Growing Vital Churches
Drought isn’t something people usually think of when it comes to “disasters”. We can instantly see the damage done by a cyclone or a bushfire, but drought is often a long term series of disasters that progressively impact whole communities. Drought is one cause of rural and regional hardship. But there are others.
The LCAQD has strong rural roots. When times are hard on the land, we simply want to remember the generosity of those who helped build the LCAQD. We want to send some of the love and care back the other way, to church members or to other folk who cross our path. Some of the ways we do this are through:
- a visit and a listening ear
- cash assistance
- local groups like congregations, schools or ladies fellowships collecting and distributing gifts or household items
The LCAQD Commission for Mission has a Rural and Regional Hardship Fund to support people going through tough times. We connect applicants for assistance with local Lutheran leaders who can offer personal support. Whether you need help or you'd like to pitch in to help others, please get in touch via mission@qld.lca.org.au or by phoning our LCAQD office on 3511 4000.
Or download our application form for yourself or someone you know who needs help.
Get Help
We're in this together and we're here for you. Learn what help is available to you.
To request assistance, or to find out more, please contact our District Office on 07 3511 4000 or email mission@qld.lca.org.au
Please scroll down for more.
Pitch In
There are many ways you can support those who are affected by drought.
Please scroll down for details about:
- donating money
- prayer points
More about getting help ...
Through the generosity of the people of the Lutheran Church of Australia, we offer funding to people in Queensland or northern New South Wales affected by rural or regional hardship . These funds can help with daily living needs such as food, clothing, fuel, utilities or house repairs. Please reach out by emailing mission@qld.lca.org.au, and we’ll be in touch within a few days.
Please note, all applications will be assessed against our criteria. Not all applications may be successful.
The money and other gifts that we distribute is entirely donated by the people of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA).
No: these donations were given for anyone in need, to be distributed with no strings attached. We do this because we want you to know that God cares about you in your difficulty.
We assess your application based on your current needs, regardless of what other support you may have received. However, we do want to make sure that you know about the various support options available to you, so you can get as much help as possible.
Yes, we keep your application confidential. Only those who need to access your application to meet our fund rules will see it.
Find a Lutheran congregation in your area via this link: Find a Church - Lutheran Church of Australia (lca.org.au)
If you’re unsure of who to reach out to or connect with in your local area, get in touch with us via mission@qld.lca.org.au. We we may be able to provide recommendations or point you in the right direction.
There are many resources and organisations who can help. Supportive organisations include but are not limited to:
More about pitching in ...
Your donations support the wellbeing of farmers, their families and their local communities.
Through the Rural and Regional Hardship (RRH) Fund:
This is a special purpose fund to support people in rural and regional areas. Non-tax deductible donations can be made directly to the following bank account. Donations may be used more broadly than for drought relief, but they will always be used to support people living rurally or regionally who are facing hardship and whose daily living needs cannot be met through local services.
Account Name: LCAQD Ministry & Mission Dept Special Projects
BSB No: 704-942
Account Number: 100976751
Ref: [Your Name] RRH
Please email bookkeeper@qld.lca.org.au to let us know, and to receive a receipt.
Through Others
You can also make a tax-deductible donation through the Queensland Lutheran Giving Necessitous Circumstances Fund.
Credit card payment is our preferred donation method. We are also able to receive donations by EFT, but we need to ensure that we collect the necessary details from our donors. To donate by EFT, please contact us and we will guide you through our EFT payment process: district@qld.lca.org.au Phone: 07 3511 4000
Or donate by credit card using this link:
Please email bookkeeper@qld.lca.org.au to let us know, and to receive a receipt.
We are not currently collecting goods for distribution. Please contact mission@qld.lca.org.au if you’d like to know more.
Please pray:
– For families and individuals under strain because of rural and regional hardship
– Thanks for all who have cared for this land over the centuries
– That God will bless and strengthen all those who care for people affected by rural and regional hardship
– For protection and healing for our land
– For wisdom for all who govern it, as they make decisions about land use.
The Depth of Drought
The depth of drought is hard to gauge, as it affects so many people in so many different ways. Let’s look at the grazier and his situation when it comes to drought
A farmer loves to see his animals fat and healthy, grazing in green fields of grass up to their bellies. Their fat backs which look like tables, no bones poking out, strong healthy and alert knowing all their needs are well and truly looked after. Drought changes this beautiful picture. In many cases the properties are handed down through many generations and of the person who is dealing with the drought and the thought that they may lose that property to the banks, to the creditors, in many cases is too much to handle. The mental anguish, the mental agony of them feeling they have let their family down, many generations of the family have lived on the property, and it makes them feel that they have failed in their duty as the breadwinner of a family tradition.
Of course, a drought causes havoc to the livestock trying to survive. The grazier sees the condition of his healthy livestock fade away as they run out of feed. He tries to keep a nucleus of the herd or flock hoping it will rain so he will be able to continue to breed his numbers up again at the end of the drought. He will endeavour to buy feed, hay, grain and molasses. In a drought these become very hard to find and very expensive to purchase, he will go to great lengths, to great depths of debt to keep these animals alive.
I have heard people say, ”why doesn’t he sell them”, but in many cases they are too weak to transport and if he could get them to market they would be worth nothing.
The final straw that breaks their back is when the banks foreclose on them. This takes them to the pits of despair, they are going to lose everything. Their home, their job, the only job they have known all their life.
I have been there myself, some city office workers in a bank in Brisbane decided to foreclose on me. I know the gut wrenching feeling when this happens. They give you two weeks to pay out the debt which is near impossible to do. My wife and I talked about it and we agreed they can take everything from us, but they can’t take our faith, our love of Christ. We know Christ’s love for us is so great, is so powerful as he is there for us in every turn of our life, in every road we travel and in every decision we make. We were able to refinance with another bank which carried us through the rest of our farming life.
After 45 years of marriage my wife passed away from cancer, I had to let go as I ran my fingers through her hair. I thank God for those 45 years. I have since remarried, a relationship, which we say, was made in heaven.
Retired Farmer
