I have listed some of the efforts of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church to reach out to the people of Haiti in their desperate need. While this is not exhaustive by any stretch of the imagination, these are some ways that we can help out.
One: Focus prayer upon Haiti – for the people, aid workers and organizations, church and church workers there, governments, leaders and officials to give the best response possible. Have laity lead prayers as well as the pastor. Perhaps use the Gospel passage from Mathew 25 to remind that we are serving Jesus in our response to our nearby Haitian neighbors.
Two: Take an offering this Sunday to be divided between UMCOR (90%) and our local Mission Barn (10%) for operating expenses. Why the Mission Barn in addition to UMCOR? Our local Mission Barn Depot near New Castle needs fuel to drive kits to Mechanicsburg, plus extra utility and operational costs as kit-verification teams and other volunteers stream in to assist, etc. The submission number to use for Haiti Earthquake Response is: Advance #418325 The Advance number for our local UMCOR Mission Barn Depot is: MS002009B.
Three: Appeal to church members to contribute towards and/or assemble UMCOR Health kits, deliverable to the Mission Barn between now and Ash Wednesday, one month from today, the sooner the better. Set a stretch goal for your congregation based on your average attendance. (One $12 Kit for every active attendee? You decide, but set a goal and challenge your folks to an extraordinary response.) See the attached documents for proper UMCOR Health and School Kit assembly and for driving directions to the Mission Barn Depot.
Four: Alert congregants to the need for volunteers at the Mission Barn in the weeks ahead. Health Kits must be assembled STRICTLY as designated because of international shipping regulations and declaration of contents. Proper assembly is so important that each kit must be “verified” by a volunteer who carefully checks the contents of each kit to make sure it has neither more, nor less, than the prescribed items in the proper sizes. We will need volunteers to help verify Kits as they come in.
Here are links to help provide more information:
Haiti UMCOR insert-wpa adapt.pdf
These are a few of the ways United Methodists in Western Pa will be helping to relieve the suffering of those who are in need. I would encourage any of my non United Methodist friends to seek out other ways to be of service. Check out the efforts of your local church or of your denomination for starters. Also, reputable organizations like the Red Cross are hard at work as well. Please find a way to help out and to show the people of Haiti that they are loved and that they are not alone.
“In other words, the earthquake reminds us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only real message of hope. The cross of Christ declares that Jesus loves Haiti — and the Haitian people are the objects of his love. Christ would have us show the Haitian nation his love, and share his Gospel. In the midst of this unspeakable tragedy, Christ would have us rush to aid the suffering people of Haiti, and rush to tell the Haitian people of his love, his cross, and salvation in his name alone.
Everything about the tragedy in Haiti points to our need for redemption. This tragedy may lead to a new openness to the Gospel among the Haitian people. That will be to the glory of God. In the meantime, Christ’s people must do everything we can to alleviate the suffering, bind up the wounded, and comfort the grieving. If Christ’s people are called to do this, how can we say that God hates Haiti?” Albert Mohler
