After the devastating tsunami hit Asia on Boxing Day last year, whole communities were destroyed. In Chennai, formerly known as Madras, the destruction was mainly limited to the local fishing community.
Not only were some children left as orphans, but many others were simply abandoned by parents who were unable to care for them because the tsunami destroyed their nets and boats.
Calvary Community Church in Chennai took a leading role in supplying immediate aid to the victims, in terms of food, household goods and medical help. In April, Reverend Vincent Samuel made a request to some churches in Australia for help in raising $10,000 to establish a home for 20 children.
“At first I couldn't see how we could raise that amount of money,” says New Life's minister Rev. Keith Bates. “It seemed way beyond our ability to help, but in July I heard that nobody else had helped them out, and I was convinced that we had to give it a go.”
In a little over a month, the church had exceeded its goal, without any fundraising or publicity campaign.
“I was amazed by the generosity of people”, said Rev. Bates. “We are a small church, consisting of a few families, but God really moved people to give amazingly generously. We had individual donations of up to $5,000, but other people also gave sacrificially to this project.”
Confronted by the need, Calvary Community Church went ahead and opened the orphanage without funding. Initially the church estimated there was a need to accommodate 20 children, but the orphanage is now home to 51 children aged from 2 to 12 years. For the last 6 months the orphanage has operated on a shoestring and without any external funding.
New Life Christian Fellowship will welcome any gifts or pledges for ongoing support from members of the Narrabri community. People wishing to support this project may phone Rev. Bates on (02)67924890.
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