Mount Pleasant Response to the Crisis in Haiti

 

On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the small Caribbean nation of Haiti. Most of us have felt the impact of this tragic event. This country, the poorest of all western hemisphere countries, was completely devastated. Pictures of this devastation have resonated throughout the world.

 

Due to our longstanding relationship with the people of Haiti, this tragedy weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of our members and friends. For the last fourteen plus years, our church has partnered with Bethesda Ministries to support the operation of a church, medical clinic, and school located in an area along the southern peninsula of Haiti. And while these facilities and its operation were not directly impacted by the earthquake, they were impacted.

 

Many have questioned why so much devastation has come to this poor nation. Some have even speculated that it may be “The judgment of God.” I do not pretend to have the answer as to why God has allowed this to take place, but I do see the hand of God in this situation, despite its tragic circumstances.

 

I regret the loss of any human life and grieve the loss of our Haitian brothers and sisters. However, this tragedy has drawn the attention of the entire world and all of its prominent world leaders. In some ways, it has unified the world community toward helping a nation that should have been receiving this type of attention and help all along.

 

I do not believe that this earthquake was--as some have speculated--“The judgment of God,” and I have chosen not to debate with those who do. What I do hope and pray is that this tragic event will be used by God to finally get the people of Haiti the help they so desperately need. So as an initial response to this terrible tragedy, our church will do the following:

 

1. Pray and Fast – We are asking our members and friends to pray for the people and country of Haiti daily and to pray and fast jointly on Tuesdays on Haiti’s behalf.  
2. Sacrifice – We are asking our members and friends to sacrifice one meal a day for forty days and to contribute the monetary equivalent to our church’s Haiti Mission Fund.
3. Collect Essential Toiletries – We are collecting and shipping toilet tissue, soap, toothpaste, and hand-sanitizer.
4. Work With Mission Partners – We will be working with Bethesda Ministries, Lott Cary, and the SBC disaster relief organizations to help with continual relief.
5. Send Mission Team(s) - We will be sending team(s) to Haiti to assist our partners with ministry and humanitarian operations.

 

This is only the beginning of our response to this crisis, and we pray that God will lead us as we continue to do our part to help and encourage the people of Haiti and the world.

 

  

 

James L. Graham, Jr.

Pastor