Rubble to Resurrection (Churches
Respond in the Canterbury
Quakes)
Melissa
Parsons
Daystar
Books 2014
ISBN
978-0-9922552-9-9
In the
midst of all the earthquake books recently published, Christchurch writer, Melissa Parsons, saw a
gap. No one was telling the story of the experience of the churches or their
involvement in the emergency response and community care. As she searched for
someone to tell the story, the realisation dawned that she must do it herself.
With
personal experience of the quakes as a resident and young mother, and her husband,
Daryl’s position as a counsellor and Workplace Support manager, Parsons was
well-placed for the task. She set about digging deep to find the story. She
contacted 300 churches in the city, received responses from 95 of those, and
interviewed 56 people. These included emergency responders, chaplains,
ministers, church administrators and others able to talk about the experience
of their own church.
This is not
the story of any one denomination or church group. It is a combined story and
is well organised in three sections: the Church Responds, the Church Grieves,
and the Church Rebuilds. Told with sensitivity and compassion and written with
skill the result is a readable account of a terrible time.
Some of the
Canterbury
earthquake stories are well known. For some of the hidden gems from people who
do not seek publicity, I highly recommend this book.
Check out
the website:
www.rubbletoresurrection.org
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