News
Haiti Earthquake Update - Committee on Diaconal Ministries
01/14/2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010. The estimates of the dead and injured from Haiti's earthquake is now in the tenss of thousands. One estimate is in the hundreds of thousands. As the world receives news of Haiti's devastation, emergency aid is starting to reach the island nation. We praise God for His common grace as we see nations of the world responding with such a massive and generous response.
What can we in the OPC do? There will be different levels of response. The first level of response is emergency aid and supplies. At this stage one of the most helpful responses is cash. The Committee on Diaconal Ministries is able to channel relief monies to needy believers in this land. The Hopps, our OPC missionaries on site will oversee this aide. We distribute aid only along with the ministry of the Word, which not all Christian relief agencies do. We heard of one congregation giving their whole diaconal offering this month to Haiti.
The second, and more prolonged level of response will be recovery and rebuilding. CDM at this time does not have staff, but we are co-ordinating relief work teams that wish to go to help. The earliest we can get into the country - because of delays in Haiti - is the end of next week, if even then.
CDM would ask:
- If your church or presbytery is planning to send a team and would have room for others to join you, please contact David Haney who is co-ordinating teams to go. Contact David by email not phone.
- If your church or presbytery is not sending a team but you would like to join a team, you can also contact David Haney and he can match you up with a team. Contact David by email not phone.
- If you anticipate that you would be available to go to help in the near future, you can prepare by getting your shots and passport up to date. You will also need a visa.
As information is available we will post it for information and for prayer.
Donations to CDM can be sent to the OPC address in Willow Grove. Clearly indicate the gift is for CDM / Haiti earthquake.
Rev. Ronald E. Pearce, secretary
Committee on Diaconal Ministries
Ronald E. Pearce is an OPC minister. For a printable version of this letter click here. |
