Sydney siege survivor seeks unity

#1166 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 20 December 2015

One year on from Sydney’s Lindt Cafe siege, which claimed the lives of Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, one survivor is taking extraordinary steps to bring healing from the tragedy.

Louisa Hope, who was shot in the foot during the siege, has joined Common Grace as Ambassador for their ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ campaign.

She said her Christian faith was the “bedrock” of her life, and every adversity presented opportunities to recover stronger and better than before.

She prayed “that we would grow through the fear and anxiety that has beset the world in recent times, and turn instead to all that is true and loving.”

Louisa said she supported multiculturalism, and hoped “its value to us would be renewed as we invest our time and energy and love into realising its potential to unify us.”

Amid uncertainty and fear, the Christian faith and hope of people like Louisa are needed more than ever.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.