We interrupt your Easter preparations to bring you this very special story, which you might want to share with your congregations on Easter Sunday. Based on the news reports, you might have thought that Cyclone Ita had lost its fizz by the time it crossed the coast and that our friends at Hope Vale had received little more than some gusty wind and heavy rain.

That's not how it was at all. The cyclone was the worst in this generation's memory. Yet not one Hope Vale person or home was harmed.

This is an extraordinary story of a powerful storm and an even more powerful God. We hope you'll be encouraged by it, as we reflect on this same theme this Easter.

God is the victor.

A POWERFUL STORM ... A MORE POWERFUL GOD

The huge tree that fell in the opposite direction to the Lutheran Church is just one example of how God protected his people during Cyclone Ita, which crossed directly over Hope Vale on Friday night and Saturday morning. On Palm Sunday, in the church here, people swapped stories of peace, protection and even visions during the storm. Many are feeling this is God's call to come back to him. Read this remarkable story.