I'm writing today with a heavy heart and great expectations. 
           
Recently, the small island nation of Haiti was hit by four storms in less than one month.  Fay, Gustav, Hannah, and Ike left hundreds dead and nearly one million displaced.  New Yorkers understand disaster and the need for timely help from neighboring communities.  Haiti is already the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.  The recent calamities left the people and the nation utterly devastated and it's getting worse.

Watch this CNN report. 
 
NY Faith & Justice is collaborating with a diverse group of New York faith leaders, representing a broad ecumenical network and a spectrum of faith traditions.  We have come together to declare, "Faith-filled New Yorkers will not sit silent while our brothers and sisters in Haiti suffer."  We request your participation in the Haiti's Moment Initiative.
 
News bites stream across our televisions, ipods, and cell phones each day; the Wall Street crisis, the election, the war in Iraq.  Yet, rarely do we hear news about the people of Haiti. 
 
In the Christian scriptures (Mark 5:21-23) we're told of a woman with a bleeding condition.  She was poor and marginalized and had suffered for twelve years.  Each time she sought help the problem got worse.  At the same time, Jairus, a rich man, had a daughter who was about to die.  He asked Jesus to come quickly to save her life.  They were walking back to Jairus' house when the bleeding woman leaned in and touched the hem of Jesus' garment.  Jesus stopped and listened to the woman's whole story and healed her. 
 
Though, the U.S. is teetering on the brink of economic chaos, it is good and right for us to stop,take a moment, and listen to the story of our "bleeding" neighbor - Haiti.   

The Haiti's Moment Initiative is sponsored by:

• New York Faith & Justice
• Concerts of Prayer - Greater New York
• The Interfaith Center of New York
• Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
• New York Theological Seminary
• New York Divinity School
• The Rainbow Push Coalition-1000 Churches
• St. Mary's Episcopal Church
• All Angels Episcopal Church
• Ocean Grove
• Dayspring Ministries
• Hostos Community College- Catholic Chaplain's Office
• Bread for the World

... in partnership with World Vision - New York Programs, Partners in Health, and Catholic Relief Services.  

Please go to our website @ www.nyfaithjustice.org to learn more.  Scroll down the NY Faith & Justice homepage and click the link entitled "Haiti's Moment". Open the PowerPoint document and click through to learn how your congregation can demonstrate a scandalous outpouringof mercy, justice, generosity and love by giving in Haiti's greatest time of need.

 
HAITI'S MOMENT


Shalom,