NEWS
Local C3 churches aid bushfire relief efforts
Bushfires have ravaged Australia in the last few months, with 86 still burning in New South Wales alone. A staggering 18.6 million hectares of land have been left barren and charred, approximately 2,176 homes have been reduced to rubble, and 21 lives have been lost. Those not directly affected by the fires have suffered significant air pollution and power outages.
A firefighter defends a property from a blaze close to Camden, NSW.
However, amidst such heartache, we’re seeing communities rally together as they rebuild.
Young & old are gathering together in towns, ports and cities to provide practical and emotional support, and we’re truly honoured to be a part of it. As widespread rain falls (thank you Jesus), C3 churches across the country are matching prayer with love in action.
C3 Church Camden
C3 Church Camden (just south-west of Sydney) have been able to offer ongoing support to families throughout December and January.
“Through communication with other local agencies, we are constantly looking to assess the needs and fill gaps wherever we can.” Ps Rohan Bell, C3 Church Camden
Donations so far have included:
- Food hampers
- Supermarket and fuel vouchers
- Bedding and linen
- Meals for the NSW RFS volunteers
- Purchase of full-face respiratory masks for RFS volunteers (many are only supplied with paper masks)
- School supplies for affected families
C3 volunteers filling up their car to deliver much-needed everyday supplies to locals.
The supply centre in Camden, NSW.
Funnelled through C3 Church Camden, efforts by C3 Australia have raised approximately $65,000, plus donated goods like food, bedding, clothing etc.
And the funds are still flooding in. Elevation Church (in North Carolina) in particular have reached out and offered a generous donation. We are so grateful for their support, and others like them, from across oceans.
A firefighter explains the difference donations are making to the availability of proper face masks.
For more information or to donate, head to https://chuffed.org/project/c3-fire-relief.
C3 New Hope
C3 New Hope is also playing a part in relief efforts. Across their 8 locations – Kiama, Mount Annan, Campbelltown, Blue Mountains, Oran Park, Wilton and Townsville – they held an offering to raise funds for families on the far South Coast of NSW.
“Specifically we aimed to help those with school-aged children (and even local schools) to ease the burden of back to school shopping.” Bec Choat, C3 New Hope Kiama
With 2,176 homes lost since the beginning of the bushfire crisis in 2019, and school beginning by the end of January, back-to-school shopping will be a struggle for many bushfire-affected families.
Partnering with locals, and another church in Kiama (Generocity Church), C3 New Hope volunteers have so far compiled 25 backpacks filled with school supplies, to the value of over $2000.
C3 Cares
In a joint effort by C3 Cares volunteers from C3 Merrylands, C3 Church City in Darlinghurst and C3 Destiny Bowral, donated supplies were driven to families and firefighters in need.
C3 Cares team from the Southern Highlands loads the trailer to support local firefighters in Exeter.
C3 Cares volunteers packing pallets of supplies for bushfire affected areas on the NSW South Coast.
C3 Jervis Bay
A small group of volunteers from from C3 Jervis Bay on New South Wales’s South Coast have been working tirelessly since January 2nd to clear away rubble and remains from burned properties. The volunteers, including Pastor Steve Ahern, have been using their own machinery – mostly bobcats and tractors – and their own fuel to support the clean-up.
“We’re just getting in there and getting it done.” Ps Steve Ahern, C3 Jervis Bay
January 20th: the team of volunteers pauses for a break. Ps Steve Ahern is pictured on the left hand side in orange.
This less glamorous side of the recovery efforts is often overlooked, but can be extremely costly to residents.
C3 Church Camden & Picton have offered to contribute some of the raised funds towards petrol and machinery costs.
Volunteers get to work on some chicken wire.
Machinery at work clearing the rubble.
Do you have a story to share?
There are countless other stories of people stepping in and providing relief for Aussies all over the country. If you have a story to share, contact us at global@myc3church.net.
Two firefighters take a break from battling the fires.
C3 Cyclists raise $47,809 for sick kids
You might know them as MAMILs (Middle-Aged Men In Lyrca) but there are many Australian families who call them everyday heroes.
Formed in 2010 at C3 Oxford Falls, the home church of Ps Phil & Chris Pringle, the C3 Cyclists are passionate about making a difference in the lives of sick kids through the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. Their annual fundraising ride through rural Australia is always a test of strength and endurance under soaring outback temperatures, and this year was no different.
Their 2019 Country To Coast Tour took the cyclists from Tamworth to Newcastle over 5 days – a gruelling 740km journey which ended at John Hunter Children’s Hospital on October 20th.
Thanks to the generous donations of hundreds of supporters, the cyclists were able to raise $47,809, which has enabled the Humpty Dumpty Foundation to donate life-saving equipment to paediatric, neonatal and maternity wards in need.
On the road between Tamworth and Newcastle.
Making a stop at Maitland Hospital.
Presenting the cheque at John Hunter Children’s Hospital in Newcastle.
Last stop at John Hunter Hospital to visit the J2 ward that will receive the 2 x Connex Vital Signs Monitors.
334 volunteers from C3 Church really Love Brisbane
Brisbane was flooded with volunteers last weekend for C3 Bridgeman Downs’s annual Love Brisbane event – a community-wide working bee to benefit locals.
From revamping the local drug & alcohol rehab centre, to backyard blitzes for returned servicemen, the volunteers spent all day loving on Brisbane.
Check out some highlights below.
Photos by C3 Bridgeman Downs.
C3 Church and United Petroleum give $50,000 to farming families
For the third year in a row, C3 Church City Darlinghurst has raised funds for farming families in the Dubbo area, who have been hit particularly hard by drought. This year, United Petroleum has also risen to the occasion by matching the $25,000 donation with $25,000 worth of fuel.
On Friday 15th November, volunteers from C3 made their way to Dubbo to distribute the goods, including:
- 100 fuel cards to the value of $500
- 15 tonnes of free food and water
- thousands of fresh meals
- consumable items
- clothing
Overall the day was a huge success.
Dubbo, we’re with you! Farming families are the heartbeat of this sunburnt country, and our continuing thoughts and prayers are with you.
Photos by C3 Church City Darlinghurst.
C3 Europe Conference Celebrates The Opening of C3 Hanau
September 2016 marks the opening of Ps. Manfred and Martina’s new church building in Hanau, Germany. This is the second building project they have embarked on in the past 14 years since taking over their church, and celebrates over 19 years being a part of the C3 family. The Schwarzkopf’s were saved in Sydney, Australia back in the 1980’s – in fact, Ps. Phil and Chris were two of the first leaders they connected with after meeting Christ. Many years later they were re-united with C3 in Germany and have been growing a vibrant church family ever since.
Along with their two sons and daughter-in-law, they will be debuting their new space during the C3 European Conference. Featuring Ps. Phil Pringle, Global Growth Ministers Mark and Bernie Kelsey, inspirational speaker Paul Scanlon and hosted by Regional Directors Simon and Valerie McIntyre, the sold out event is a fitting way to usher in this new season in the life of C3 Hanau. If you get a chance, check them out on social media and share some congratulatory love! Growth is happening!
Also check out C3 Europe on instagram to see more of their incredible conference held in the new C3 Hanau building!
Cyclists Ride To Save Lives
C3 Cyclists are an enthusiastic community of people from C3 Churches around the world who:
- love cycling
- want to be outwardly focused on helping others
- want to connect with other cyclists
- want to improve their health and wellbeing, and encourage others to also
- want to achieve something significant they can tell their kids and grandkids
C3 Cyclists runs an annual charity ride to support our chosen charities.
We have raised much needed funds for children for;
- 2010 Kids Cancer project, Ride to Melbourne $20K +
- 2011 Kids Cancer project, Ride to Coff’s Harbour $20K +
- 2012 Bathurst Base Hospital (Resus unit through Humpty for Children’s Unit) Raised $25K
- 2013 Port Macquarie Base Hospital (Resus unit through Humpty for Children’s Unit) Raised $22K
- 2015 Nambour General Hospital (rasied for a Giraffe Cart for Children’s Unit, $25K)
- 2016 Queanbeyan Hospital, Panda Resus Unit ($32,500)
C3 Cares About Sydney
C3 Cares exists to help people in need, in crisis or isolation across Sydney. We believe in community and bringing a message of hope and practical support. C3 Cares Dee Why recently had their first outdoor service where we saw two people receive Christ, and four people healed! Many people gathered and heard a message of hope, including a short testimony and the Gospel.
A Buddhist monk was brought into the service by one of our GO team. He heard the Gospel, gave his heart to Jesus, and was set free from depression and anxiety. He said He could see and feel Jesus and will be coming along to our Alpha courses, and bringing his mum with him!
Another lady approached our prayer tent and wanted to talk to one of our team. She had recently lost a loved one and was suffering with grief. We prayed for her and she felt the peace of God and received the Prince of Peace into her life right then and there.
C3 Cares provides the perfect opportunity to connect with the community. Church without walls. The bad news is that people have the wrong idea about who Christians, the Church and God are. The good news is that we can change those opinions and judgements one person at a time.
For more info on C3 Cares please visit their website www.C3cares.com.au