I heard the news story that broke late yesterday about the massive 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti. After a busy day Tuesday, I honestly did not pay attention to the talking heads and the initial images. In my morning devotion I prayed for Haitian relief efforts and for opportunities to show and share the love of Jesus through this disaster. It was not until I slowed down enough to really look at the images and read some information that became broken and moved to tears. Haiti, in many ways, was a disaster before the quake. It is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere with over 80% of people living on virtually nothing, about $2 per day. I read a report from a missionary who stated that the whole country is built of concrete and it has all either cracked or collapsed. Haitian government officials are saying that there could be as many as 100,000 dead, and after seeing the pictures, I could believe it. With such a dense number of people packed into this space, the dead and injured has to be overwhelming.
As I scrolled through several images, I was overcome with sorrow, conviction, and motivation in my own heart. I feel compelled to do something. As a pastor, my staff and I have been doing some research today in how we can lead out and encourage our church to give to Christian relief efforts in Haiti. I want to mention 3 that have stood out to me today. 1. The disaster relief efforts of Southern Baptists is focused through an agency called Baptist Global Response (
www.baptistglobalresponse.com). Funds can be given directly to this organization or through a Baptist state convention. I have received word that the Arkansas Baptist State Convention is collecting relief funds to pass to
BGR (
www.absc.org). The Florida Baptist Convention is leading some relief efforts as well (
www.flbaptist.org). 100% of funds given is going to Haiti and the disaster ministry. 2. I trust and respect Samaritan's Purse (
www.samaritanspurse.org). I've been involved with Operation Christmas Child for several years and have been impressed with the mission and integrity of Franklin Graham. Samaritan's Purse has had teams on the ground in Haiti since last night. 3. World Vision (
www.worldvision.org) is a ministry focused on helping children. It is not limited to children, but gives them a great deal of focus and ministry. Our family has sponsored a boy named
Dedinho who lives on the western coast of Africa. Its been a joy to give to and pray for him. I can only imagine that there will be countless children who will need special aid and assistance after all this.
I pray that through my help...your help...the help of countless others...that the words of Psalm 147.3 will be come reality for the people of Haiti, both physically and spiritually. "
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
I heard the news story that broke late yesterday about the massive 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti. After a busy day Tuesday, I honestly did not pay attention to the talking heads and the initial images. In my morning devotion I prayed for Haitian relief efforts and for opportunities to show and share the love of Jesus through this disaster. It was not until I slowed down enough to really look at the images and read some information that became broken and moved to tears. Haiti, in many ways, was a disaster before the quake. It is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere with over 80% of people living on virtually nothing, about $2 per day. I read a report from a missionary who stated that the whole country is built of concrete and it has all either cracked or collapsed. Haitian government officials are saying that there could be as many as 100,000 dead, and after seeing the pictures, I could believe it. With such a dense number of people packed into this space, the dead and injured has to be overwhelming.
As I scrolled through several images, I was overcome with sorrow, conviction, and motivation in my own heart. I feel compelled to do something. As a pastor, my staff and I have been doing some research today in how we can lead out and encourage our church to give to Christian relief efforts in Haiti. I want to mention 3 that have stood out to me today. 1. The disaster relief efforts of Southern Baptists is focused through an agency called Baptist Global Response (www.baptistglobalresponse.com). Funds can be given directly to this organization or through a Baptist state convention. I have received word that the Arkansas Baptist State Convention is collecting relief funds to pass to BGR (www.absc.org). The Florida Baptist Convention is leading some relief efforts as well (www.flbaptist.org). 100% of funds given is going to Haiti and the disaster ministry. 2. I trust and respect Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org). I've been involved with Operation Christmas Child for several years and have been impressed with the mission and integrity of Franklin Graham. Samaritan's Purse has had teams on the ground in Haiti since last night. 3. World Vision (www.worldvision.org) is a ministry focused on helping children. It is not limited to children, but gives them a great deal of focus and ministry. Our family has sponsored a boy named Dedinho who lives on the western coast of Africa. Its been a joy to give to and pray for him. I can only imagine that there will be countless children who will need special aid and assistance after all this.
I pray that through my help...your help...the help of countless others...that the words of Psalm 147.3 will be come reality for the people of Haiti, both physically and spiritually. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
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