'Loving Lord, have mercy': LCA prays for Christchurch

As emergency services workers race against the clock to rescue survivors from the rubble in Christchurch, the prayers of LCA members join with that of LCNZ President Robert Erickson’s petition: “Loving Lord, have mercy”.

Just over 24 hours ago a 6.3-magnitude earthquake violently shook the city of Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island. So far there have been 75 confirmed deaths and up to 300 people are still unaccounted for.

Yesterday the pastor of the Lutheran congregation in Christchurch, David Lipsys, was in the North Island city of Palmerston North attending an LCNZ church workers conference. He was relieved to have made contact with his wife Janine, who had been able to get out of her office and return to their home last night. Their house, which was damaged in the September earthquake, is much more heavily damaged this time.

“We’re hoping we’ll be able to stay there, but the house might have to be demolished”, Pastor Lipsys told Linda Macqueen of The Lutheran this morning. He said that, as far as he knew, no Lutheran people were on the casualty lists. He stressed, however, that it has not been possible to contact many of his parishioners.

“Loss of power and telephones, combined with transport restrictions, is making contact with our church members and friends very difficult”, he said.

Now that the airport has reopened, Pastor Lipsys is hoping to return to Christchurch tonight. Tomorrow he will try to find out how his parishioners are faring by riding his motorcycle into areas inaccessible to motor vehicles.

The Christchurch Lutheran church is not located in the city centre and thus was spared the enormous damage that many other churches suffered, including the iconic Anglican cathedral. The Lutheran church did not totally escape damage, however. “The structural integrity of our worship centre is now uncertain”, said Pastor Lipsys. “There is much chaos inside, with many fallen items.”

He said that assurances of prayer and expressions of compassion from the international Lutheran community were a great consolation at this time of despair. “The thoughts and prayers for us from around the world are very much appreciated. Thank you!”

President Erickson’s son-in-law, a doctor from Australia, was attending a medical conference in Christchurch and escaped from the building without injury. Together with other Australian doctors, he spent last night in a tent city in a park without food or water.

“Please pray with us and for us”, President Erickson urged members of the LCA. “This coming Sunday I am declaring a Sunday of Prayer for the people of Christchurch and surrounding areas.”

The LCNZ is a district of the LCA, but as it is in another country it is also a church in its own right. The LCNZ has a baptised membership of around 1000

The New Zealand earthquake tragedy has come close on the heels of flood, cyclone and bushfire disasters in Australia over recent months. LCA President Dr Mike Semmler has pointed the people of the LCNZ and LCA to the Scriptures: “Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matt 10:29).

“In all the confusion of tragedies and calamities, the guiding steady hand of our Lord Jesus, having taken our judgement on himself, wards off all evil and leads us ever closer to our home with him”, he said.

If you would like to donate to any relief efforts through the LCA you can donate on-line through the LLL Donations page to the ‘LCA-NZ Earthquake Appeal’. Please be aware that donations through this facility are NOT tax deductible.