A retired clergyman and 35 Springwood-Winmalee Anglicans will leave for the country today to visit drought affected families in Forbes.
The Rev Neil Prott ,who is a member at Springwood Winmalee Anglican Church, is leading the expedition as part of his Country Serve ministry, which seeks to support evangelical bush churches.
This weekend 14 carloads of people and three trailerloads of goods, including food, cosmetics, toiletries and clothing, will journey to Forbes and surrounding areas where they will visit and deliver parcels to 56 rural families.
"We are not simply giving parcels. We are also encouraging people to share their story with us, share their burden with us and allow us to open the Bible and pray with them," Mr Prott says.
"We particularly want to encourage the women, because the small luxury goods are often the first things to drop off the shopping list."
Mr Prott says this is a great way to show that city Christians still care their country brothers and sisters.
"If we have taken the trouble to drive out and package up goods, it shows we are not just carrying on in Sydney without a thought for these drought-stricken people," he says.
Mr Prott says in his five years on the road he has seen the worst effects of the drought.
"I've met people who look at you with blank eyes. Every morning they wake up and are surrounded by death," he says.
"There have been horrendous suicides despite government support. People have to drive 85kms to an encouragement meeting. Or people without computers or internet access are expected to go to a web page to get help from Centrelink."
The Christian drought
Mr Prott says many rural churches have closed down over the last ten years.
"I am particularly concerned with contacting people where the church has closed down and the minister has left town," Mr Prott says.
"There are some towns in NSW where you cannot find a Christian. There was once a church but there isn't anymore."
Mr Prott says a lot of his ministry is to church pastors.
"Since I am a shepherd myself I deal with shepherds. If the shepherd is in good shape, the sheep will benefit. If the shepherd is not doing well the whole congregation will feel the impact," he says.
"I meet with people to give them encouragement from the Scriptures. We have a good look at key passages, people are encouraged and realise they can keep going."
The rector of Springwood Winmalee Anglican Church, the Rev Graham Crew is encouraged to see so many of his parishioners ministering to those affected by drought.
"A lot of those who are going are older or retired people. I think Neil has really inspired them with his passion for the bush," he says.
Mr Prott is confident other churches can replicate this ministry.
"I am a little disappointed more hasn't been done. There is nothing like this personal contact. If Sydney churches could adopt rural churches it would be a wonderful blessing both ways," he insists.
"If a carload of people from the city visit every now and then, it is a great encouragement to the country churches and pastors."
For more details visit the Country Serve website.
Photos courtesy Robert Bicknell.
