Testimonies
Yes We Care - Brisbane Queensland
Four years ago "Yes We Care" - Brisbane's biggest Neighbourhood Blitz - was launched as a National Thanksgiving Day initiative.
In conjunction with Brisbane City Council, the BrizNet Network of Churches and Ministries combine each year (on the National Day of Thanksgiving) to radically demonstrate God's love to the city through the YES WE CARE strategy. This year on 30th May volunteers took time out of their busy lives to come together for the purpose of demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ to individuals and households in practical and personal ways. Brisbane and the neighbouring cities of Logan, Ipswich, and Redlands were divided into four regions with multiple zones, and hundreds of volunteers were organised into work teams to go into approximately 500 homes to help householders with specific needs. Work undertaken included cleaning out kitchen cupboards, washing windows, tidying overgrown gardens, mowing lawns, and then removing garden waste generated from the efforts. This was a massive undertaking, and could not have been accomplished without the help of Brisbane City Council and the office of the Lord Mayor, Mr Campbell Newman. The Christian Church across Brisbane and surrounding regions was alive with activity from the early hours of Saturday morning, with some regions preparing a cooked breakfast for their volunteers before they went out for the day. In other areas, barbeques were the order of the day, for workers returning at lunch time, to share their encouraging stories as they had gone from house to house being the hands and feet of Jesus in their area. In all regions there was a growing sense of the powerful potential for us as His Church to make a significant impact in our city and region through simple acts of service, compassion, and care; and to reach out to the unsaved, in whatever circumstances, to show God's love to people of all ages and backgrounds. Over the past 4 years of YES WE CARE, many volunteers have taken opportunity to form ongoing relationships with the householders they have previously served. A number of volunteers continue to visit and do gardening or other odd jobs for, have a cup of coffee with, or take shopping those who they originally met because of this great initiative. Not only does this give hope to the recipient, but it also gives the volunteers a sense of joy and purpose and a relational environment in which to speak about their love for God. In thankyou letters and cards, many householders have commented on the incredible joy, friendship and warmth our church volunteers have shown towards them. As well as the practical side of YES WE CARE, a team of church intercessors and those who love to pray, assemble at 4 strategically placed Prayer Tower locations across the city. They engage in specific and general prayer for teams and householders during the day.