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If you’re unaware of the recent events on Australia’s Eastern shore, take a look here. What follows is a prayer request originally forwarded by the brother of the pastor at Cronulla Baptist Church.

Dear friends,

I am forwarding this prayer request from Martin Schmid, an elder in one of our Sydney Baptist churches, who is the brother of Rev Thomas Schmid, formerly of South Australia, now pastor of Cronulla Baptist church.

From: Martin Schmid

Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 9:35 AM

Subject: Cronulla

Hi all,

I have had various family friends and members of the congregation contact me regarding the well being of my parents and Thomas and his family. For those that are not aware, my brother Thomas is the minister of Cronulla Baptist church and my parents are visiting him and his family for Christmas.

I spoke to Thomas after the initial incident and he was very upbeat and not too concerned, but I have spoken to him again this morning and he has informed me that the situation has deteriorated considerably since we last spoke. Last night a father in the street where my brother lives was bashed by youths in the presence of his 10 year old son while putting out his rubbish bin. Thomas informed me that it is no longer safe to go out after
dark and there is a genuine sense of alarm and insecurity amongst the general community.

Thomas has arranged a combined churches prayer vigil for next Tuesday the 20th of December. He was interview on channel 9 Sydney news last night and stressed that the drunken thugs roaming the streets were neither Christian or Muslim, but they were just that THUGS. Thomas is concerned that the situation is deteriorating into religious race hatred by people who have never attended either a church or a Mosque in their lives.

Thomas has asked for prayer for next Tuesdays combined church meeting. He genuinely believes that there is more at work here than simple thuggery, but evil forces that want to dilute the Christmas message and take away from the message of Christ and peace to all men with a display of violence. Please pray against this evil.

Also please pray for safety for my family and the community in general at Cronulla. I have a nephew and nieces who has to attend high school as well as going about their daily duties. Please pray for their safety as some of this violence is now creeping into these areas as well.

At my nieces wedding my brother lamented the fact that the biggest challenge facing him as a minister in such a picturesque and affluent area such as Cronulla was complacency. This challenge may very well be the wake up call that unifies the Christian community at Cronulla and they rise to the challenges that our Lord has placed before them.

Romans 8.28 tells us that “All things work together for good, for those who are in Christ Jesus and work according to his purpose” God did not create this mess, but with Christians all over the country working and praying I have no doubt that our Lord and saviour will have the victory.

God bless and please pray, pray, pray

Your brother in Christ

Martin Schmid