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.
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, and 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
- groups like congregations, schools or ladies fellowships collecting gifts or household items
The LCAQD Ministry & Mission team coordinates a team of volunteers who know what it's like to go through hard times. Whether you need help or you'd like to pitch in to help others, please get in touch via droughtqld@gmail.com or by phoning our LCAQD office on 3511 4000.
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 droughtqld.gmail.com
Pitch In
There are many ways you can support those who are affected by drought.
Please scroll down for details about:
- donating money
- donating goods
- prayer points
More about getting help ...
Through the generosity of the people of the Lutheran Church of Australia, we are offering funding to Queenslanders affected by drought and identified as living in drought declared areas of Queensland. We help with daily living needs such as food, clothing, fuel, utilities or house repairs. Please reach out by emailing droughtqld@gmail.com, and we’ll be in touch within a few days.
- Food
- Clothing
- Fuel
- Utilities
- Funding
- Prayers
Please note, all applications will be assessed against our criteria. Not all applications may be successful.
The money and other gifts that Lutheran Drought Aid Queensland distributes 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. If you wish, we can share your story via this website, to encourage others. But even then, we can conceal your real name.
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 droughtqld@gmail.com. We know farming and rural living, so we may be able to provide recommendations or point you in the right direction.
There are many resources and organisations who can help. If you are unsure about who to best talk to, we can help because our volunteers know farming and rural living.
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 Ministry & Mission Special Purpose Fund:
Non-tax deductible donations can be made directly to following bank account:
Account Name: LCAQD Ministry & Mission Dept Special Projects
BSB No: 704-942
Account Number: 100976751
Ref: Name Drought relief
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 Queensland Lutheran Giving. Make a credit card donation here, or pay by EFT as follows:
Account Name: Lutheran Church Queensland Foundation
BSB No: 704-942
Account Number: 100937144
Ref: [NAME] Drought
Please email bookkeeper@qld.lca.org.au to let us know, and to receive a receipt.
Crates of Hope are made up of various essential items and goods donated by our caring and supportive city friends alongside supportive and encouraging material and messages with application forms to apply for further help. These crates are then gifted to applicants or those who have enquired with the LDAQ.
Goods supplied include but are not limited to: toilet paper, moisturiser, kitchen utensils, cleaning items, detergents, soaps, socks, safety glasses, first aid supplies, pamper packs, books etc.
If you would like to know more about supplying goods or materials, please contact droughtqld@gmail.com.
Please pray:
– For the rains Queensland needs
– For families and individuals under strain because of drought
– 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 drought
– 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
