 Dear Friends,
I don't have to tell you what's happening in Haiti. It's been a constant of the past week's news. But what you may not know is that Lutheran Christians in Northern Illinois have built relationships and deep friendships with Lutherans in Haiti on frequent mission trips and in other supportive efforts for several years. And that a group of Haitian and other immigrants meets regularly at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Chicago (English District) under the leadership of Jean Bingue, a Haitian clergyman who has been certified for ordination in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The humanitarian disaster in Haiti is deeply touching local lives.
Read below for an update on how Lutheran Church Charities is spearheading local fund raising and relief supply collection efforts. Please also spread the word about a special worship service "in solidarity with Haiti" to be held this coming Sunday afternoon at Zion Lutheran Church, on 99th and Winston in Chicago. They will be gathering donations for relief efforts Vicar Bingue will coordinate in Haiti on a February 5th trip he is planning to make with Rev. Christian Airey (another Lutheran pastor who has been both in Chicago and Florida).
Jackie Bussert for People Ablaze!
in the Northern Illinois District LCMS |
Collection Sites for Haiti Relief
 Lutheran Church Charities in Addison, Illinois, is organizing collection sites for supplies to be shipped into Haiti out of Florida, in coordination with LCMS World Relief/Human Care nationwide efforts. Once in Haiti, the supplies will be received in Port au Prince and distributed through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Haiti as well as Orphan Grain Train and Mission: Haiti partners in Haiti. LCMS relief work is always done with the proclamation in whose name love and care is being shown - Jesus Christ.
There is a list of products needed on Lutheran Church Charities' website. LCC also is collecting funds, which go dollar per dollar for the cause. You may donate at their website (lutheranchurchcharities.org).
Donated items should be packed in boxes for shipping, not bags. Donations of moving boxes and supplies are also welcome. The list of churches collecting items as of Monday morning includes:
- Living Christ Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights
- St Matthew Lutheran Church, Barrington
- Zion Lutheran Church, Bensenville
- St. John Lutheran Church, Burlington
- Zoar Lutheran Church, Elmwood Park
- St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hawthorn Woods
- Salem Lutheran Church, Homewood
- St. John's Lutheran Church, La Grange
- St. John Lutheran Church, Lansing
- St. Paul Lutheran Church, Mount Prospect
- Grace Lutheran Church, Northbrook
- Christ Lutheran Church, Orland Park
Materials are being collected for two weeks only.
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In Solidarity with Haiti...
A Service of Worship & Testimonies
You are invited to join the Haitian Community of Chicago for an afternoon of worship and testimonies in English, French and Creole on Sunday, January 24, at 3 p.m.
The service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, 9901 S. Winston Avenue in Chicago (phone 773-233-1775; email kalonjist@aol.com). Officiating at the service will be Rev. Stephane Kalonji, Vicar Jean Bingue and Rev. Christian Airey. There will be an opportunity to make monetary contributions to provide support in the Haiti relief work being conducted by Bingue and Airey, both from Haiti. Light refeshments will be provided after the worship service.
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Updates on Haiti Missions
 Reports by Sue Gross, director of Haiti Lutheran Mission efforts in Northern Illinois out of Christ Lutheran Church in Orland Park together with others, are being posted on the NID and People Ablaze! websites.
These folks have developed a support system for Pastor Isaac Jacquet in the Jeremie District. This is at the western end of Haiti outside of Port au Prince. Damage was not extensive there but humanitarian aid is also desperately needed in these already impoverished villages as refugees from the devastated city make their way back to hometowns.
Photo above shows refugee trucks unloading. Reports are that more than 2,000 refugees had already arrived in this area of Haiti as of Sunday morning with many more to come.
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About Us
Thank you for being counted among People Ablaze! in Northern Illinois. Together, we are reaching into communities through a vision for New Starts...New Believers to share the love of Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit might use these efforts to multiply believers.
Northern Illinois District LCMS
2301 South Wolf Road
Hillside, Illinois 60162
888-708-5267 x 3114
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