January 26, 2010

Haiti's Staggering Need: WMP's Response

     When a powerful earthquake hit densely-populated Port-au-Prince on January 12, markets, houses, hotels, hospitals, schools, the presidential palace collapsed. Without warning, death struck an estimated 200,000 men, women, and children and left nearly 2 million homeless.

      Yvan Pierre of International Christian Development Mission (ICDM) wrote, "I believe this catastrophic event can be a turning point and an opportunity to rebuild the nation, both materially and spiritually."

      Into the stream of relief workers and goods arriving in Haiti came response from World Missionary Press. WMP is providing Kreyol and French Scripture booklets, Bible study booklets, salvation coloring books, and New Testaments for free distribution on the streets there, both to Christians who have lost their Bibles and everything else and to non-Christians who are even more desperate now than they were before the earthquake.

      As many Haitians who have lost everything are given the printed Word of God in their own language, God's Spirit will have opportunity to touch hurting hearts and draw them into the comfort of His love and the hope of His salvation.


God's Preparation Ahead of the Tragedy

      The Dominican Republic, which shares the island with Haiti, has opened its doors to refugees from Haiti. God's Word is already there. Juan Bautista Sanchez, WMP's national coordinator for Dominican Republic had surprisingly begun to request Kreyol Scripture booklets in addition to the Spanish he normally uses. A supply of Kreyol New Testaments with Psalms as well as thousands of Kreyol Scripture booklets had already reached him. Now that Haitians are streaming across the border, Juan and his eager team of workers can share God's Word with them in their own language.

      Juan is planning an emergency operation at four border towns where Haitians are entering the country. The goal: to place a Kreyol Scripture booklet in the hands of every Haitian as they receive food. Juan is requesting an additional 200 10-pound boxes of Kreyol booklets.

      Thony Paul, WMP's national coordinator in Cap Haitien, had requested and received 80 boxes of Kreyol and French New Testaments and 640 boxes of Kreyol and French Scripture booklets this past summer. With his son Ebed, Thony is engaging in relief efforts through his Mission Evangelique du Nord d'Haiti (MENH) and will make good use of literature in hand in conjunction with their relief efforts. (http://ew-interknit.org/content/help+Haiti)

      WMP's coordinator in the Port-au-Prince area, Gladys Mecklembourg, also has a supply of French and Kreyol Scripture booklets available to help give hope to those in despair.

 

WMP's Immediate Response

      World Missionary Press is networking with numerous individuals and organizations. Through a container initiated by a church in Ossian, Indiana, a shipment of 1,980 Kreyol New Testaments with Psalms and relief supplies is on its way to Camp Elim near Port-au-Prince.

      From boxes of Kreyol and French Scripture booklets available in inventory, WMP sent an immediate one-pallet shipment (240 10-pound boxes) to Gary Phillips at Hope and Encouragement for Humanity (HEH) www.h-e-h.org . (to view Gary's Haiti Field Flash from our most recent anniversary dinner, CLICK HERE).  A number of boxes from WMP are going with his first container carrying 42,000 pounds of bagged corn, beans, and bleach. Gary will divide this first pallet of booklets among the next four containers he sends.  

      Gary is sending containers to Mission of Hope Haiti, an established ministry reported on by NBC. (to view this inspiring video report CLICK HERE.)  Gary plans to send two relief containers per week as resources permit, each carrying a supply of WMP Scripture booklets. We would like to provide a steady supply of literature to HEH as God enables financially. www.missionofhopehaiti.org   

      We are using the balance of the Kreyol and some of the French in inventory to respond to requests we are receiving from individuals and groups planning missions of mercy, such as a pastor from New Hampshire who called to request "as much gospel literature" as we could provide, for a container of food, clothing, and construction materials scheduled to leave in three weeks.

      Brittan E. from Branson, Missouri, emailed: "I am a Christian ministry graduate student. I spent my past summer in Haiti using your booklets to talk with people about the gospel. I saw their faces light up and hope wash over their faces as they received their "ti Bib po oui" [little Bible for you]. I am returning to Haiti shortly due to the recent tragedy. I would love the honor of taking more of your publications with me to distribute."

Emergency Printings for Haiti

      WMP has scheduled an initial "immediate" printing based on copyright permission already in hand to print 513,800 Scripture booklets (Help From Above, The Way to God, and Satan versus CHRIST) as well as 425,000 copies of A Bible Study on Matthew.

      We have approached the American Bible Society to extend their copyright agreement with us to print an additional three million Kreyol Scriptures in various titles as well as 75,000 Kreyol New Testaments and Psalms for this emergency.

      Please pray for strength and direction as well as financial enablement to print and send this hope-bearing literature on its way. You can help provide for this emergency printing for Haiti. We are able to produce and ship 25 booklets for every dollar donated. (This includes all overhead.) Our Kreyol New Testaments with Psalms and a Bible Study Supplement have a sturdy vinyl cover and cost about $1.44 each to produce.

      May we respond to Haiti's great physical and spiritual needs in ways that truly count for the long-term.

                                                                         Your friend in Christ,

                                                                        Jay E. Benson

                                                                              President                     

P.S. Your generous investment in God's Word for Haiti at this time will have eternal impact. You will provide long-term hope by providing people with comfort of soul and assurance of forgiveness and eternal life as they put their trust in Him.

      Visit www.wmpress.org/donateonline.shtml to help on-line. [You can provide 20 New Testaments and Psalms for a donation $28.80. $100 can provide Scripture booklets for 2,500 people.]  

 

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....READ MORE