MELBOURNE, Australia (ABP) — Australian Baptists were responding Feb. 10 to what has already become the deadliest outbreak of wildfires in the nation’s history.
According to news reports, authorities have confirmed 181 deaths as of the afternoon of Feb. 10 from the fast-moving fires, which raged over the prior weekend. They fear the death toll may reach as high as 300 once all of the charred bodies are identified. Whole towns in the rural areas north and east of the city of Melbourne have reportedly been incinerated.
The Baptist Union of Victoria — the southern Australian state where the worst of the fires have been concentrated — sent a Feb. 9 letter to approximately 200 member churches asking for contributions to a “Emergency Bushfire Relief Fund.” The fund is a joint effort of the statewide union, the broader Baptist Union of Australia and Baptcare, a Victoria Baptist benevolent agency.
The letter said the fund began with a grant of $50,000 in Australian dollars from Baptcare and “generous” contributions from the two Baptist unions.
“Many Baptist churches in Victoria and beyond have contacted us asking us what they can do to help. Many have already opened their building to provide emergency centres and accommodation; offered pastoral care and support; started collecting clothes,” the letter said. “Pastors in the most affected areas tell us that financial assistance is likely to be the most effective help they can give, so we are hoping, through the generosity of the churches and their agencies, to resource these churches to meet the needs of their communities."
Baptcare is also soliciting donations on its website.
Eron Henry, director of communications for the Virginia-based Baptist World Alliance, said Feb. 10 the worldwide Baptist umbrella group is monitoring the situation. He said any donations made to Baptist World Aid, the group’s relief arm, for the Australian fires would be channelled through the Baptist Union of Victoria.
The union also is providing samples of prayers to churches to guide them to pray for the bereaved, emergency medical workers and God's transformation of tragedy.
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Robert Marus is managing editor and Washington bureau chief for Associated Baptist Press.