Haitian earthquake
UPDATE, 9:13a: Almost the entire leadership team from my son and DIL’s church, Eastview Christian in Bloomington, IL, was on a missions trip to Haiti when the earthquake struck. All are apparently safe, and some made it home early today. (Updates on site for all who know this church.) But I am reminded there are likely many church mission teams in Haiti who also need our prayers.
8:43a: News reports today indicate yesterday’s 7.0 earthquake in Haiti was utterly devastating.
Pro-lifers should help as they can. Samaritans Purse is one organization I would recommend giving to. Billy Graham’s son Franklin is president and CEO of SP, and the organization has proven trustworthy through the years. You’ll be taken directly to the Haitian relief donation web page here.
If you know of other honorable organizations through which to help Haiti, please feel free to list them in the comments section.
And we must pray for these poor people, that through this devastation many will be brought to the Lord, particularly as Christians around the world shower them with compassionate help.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
http://www.brentgambrell.com
runs an orphanage there
THANK YOU for posting this, Jill. Pray and donate.
Hi Jill,
As Carla said, thanks for issuing a post about this. Catholic Relief Services is also known for their efficient delivery of emergency goods.
http://www.crs.org
My uncle is a southern Baptist missionary there.
http://www.foodforthepoor.org/
is a low overhead, highly effective, and honorable organization.
Marie – you beat me to it. I am on Food for the Poor’s e-mail list. They sent out an e-mail alert last night on Haiti and I made a donation.
Praying for your uncle, RJ.
My family sponsors two children through Compassion International. They are on the northern coast.
Praying for ALL of the precious people of Haiti.
Also, if you could all pray for my friend Theresa from Catholic Match. She met her boyfriend while in Haiti last year on a mission trip. He attends university in Port-au-Prince, and Theresa has not heard from him since the quake. She is understandably worried about him.
Praying, Edward.
Try Save the Children. They’re very trustworthy- they’ll take care of basic needs of children.
Oh my God, this is unbelievable. :O
I’m debating sponsoring a child or sending that money to Haiti. This is terrible. :(
The need for disaster relief in Haiti is immediate, Vannah. Please send a donation that goes specifically to getting food and supplies to those that need it right now.
My two cents. :)
World Vision also has an emergency fund open right now for Haiti. http://www.worldvision.com
We sponsor a little boy, Sonders, who lives just outside Port-Au-Prince. Praying for him and his family right now, as well as everyone else!
You’re right, Carla. I’ll donate the money to Haiti. This is so horrific. I watched the aftermath on the news. I hope that everything is well with you, though. Haiti it is.
Oh no! I just read this at Yahoo.
“The Roman Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince was among the dead.”
Here’s the rest of the story. news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cb_haiti_earthquake
Donation made. Thanks to everyone who posted links. I’ll be remembering your loved ones in my prayers.
+1 for Food for the Poor
Why do you bold face the Christians who send them help? Is the help that comes from others not worthy of note? More evidence that your advocacy is often sectarian, not universal. And more explanation of why war — in which untold innocents die, born and unborn — doesn’t seem to worry you: after all, in today’s wars, it’s not Christians who do the dying.
As a pro-lifer, I am yet again not sure that in your sectarianism you are not harming the cause…
Please continue praying and giving. There are people suffering and dying in Haiti right now.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,582946,00.html
A story about those with Food for the Poor.
Another good Christian organization already on the ground in Haiti that could use donations is Food For the Hungry: http://www.fh.org/
“Food for the Hungry goes to the hard places to bring hope to many who face seemingly hopeless circumstances. ‘God calls us particularly to those places of poverty that are hurting and often unstable,’ says Food for the Hungry President Benjamin K. Homan.”
Praying for all in Haiti and worldwide who need it,
Corrina
Food for the Hungry, Food for the Poor and Samaritan’s Purse all get very high marks on http://www.charitynavigator.org
Tom says “Why do you bold face the Christians who send them help? Is the help that comes from others not worthy of note?”
Tom, the reason I give only to Christian organizations is because I know that my money will not be used to support abortion. I used to give to UNICEF, only to learn that they support abortion. Ditto with Amnesty International. If you know of a secular aid organization that does not fund abortion, please post them here.
Fair answer, Lauren. But it doesn’t address the issue of singling out Christan aid to Haiti as worthy of thanks or note. I’m addressing a larger issue I see with the pro-life movement, which often seems more about promoting the beliefs of a particular religion rather than the universal value of a human life, and which does not call politicians to account for their cavalier use of war as a solution — which it so rarely is — to human problems. As a pro-life Jew I am disgruntled by that bold face. As are many others who might be otherwise given to supporting this site and its goals.
Lauren,
I’m curious about Amnesty International’s support for abortion. Seems outside their domain as an issue. Where have you seen evidence of that? Would like to know because I’ve been a supporter and letter-writer for them.
This is Jill Stanek’s blog, Tom. She writes what she writes. Please don’t get hung up on bold words. Let’s save the lives of unborn children! Let’s try saving some lives in Haiti!
My church supports naturals ministering in Haiti. They run an orphanage/school for abandoned kids. I haven’t heard if they or their 200 students are okay. A man from my church is also from Haiti and his mother and brothers and nephews are still there so I know he is very worried. I have been praying.
http://www.lifenews.com/int359.html
Amnesty International
I’m addressing a larger issue I see with the pro-life movement, which often seems more about promoting the beliefs of a particular religion rather than the universal value of a human life, and which does not call politicians to account for their cavalier use of war as a solution — which it so rarely is — to human problems.
I agree with you, Tom. Ditto with the death penalty. I agree with you that there are many secular organizations that do good work. But I think in this case people are more comfortable giving to organizations that they are familiar with.
I am appalled and sickened by some of the comments I’ve read about this tragedy, like the earthquake was nature’s way of controlling Haiti’s population. What the *?# is wrong with people?
“I am appalled and sickened by some of the comments I’ve read about this tragedy, like the earthquake was nature’s way of controlling Haiti’s population. What the *?# is wrong with people?”
Posted by: Phillymiss at January 13, 2010 3:42 PM
People are ignorant.
Tom, here’s an article from a few years ago about Ammnesty Internationals new (pro)abortion policy.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/aug/23/amnesty-international-endorses-abortion/
I was disappointed as well, as I had previously supported them.
Tom, I can definitely understand your point. I think it is important for all faiths, and those of no faith, to work together to end abortion and to help in humanitarian situations.
I donate specifically to World Vision because in addition to their humanitarian aid, they also promote the gospel in countries where it is allowed. This is important to me as a Christian, but obviously I can see how someone of another faith might find a different aid organization more to their liking.
It’s not about us guys.
The questions we need to ask are what has God done, what is He doing now and what will He be doing.
Every single one of us need to seek His will in this and perform accordingly.
Tom, I suppose you have crystal clear vision?
Apart from a knowledge and understanding of Scripture, we can know nothing of God’s will and all is in vain.
These people need help now physically, emotionally and spiritually. They need food, clothing and shelter……they need compassion and care…..and most important they need to know that God loves them and sent His Son to die for them on the cross to save them from eternal damnation which is far worse than any earthquake.
Lauren, with due respect, I take with a grain of salt anything published in tax evader Rev. Moon’s rag known as the Washington Times.
Charles, the information could be found anywhere. I just pulled up the first article that popped up on google. No reason to attack the messanger.
Here’s amnesty’s own statement.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL30/012/2007
How very saddening and heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers go with all the individuals and families in Haiti. I have also compiled a list, albeit small, of charitable organizations you can donate to to assist the relief efforts. In addition, the Anchoress has complied a comprehensive and long list of news updates and charitable relief organizations.
Follow-up to my earlier post…..Theresa’s boyfriend is alive! He was somehow able to contact her today.
Thank you Edward for updating! Thank you Lord!
I got a clarification after I made that post. Theresa didn’t hear from her b/f directly; she got the good news from a lady at her church who is in charge of the Haiti outreach.
The Missionary Servants of John Paul I work directly with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Haiti, and I’m sure they will be sending relief over the long haul. It’s run by Ray and Lauretta Seabeck, a wonderful married couple in New Hampshire. You can reach them at 22 Boyd Hill Rd, Gilford, NH 03249, (603) 524-4740.
Unfortunately they don’t have an e-mail address or a web site. (I keep telling them to be more high-tech).
You can find out more about them here:
http://subcreators.com/blog/ray-lauretta-and-the-smiling-pope/
Yes, I wrote the article :) And no, that’s not a misprint, they are indeed named after John Paul I, the 3-day Pope. The article explains why.
Actually that’s the 33-day Pope. :)
Thank you for that, Lori. The Salesians have put out a plea for help. I read on facebook that one of their facilities has 200+ students trapped under the rubble. Lord, have mercy!
My uncle is OK! RJ
RJ,
Thank you Lord!! I am so happy to hear your good news!
Answer me quickly O Lord, my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. LET THE MORNING BRING ME WORD OF YOUR UNFAILING LOVE, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:7-8
Praying for the precious people of Haiti. WE ARE COMING!
Fed Up, thanks for your interest.
I have had a hard time contacting Ray Seabeck, since his phone has been ringing off the hook constantly. But I did finally talk to him, and he said they have heard very little from inside Haiti. But they have learned that two of the convents of Mother Teresa’s sisters have collapsed, and a third had to be evacuated because it was threatening to collapse. Nothing seems to be known about the six other convents, or how many sisters have been injured or killed. They are certainly desperately in need of help.
Ray is eager to start sending help over there; they usually send food, clothes, other supplies, books, Mass items, etc that they collect from donors. Right now they are waiting to hear what the most pressing immediate needs are. But if you want to help the sisters with relief as well as caring for their own, you can send a check made out to the Missionaries of Charity to the address I mentioned above, and Ray will see that the Sisters in Miami get it, so they can have to funds to provide what is most needed. (Or you could send it to the sisters in Miami directly; I don’t know their address right off had, but I’m sure it won’t be hard to find).
The Sisters are a lifeline for the people there. So I hope people will help.
Thanks for taking time to post the update, Lori. I found the Miami address.
Hey guys. I just learned that the little boy we sponsor should be fine. World Vision has reported that no children in their sponsorship communities were killed. Praise Jesus!
Continue to keep Sonders and the other survivors in your prayers. They have a long road ahead of them.
Hi Fed Up,
I actually couldn’t find the address myself, and couldn’t reach Ray again so I could find out. Maybe it would help if you posted it.
Lauren, I’d like to see the same response to those who question CBS 60 Minutes with reporting that is corroborated, instead of saying 60 Minutes isn’t credible because of 3 stories in the past. Of course, the Washington Times bunch wouldn’t do that.
Lori, you’ll find it near the bottom of the link below. I was going to call them this morning to verify that this is the address for donations but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
http://www.motherteresa.org/07_family/Volunteering/v_cal.html
Looks like the right one to me.