Earthquake Response Coordinator William Drury-Turnbull shared the past year with the Gathering.

Sepember 4, 2010, changed our lives forever. We were to endure two more major earthquakes – February 22 this year took 182 lives and maimed many others. And June 13 finished off what September started. There have been over 9000 quakes and aftershocks.

Baptists were the first denomination outside the Salvation Army to rally to the cause and respond to the unfolding disaster.

The most common question being asked by many people was, “Where is God in all this?” And, “How can a merciful God do this to us?”

But God was not in the earthquakes, because the earth was simply doing what the earth does to bring itself back into alignment, alter gravity, or purify our water.

No, God was in his people. Many answered the call and opened their hearts to us. Many wanted to help, but didn’t know how. Many came and rubbed shoulders with us and shovelled liquefaction and gave a listening ear and opened their hearts to those who were suffering, emotionally traumatised, struggling with questions to which, at that stage, there were no answers.

Many gave finance, gas heaters, knitting and clothing, blankets, food – whatever we needed, it came.

We were brought before our Lord in prayers and petitions. Those fervent prayers made a difference and brought his presence into the midst of our situations and we got through.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the denomination – you loved us, reached out to us and blessed us.

I am sure God is saying, “Well done, good and faithful servants. When my people needed you most you came through.”

For those of us at the coalface, God has seen the way you reached out and loved your neighbours, your communities and each other. He has seen your self-sacrifice and he knows the uncertainty and the enduring of each shaky day. He sees our strength is waning, and he knows we have little more to give out. Our stress comes from not knowing if or when the next large tremor will come – waiting, waiting, waiting. ...

But God would say, “He sees our situations and he is with us.”

Some 1000 buildings in the CBD are being pulled down, over 100,000 homes damaged and in need of repair, 5,100 red zone homes in Christchurch and over 920 red zone homes in Kaiapoi, Pines Beach and Kairaki all have to be removed. Many people are struggling with post-traumatic stress, financial hardships and failing businesses.

More than 100 churches across the city have been destroyed or severely damaged and many of our communities have been so severely affected that life is uncertain. Yet we still have hope.

We have a wonderful opportunity to do what only one other city in New Zealand has ever done, and that is to rebuild. Our city will be rebuilt, better than before. To those of us who are older – we need to be mindful that the legacy we leave is for generations to come. We need to leave something they can be proud of, something that future generations can build on, something that has vision and reflects the Canterbury resilience and something of God’s presence.

Going forward, we have a huge task. But we know that, with God’s help and his guidance, the spiritual climate of people’s souls will be watered. We will see the fresh resilience of his people, and the continued outpouring of Christ’s love through his people will have a profound effect on our communities.