On March 13, 2022, the Ecclesiastical District of Australia East extended a helping hand to the residents of the City of Lismore, in New South Wales, which recently experienced the worst flooding since 1954 from the nearby Wilsons River.

Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) members from as far as Blacktown City, about 726 kilometers from Lismore, such as Jon Carungay, a Buklod officer from the Blacktown City Congregation, volunteered to help in handing out relief packages.

He and the other volunteers also helped in the clean-up of dirt and debris left by the massive flood. Observing that “There’s too much devastation,” but happy to be of help, Carungay said that “The Church is here ready to help them [residents].”

“There’s a long way to go. But with what we’ve achieved today, it’s been a big help to the community. We’ll get through,” said Andrew Hayward, an area overseer from the Lismore Group Worship Service. Though among the afflicted, he joined his fellow brethren for the day’s events held in their community.

“The residents received us warmly, so we were able to work efficiently together,” Abigail Carungay, a KADIWA officer from Blacktown, said.

Brother Seth Gutierrez, assistant district supervising minister, who oversaw the activity, attested to the brethren’s participation in this humane activity in fulfillment of God’s will. “It doesn’t matter to them if they’d be traveling 10 hours or more. They know it wasn’t just about participating; being in this humanitarian activity gives glory to God,” he said. —With reports from INC News Section