young families would have even more trouble coping with losing their belongings again, following the floods in 2011.

“It’s young families – they’re doing it the toughest with kids,” he said. “They’ve either lost jobs or are struggling to hold onto their job. They’re struggling to pay mortgage and rents, and just past Christmas their finances are at their weakest.”

McCartney believes that recovery work will continue for several months at least. “Some businesses are questioning their ability to come back again. They can’t get insurance because of their location. Some houses and businesses have only just finalised their reconstruction efforts from two years ago, and are now damaged again. It really is tragic,” he says.

Reflecting on how to respond to such a tragedy, McCartney says, “We need to respond as we are moved by the Spirit of God to help our fellow man. There’s been a great community response to people in need. The Christian response has to go beyond even that.”

Gillian Smiley, manager of Peirson Services, relates how their non-profit organisation has been affected by the flood, and how they are reaching out to help the community.

“Apart from the government referrals and funding we take, our funding comes from a sugar cane and avocado farm in Bundaberg which was left to us as a Trust. But that farm is now underwater, six weeks out from the avocado harvest. So there are significant challenges ahead for us.

“We’re also grappling with questions such as, how do kids, young people and families respond to the type of trauma brought on by situations such as the floods? And how can we, as Christians, support people going through this situation?

“We’re planning free workshops in which we’ll invite people to come and talk about the trauma their kids are experiencing, and get them talking to each other.

“From there we’ll offer a follow up workshop on questions such as, ‘why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?’ Our driving motivation is to provide a long term solution for people. All of our staff are seeking to make a difference, and to be Christ’s hands and feet.”

If you would like to pray for the work of Peirson Services or donate to their work, contact Gillean.smiley@peirsontrust.org.au 

Images: Flood cleanup_ABC Wide Open_flickr; bread_sxc