JANUARY 14, 2010

Haiti's 7.0 Earthquake:

WMP Helps Bring Hope in the Midst of Despair

Tuesday night's 7.0 earthquake (strongest in 200 years), centered near Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, caused widespread loss of life, destruction of  homes and buildings, and damage to government offices. A hospital collapsed. The presidential palace and government offices were heavily damaged. The quake knocked out communications, toppled buildings, and blocked roads with rubble.  People were trapped in buildings, crying out for help.

Reports reaching World Missionary Press indicate that thousands have died. Many bodies are strewn in the streets. Communications are cut off.  Port-au-Prince is in complete chaos.

World Missionary Press shipped nearly 250,000 Scripture booklets and 900 Kreyol New Testaments to our national coordinator in Cap Haitien last June. Many of those booklets and New Testaments will be helpful in bringing hope to Haitian people now. Other literature shipments for Haiti have gone to ministries in the US who then transport them to Haiti.

Individuals or groups planning to go to Haiti in relief efforts are encouraged to contact WMP for a supply of French or Kreyol Scripture booklets and salvation coloring books to take in with them.

Liz Seese, head of  A Voice in the Wilderness based in Blairsville, GA, which ministers in Haiti and uses thousands of WMP Scripture booklets, reported Tuesday night, "After [numerous] attempts, I reached my administrative assistant. He is alive and unhurt. However, two of Pastor Jerome's boys are dead, and two of my boys whom I had grown attached to are dead.

"Good Shepherd Church and the compound we built are gone. Thousands of dead bodies lie in city streets. The devastation is beyond anything anyone can imagine. My heart is crushed."

On Wednesday Seese reported, "The only peace I have is that over the years we have provided a Christian education for all the children (300 plus) that we feed each day. If they died, they died with Jesus in their hearts. If they lived, they live with Jesus in their hearts. Thanks to World Missionary Press, thousands of Haitians know the Lord and have gospel booklets to carry with them. For many, this is the only Word they own and is their most precious item.

"Just last month, we were able to give food for the families of our feeding program, and into each bag the boys placed a World Missionary Press booklet. I certainly thank God for you and for His great provision for the people of Haiti."

When asked how to help, Liz Seese responded, "Anything would be a great blessing. We are desperately trying to find out if our building is standing and if our staff made it through the disaster. We know we have some deaths but are worried about the rest. Checks can be written  to A Voice in the Wilderness, specified for HAITI RELIEF,  and mailed to: 

A Voice in the Wilderness
99 Cypress Edge Drive
Blairsville, Georgia 30512.

A Voice in the Wilderness is a 501 C-3 non- profit and any donations are tax-exempt.

Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), of which WMP has been a member in good standing since 1984, has prepared a special link on their home page www.ECFA.org to direct potential donors to a list of organizations who are providing humanitarian relief and development aid to Haiti.

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