Black Methodists for Church Renewal,Inc.
Sunday, May 19, 2013

Helping Haiti

The United Methodist Committee on Relief immediately pledged to send teams, material resources and funding to Haiti as soon as possible. Special online-giving options went up, and church leaders throughout the world encouraged congregations to take up special offerings for earthquake victims. Children at a school in Cite Soleil, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, eat meals provided by Stop Hunger Now in this July 2009 photograph. United Methodists are responding to the massive earthquake that struck Haiti with aid, donations and prayers. A UMNS photo by John Gordon.

Helping Haiti: News, Info, and Opportunities

BMCR urges all members and caucuses to pray for the families, churches, organizations, and other partners in ministry in Haiti and to join in support efforts in any way you feel led. For more information about how United Methodists are supporting this effort, please visit the United Methodist website and learn how UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, is working to help our sisters and brothers through this unbelievable tragedy.

Our organization will be making financial contributions and working to support this effort in other ways. If you have suggestions on how our organization can increase our support, please contact the national office (bmcr@umpublishing.org).
 
Stay up to date with what we're doing at www.bmcrumc.org/haiti.
 
 
 
 
BMCR urges all members and caucuses to pray for the families, churches, organizations, and other partners in ministry in Haiti and to join in support efforts in any way you feel led. For more information about how United Methodists are supporting this effort, please visit the United Methodist website and learn how UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, is working to help our sisters and brothers through this unbelievable tragedy.

Our organization will be making financial contributions and working to support this effort in other ways. If you have suggestions on how our organization can increase our support, please contact the national office (bmcr@umpublishing.org).
 
 
In addition to prayer and financial contributions to UMCOR, BMCR is issuing an invitation to reach out, develop partnerships and stand in solidarity with our Haitian sisters and brothers in this moment of profound devastation. In addition to relief efforts, another way to act in faith is to reach out and develop partnerships with Haitians and
Haitian Americans in the United States who are in grief, dealing with loss, wrestling with what to do next, and due to lack of information are standing between hope and despair. Rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, resurrecting community, sustaining and rebirthing the hopes of the people will be a slow process and will necessitate our long
term commitment. For months and years to come Haiti and Haitian communities will need our collective support.

As we enter into a long weekend which commemorates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. let us, among other things, dedicate ourselves to investing in the future of our brothers and sisters of Haiti.
A way to begin:
  • Identify local churches, local organizations working on Haiti, or national Haitian/ African Diaspora non profits and pledge to partner with them or join their campaigns.
  • If there are Haitian churches or churches with Haitian communities in your area, develop a relationship by attending a service and offering your support
  • Partner with Haitian congregations and hold a joint prayer service
  • Host educational/ cultural nights celebrating and learning more about Haiti
  • Join or develop a joint committee with Haitian organizations or congregations to coordinate long term educational programs, advocacy work or direct service opportunities.
It is important to establish relationships with our Haitian sisters and brothers so they are aware they have partners is prayer who are ready to listen, act, and advocate.  Though in the wake of the earthquake, relief efforts are the most pressing issue for Haiti, Haiti needs and deserves a long term commitment to sustainable and contextually relevant
development which necessitates our involvement in the grassroots.
 
Letter from Safiyah Fosua (GBOD):
Friends,

With heavy hearts we commend several prayers for Haiti and two pages of
resources for times of natural disaster.  If any of you have written
prayers and similar resources that you would like to share please send
them to Safiyah Fosua:  preaching@gbod.org for consideration.

A Prayer for the People of Haiti:
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=48375

Haiti Cries. and We Cry with Them:
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=48380
(Spanish translation available)

Prayers, Hymns, Sermons, and Resources for Times of Natural Disaster:
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?loc_id=739,1112&act=nav_loc

Haiti Earthquake Response Resources:
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?loc_id=739,1112,1198&act=nav_loc


Please share these resources with friends and keep Haiti in your prayers.

Blessings and Peace,
Safiyah

Rev. Dr. Safiyah Fosua
Director of Preaching Ministries
Discipleship Ministries Division
GBOD