NAMB Disaster Relief Update
“The Lord watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever. They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger." Psalms 37:18-19 (HCS)
On January 12, at 5:22 p.m. local time, a series of earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.5 to 7.3 struck Haiti in the highly populated area of Department Ouest, 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. Aftershocks are continuing to occur.
Current media reports indicate collapsed buildings including hospitals and government buildings, and that the earthquake was felt as far away as Cuba. Haiti’s population is more than 8.5 million people with approximately 75 percent living in rural areas. Eighty percent of the population is Roman Catholic while approximately 10 percent are Baptist.
There are no International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries currently serving in Haiti, but Southern Baptist work continues through national partnerships. The Florida Baptist Convention has an ongoing work in Haiti and currently employs a Haitian national director and five regional Directors of Missions to direct the work there. In addition, Florida Baptists have a mission house in Port-au-Prince, which is about 17 miles from the reported epicenter. Florida is currently trying to make contact with people on the ground closest to the epicenter.
Fritz Wilson, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Director, states, “In past disasters, we have distributed rice, clothing, and other items through our partner churches. This method has been very effective in getting help to the people and preventing the food from winding up on the black market. We have also helped rebuild homes and churches.”
The Disaster Relief team at the North American Mission Board has been in contact with Baptist Global Response, Florida Baptist Convention, and other state convention leadership and is helping to coordinate the relief efforts. More information will be made available as this tragedy unfolds.
The State Department has set up a help line for individuals seeking information about family members in Haiti. The toll-free number to call is 1 888 407-4747. The State Department advises that some callers may receive a recording because of the heavy volume of calls. [Canadians concerned about loved ones in Haiti are being asked to call the Department of Foreign Affairs emergency operation centre at 1 (800) 387-3124, or inquire by email at sos@international.gc.ca ]
Please pray for the people of Haiti and those who are responding. You may also help financially by contributing through the following Southern Baptist organizations:
You may help financially by contributing through the following Southern Baptist organizations:
CANADIANS: Canadian National Baptist Convention - Make cheques payable to CNBC (note: for Haiti earthquake relief) Send cheques to:
CNBC
100 Convention Way
Cochrane, AB T4C 2G2
IN USA: North American Mission Board Disaster Relief Fund (Designate your donation for Haiti Earthquake Relief.)
IN USA: Contributions toward the relief effort also can be made at www.gobgr.org.