Acts 2:42-47 tells us of key characteristics of the earliest church. Alongside the marks of teaching, worship and the Lord's Table there was the outstanding demonstration of love for each other. "All believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods and they gave to anyone as he had need."
By now the news of the after effects of the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti is beginning to move our hearts to compassion for the millions of people affected by this most recent in a long run of disasters.
We are anticipating two important phases for our AGC response to this disaster. Phase 1 is Humanitarian aid and relief; Phase 2 Rebuilding
First and foremost, please rally your people to prayer for Haiti. The evangelical church in Haiti is strong but needs our help. AGC Haiti is now approximately ten churches and growing. They need our prayers.
Our Haitian AGC pastors and families in Quebec need our prayers and support as well. Many have still not heard from their families to know that they are safe. Some have lost their family homes in Haiti. All of us are affected by this disaster. I know that we all want to help.
It is too early to say what the best long term recovery strategy would look like. We are already working with our Haitian pastors to assess the damage and to formulate a longer term rebuilding strategy which is our Phase 2 strategy.
That said the more urgent need is for disaster relief and humanitarian aid (Phase 1). The millions affected need food, water and shelter. One of our sister partners is World Relief Canada and we are suggesting that immediate aid be channelled through them.
The following has just come in from World Relief....
"There were reports of extensive damage to buildings in the capital, including a hospital that reportedly collapsed,” says Laurie Cook, CEO of World Relief Canada, “An eyewitness at the scene reported that the city was “just gray with dust.” Many thousands of people are going to be left in a desperate situation and in need of our assistance.”
Haiti, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, has suffered from several major disasters in recent years, including deadly hurricanes and floods.
World Relief Canada urgently needs your support for the need in Haiti. To donate online go to http://www.wrcanada.org/donate or call 1-800-567-8190 toll-free."
You may have alternative agencies that you know and trust. World Vision is another such agency that our office would recommend. The important thing is to give, and to give as soon as possible, to trusted agencies that can be on the ground in Haiti to bring this urgent care.
Over the next weeks AGC will lay out a Phase 2 plan to help our sister AGC churches in Haiti to rebuild and to do ministry. Please consider how you might plan to support these initiatives.
In summary, these are the action steps:
- Pray for Haiti, our AGC Haiti churches and for our Haitian families in Canada
- Phase 1…Give immediate humanitarian support to the agency of your choice (we suggest World Relief)
- Phase 2…Prepare for further communication for the rebuilding of AGC Haiti but please begin to set aside funds for the rebuilding phase. Funds for this project can be sent directly to the AGC office for “AGC Haiti”.
Please contact our office should you have any questions. Thanks for being the Body of Christ in action. Let us know what you are doing so that we can share this with others for mutual encouragement.
Our Haitian brothers and sisters in Canada and Haiti need our Acts 2:44 acts of love right now.
Blessings,
Bill Fietje
President , AGC of Canada