LESSONS FROM CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKES

"The churches that dot the city felt some of the worst of the temblor's wrath. Spires toppled, stained glass windows exploded, walls cracked and masonry fell... Outdoor services also were held at other churches and at a library, where attendees arrived on bicycle or on foot and sat in folding chairs..."

New Zealand has had much more than its fair share of earthquakes. Records have it, that itexperiences an average of 14,000 tremors every year, and  at least 13 earthquakes measuring between 6.3 and 8.2 on the Richter scale since 1848. 

Christchurch, the country’s second largest urban centre, founded by the Church of England in 1848 in pursuit of the church’s dream of building “a Christian city in the other side of the world” had seemed  immune to all the tectonic shaking around her – until last year. On the fourth day of September, 2010, the city was shaken by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, leaving in its wake, destruction and damage estimated at US$2.9billion (NZ$4 billion). It was the most materially destructive earthquake in New Zealand in nearly 70years, but – wait for this – no life was lost! Plus: there were only two serious injuries.   

That, many people including the secular media in the city, agreed was a miracle; one that ought to elicit profound gratitude to the source of all miracles, God the almighty. One man of God, Andrew Strom thought so, and jetted in from Australia, to join hands with local churches to put an open air thanksgiving praise and worship concert together, among other things. His experience confirms one of the things that this columnist has been harping upon: that church unity is an urgent imperative, if we are to become the victorious church that the Lord Jesus envisioned. 

Here’s Andrew Strom experience in his own words: “…One of the main things that I hoped to do in Christchurch after the first quake was to organize a large open worship event in the city - to praise and glorify God that nobody had been killed even in a huge 7.1 earthquake. I found that no such event was being planned, but there were thousands of evangelical Christians in Christchurch, and I felt very strongly that it was important for us to publicly glorify God for the miracle of surviving such a disaster with no-one killed. The place was traumatized and it was obvious that a sensitive Worship event would do much good - and even many non-Christians would likely attend. But sadly it was not to be. And this is the disturbing part.

“I have organized large events before, so the Christian Radio network knows me - and quickly agreed to promote the event for free. The PA sound people also agreed to supply excellent sound for a very low cost. And the Christchurch City Council couldn't have been more helpful. Everything was looking good. But then we ran up against the Christian leaders.

“One of the main "networking" Pentecostal leaders in the city told me that we could count him OUT of any support for the event. Then I spoke personally with the Dean of Christchurch Cathedral who told me that we could NOT use the main Square in Christchurch for a worship event for the whole Body…

“I called a number of prominent pastors and worship bands around Christchurch. I said we had the support of Radio, the Council, the sound and everything. No response. Worship bands not interested. Pastors not returning calls. (You might think they were busy after the quake - but remember no-one died and Christchurch was up and running pretty fully after only a couple of weeks). I simply couldn't understand it. The evangelicals of Christchurch had made no public acknowledgement of God at all - no public worship for this miraculous escape - no public glorifying of Jesus. Even the secular News and the politicians were calling it a "miracle". People were traumatized everywhere. Wasn't it a "no-brainer" that we should be doing such a thing? Doesn't God deserve public praise after protecting so many people from harm?...”

Evangelist Strom and his family left Christchurch in December frustrated by the uncooperative, even hindering, activities of his brethren in this “Christian city in the other side of the world”. But on February 22, 2011, another earthquake shook Christchurch. It was less than six months after the first one in a city that never experienced any in its 162 years of its existence. In magnitude, it measured less; 6.3 as against 7.1; but it has been far more devastating.  As I sign off this article, 161 deaths have been confirmed while, with rescue operations officially ended, over 200 persons were as yet unaccounted for. Figures are not yet available for the value of destruction to properties, but it has been confirmed that a sizeable number of the structures in the city centre have to be pulled down. There is an exodus from Christchurch. Heart-rending indeed.

I leave you, dear reader, to reach your own conclusions on whether or not, had the thanksgiving concert held, the recent quake might not have happened or that there would have been no fatalities. But this report by one of Strom’s correspondents is instructive.

Simply identified as Nancy, she wrote: “Today (Sunday February 27 – ed) in Christchurch many churches were forced out into the open to praise and worship God, and many people came along who would not normally go to church. There will also be more sense of unity as the churches that are not damaged are being opened up for other churches to use for services and for funerals. Prayer meetings are being organised for this week coming, to pray for the city.”

Her report was corroborated by Fox News: "Parishioners came together Sunday in parks and on the lawns of churches broken in New Zealand's earthquake to pray for the dead and missing. They sought togetherness and an answer to the question on everyone's mind: Why?"

Associated Press threw more light: "The churches that dot the city felt some of the worst of the temblor's wrath. Spires toppled, stained glass windows exploded, walls cracked and masonry fell... Outdoor services also were held at other churches and at a library, where attendees arrived on bicycle or on foot and sat in folding chairs..."

Food for thought, there! Are church leaders holding to their turf listening? Let him that has ears hear what the Spirit is saying unto the church.