January 20, 2010
Dear Christian Friend,
You, like me, have been reading the newspaper and seeing the startling images of the disaster that has overtaken Haiti. The damage - impossible to calculate at this time - is overwhelming. Thousands of lives have been lost, homes destroyed and necessities like water, electricity and food are unavailable.
It was just a year ago that I wrote you concerning the hurricanes and mentioned the CHAOS IN HAITI. Today the chaos is even greater - disaster piled on disaster - human misery piled on human misery - and most of Haiti is without Christ!
USA TODAY carried a telling headline speaking for every Haitian:
"WE NEED HELP AND PRAYERS!"
People around the world are motivated today to help in Haiti. How could anyone read of the devastation and not be motivated to do something?
For 24 years we have been privileged to have our missionaries, Art and Betty Tiede in Haiti. I remember Jim Blackwood reporting on his first trip there and telling me of the difficult circumstances. I have been to the country four times. I have always returned burdened - yet frustrated - after seeing the abject poverty, the religious confusion - voodoo is prominent - and asking God how can we make a difference.
Maybe this disaster will cause the Haitians to see how much they need Christ the Saviour. Pray that Christian revival will come to this tortured country.
As informative as it is to read the newspaper or watch television to see what is going on, you and I as Christians get our marching orders from a different source.
In His Word, God tells us to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel." The Psalmist (147:3) writes - "He healeth the broken heart, and bindeth up the wounds." Jesus, in Matthew 10:8 challenged the
disciples to:"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give."
In the face of a disaster like this, I believe Jesus would have us freely give. Certainly it can be argued that the disciples were given some different responsibilities than you and I, but our compassion for the poor is a constant theme of Jesus and of Scripture.
To meet the immediate needs of Haitian people, we are forwarding funds to the Hope Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Saintange.
Veteran missionaries Art and Betty Tiede, along with their daughter, who is a nurse and her husband, who is Haitian, are assembling a team that will oversee our relief efforts in Haiti. They will also provide medical support and leadership to rebuild the ministry projects.
Our goal for this first phase is to raise $75,000 to support the medical team, provide transportation, purchase and ship medicine and provide food and reconstruction materials.
Countless people are leaving the cities and returning home to the villages, because the cities cannot help them. Each family will experience new pressures to support family members at a time when food, medicine and accommodations are in short supply, or in most cases - nonexistent.
Our national missionaries, Evens and Florence Sanon have completed their theological training and plan to return to Haiti in May 2010. Their school and ministry site are in the area where the earthquake caused the most damage. Our HAITI RELIEF FUND will help rebuild the Church, the Christian school; meeting the needs of the church family and the community they serve.
Your immediate gift to the HAITI RELIEF FUND will enable us to provide maximum support to the established Haitian national ministries. Opportunities lie before us to minister in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and extend His love. Thank you, to you who have already given through our website. Please pray and do whatever you can.
Sincerely in His Matchless Name,
Brian M. Albrecht, President
GLOBAL OUTREACH MISSION, INC.
P.S. We must act quickly and your emergency gift is needed now! You can visit www.missiongo.org for frequent updates on our HAITI RELIEF FUND.
You can link to our online page, below, to deliver your support of those in country. Just mark your gift to Haiti relief, or select Haiti Relief under targeted programs.
