Haiti: How We Can Help
January 15, 2010
Earlier this week, many of you saw the stunning and tragic events unfold before your eyes via television, internet and newspaper regarding the earthquake in Haiti measured 7.0 on the Richter scale. Many of you were left speechless as you tried to imagine how it must be like to go through such an event. Many of you couldn’t find words to express your shock and horror at the loss of thousands of precious lives, including some of our friends and family, and countless innocent children, not to mention the loss of government buildings, hospitals, churches, university buildings and other landmarks. Many of you might have felt troubled, even torn as you watched people look through the rubble to find their loved ones.
But however you felt and whatever thoughts came to your mind, my hope is that the first thing you did was seek God for his mercies and grace to help in this time of desperate need for the people of Haiti. Though theirs is a situation unspeakable and unimaginable, yet God is familiar with grief, suffering, and even tragedy. My hope also is that the second thing which crossed your mind was to ask the question: “What can I do” or “What is there to do to alleviate the pain and suffering experienced by so many?” Remember that when one suffers, we all suffer and feel the pain of that suffering. And though the nation of Haiti may be many miles away and most of the individuals who reside there are might be unfamiliar to us, we are all part of the world-wide family of God made in his image. We have a responsibility to act and to act quickly while the need is apparent and the pain so evident.
The first thing I am calling on each of you to do is to continue praying for God’s relentless grace and mercy for the many of who have been left to pick up the pieces of their lives. Pray that God’s protection and preservation be with world leaders as they coalesce their resources to aid the afflicted. Pray for the government and non-government agencies who are there making assessments. Pray for the doctors, nurses, EMS, military and peacekeeping forces from here and around the world who are there giving their time and resources. Pray that God would hear from heaven and heal the land of Haiti (2 Chronicles 7:14).
The second thing which I call on each of you to do is, in addition to your offering for budget this weekend, please bring a love offering with you to give during our Seed Time offering walk this Sabbath, January 16, 2010. We’ll ask for that love offering for the next few weekends so that you won’t be missed in this important venture. That way funds could be directed to ADRA, Adventist Development and Relief Agency who is already there on the ground, and to other non-governmental agencies that are tasked with providing this kind of assistance. In speaking with ADRA this week, I discovered that the cost for shipping food, clothing and other items are twenty times more than they are able to afford, thus they are asking that you refrain, at this time, from donating those items. Calls are being made for money so that agencies on the ground could have access to funds to purchase what is immediately needed. You could also direct your offering to ADRA via their website (www.adra.ca). The Canadian government will be matching for every dollar donated.
Together with you, I look forward to what God will do in blessing and healing the nation of Haiti during this time of great tragedy. See you at service on Sabbath!
Blessings,
Pastor John
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Hey Kanisa family,
I lost a newly purchased $50 “Disc o Junior” seat for my son while at Kanisa 2 weekends ago and have not been able to find it since. It is bright red and round with dimples on one side (the seat) and smooth on the other side and a green inflation pin at the side. I am distressed to lose it because it was working like a charm to keep him seated during church (probably the first time at Kanisa!) and i would love to have it back. Could you please announce it on Sabbath & let me know if it has been found? It was in a regular white shopping bag and i think it was down stairs but i am not sure, it might have been on the coat racks. Thanx in advance, nn
We need to make it so that the littlest kids of the church have a room for Sabbath school classes so that they don’t run around so much &/or disturb the other older kids who don’t really need a room to focus just like the adults upstairs who also can focus better in the midst of the noises of other classes. Parents may then possibly feel more comfortable to leave their kids and enjoy Sabbath school themselves…just a thought and a hope!
Here’s a blurb from the GC website, that includes a text link to donate to ADRA:
As the tragedy unfolds in Haiti, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and other organizations are responding with food, water and medical assistance. ADRA is spearheading Adventist efforts in Port-au-Prince and raising funds to go directly to Haiti relief work. To donate, text ADRA to 85944 or visit adra.org .