6 October 2009
Statement: New Zealand Adventists respond to Pacific tsunami
Auckland, New Zealand
Eddie Tupa'i
Many families of our conference (North New Zealand region) have been impacted by the earthquake and resulting tsunami that has caused devastation in Tonga, American Samoa and Samoa. Some of you have lost loved ones, while others are still unable to make contact with family. For some of you, your whole community has been destroyed.
The general secretary of the Samoa Mission of Seventh-day Adventists, Pr Paulo Pelenato, has reported that nine of our church members have perished. It also appears that two churches have been demolished.
Already the response from the Tongan and Samoan communities has been immediate and inspiring. Some of our members are already making their way to Samoa to search for loved ones, attend funerals and to offer help. Others have begun to organise assistance, including a tsunami fund.
As a community of churches, I ask that we all please join together to help the Tonga and Samoa Missions in their hour of need. Yesterday, I wrote to all our pastors and asked them to help our North New Zealand response by leading our churches in four areas.
Please join them as we: (1) pray; (2) offer comfort; (3) give financial assistance; and, (4) consider projects that can be undertaken to help the rebuilding of communities devastated by this disaster.
- Pray - Please continue to pray for the people of Tonga, American Samoa and Samoa. Please pray for Mr Dayan Eager (ADRA NZ International Programme Director) who is assisting the church in Samoa with their assessment of the current situation and also with the design of their response. Please pray for the people of Padang, Indonesia as the effects of the powerful earthquake there this week takes hundreds of lives.
- Comfort - Call or visit people in your circle of influence who may have been impacted by the tsunami. There is possibly a special church service being held by a Tongan or Samoan church (Adventist or other denomination) near you.
- Assistance - Last Sabbath (October 3), together with ADRA NZ, we appealed to our churches to take a special offering to help support the response to this devastating event. People can also make donations via the ADRA website. We encourage all churches to send all donations through ADRA to ensure accountable use of gifts given.
- Projects - Begin to pray and plan for a service opportunity that your church could undertake to help Samoa and Tonga rebuild their churches and communities.
To those of you who have experienced loss at this time, let us seek comfort from God who "comforts us in all our troubles.." Let us comfort and serve one another as the reality of this tragedy, so close to home, sets in. God is good, and his mercies endure forever. His love will not fail us. I grieve with you, and pray that God will give us the strength we need.
Pastor Tupa'i is the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the North New Zealand region.
Donate to ADRA New Zealand or ADRA Australia to assist with the response.
President speaks about Pacific Tsunami 
Adventists killed in Pacific tsunami
Statement from Dr Barry Oliver
Australians worried about friends or relatives in Samoa or American Samoa can call a DFAT hotline on 1300 555 135
Contact the news desk if you have any information.
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