It is one year on from the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The media circus has moved onto other things, but we will not forget.
We will not forget to pray, to give, to care.
Why not watch this Tearfund video and pray for the people of Haiti.
Showing posts with label Haiti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haiti. Show all posts
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Music, Worship and Haiti
Tomorrow John and I are heading up to Edinburgh for two days of music and worship.
Tomorrow evening is the Heart for Haiti concert with Stuart Townend and Brenton Brown, and others. On Saturday we'll be at the final Frenzy festival.
The rest of our Ignite group at St Ninians are coming and I'm sure I'll meet up with lots of folks there.
I'm looking forward to spending some time with Ian and Jackie in Penicuik. A good time will be had by all.
Tomorrow evening is the Heart for Haiti concert with Stuart Townend and Brenton Brown, and others. On Saturday we'll be at the final Frenzy festival.
The rest of our Ignite group at St Ninians are coming and I'm sure I'll meet up with lots of folks there.
I'm looking forward to spending some time with Ian and Jackie in Penicuik. A good time will be had by all.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Tearfund Scotland
I had another encouraging meeting with Lynne Paterson at Tearfund Scotland yesterday.
We are hosting a lunch next Thursday, 20 May, 12.45, at the Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. Onone and Jean-Marc will speak on Tearfund's response to the earthquake in Haiti and Lynne will briefly introduce some of the Tearfund resources for local congregations: Connected Church, Just People, Discovery.
If you are in Edinburgh next Thu please come along. If you are a commissioner at the General Assembly this will be the best free lunch of the fringe week, so please come along.
We are hosting a lunch next Thursday, 20 May, 12.45, at the Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. Onone and Jean-Marc will speak on Tearfund's response to the earthquake in Haiti and Lynne will briefly introduce some of the Tearfund resources for local congregations: Connected Church, Just People, Discovery.
If you are in Edinburgh next Thu please come along. If you are a commissioner at the General Assembly this will be the best free lunch of the fringe week, so please come along.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Tearfund Scotland - Exciting Times
I was at my first meeting of the National Advisory Committee for Tearfund Scotland last night.
I feel honoured to be able to be part of the work of Tearfund in this way and look forward to our work together serving the poorest and most needy peoples of the world in years to come.
We heard news of the work of Self Help Groups within the Kale Heywet Church in Ethiopia, more than 3,000 of these 20 member groups established in 3 years. Initially providing a means of saving small amounts and then offering small loans these groups have seen a growth in community and love for the members of the group and community among those touched by this exciting project.
Read more about this here.
Please do pray for Lynne, Jo and Fiona in the office in Glasgow. Please do come along to the lunch event on Thu 19 May at the Augustine United Church in Edinburgh, 12.45 for 1, to hear of Tearfund's response to the earthquake in Haiti.
I feel honoured to be able to be part of the work of Tearfund in this way and look forward to our work together serving the poorest and most needy peoples of the world in years to come.
We heard news of the work of Self Help Groups within the Kale Heywet Church in Ethiopia, more than 3,000 of these 20 member groups established in 3 years. Initially providing a means of saving small amounts and then offering small loans these groups have seen a growth in community and love for the members of the group and community among those touched by this exciting project.
Read more about this here.
Please do pray for Lynne, Jo and Fiona in the office in Glasgow. Please do come along to the lunch event on Thu 19 May at the Augustine United Church in Edinburgh, 12.45 for 1, to hear of Tearfund's response to the earthquake in Haiti.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Tearfund - Haiti
Tearfund have posted another update video on the work and situation in Haiti - check out the Tearfund web site, find it on Youtube, or here ...
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Haiti
Earlier today I was able to join in a second conference call with Tearfund workers.
I gathered from the call that some Tearfund partners are located outside Port-au-Prince and their sites have become like hubs for displaced peoples to gather and so food and other resources on site for various projects have been divered to supply the immediate need of between 1500 to 2000 homeless and desperately needy people.
Some prayer points:
from Mark who is leading the Tearfund needs assessment team which is presently in Haiti:
> pray for wisdom in establishing programmes to meet the needs,
> pray for good connections and working relations with other aid/relief agencies,
> pray for Jean-Claude and his family. Jean-Claude is Tearfund's lead person in Haiti his wife is suffering from severe trauma following the earthquake. The Tearfund office, where Jean-Claude would usually have been working was destroyed, his home, where he and the family were, was partially destroyed.
from Jean-Mark, who is part Haitian:
> pray for the coordination of access ports that aid may flow smoothly through and get to the places where it is most needed,
> pray for the miraculous opening of the harbour to shipping as a means of bringing large scale aid into Haiti.
from Oenone, who works with Tearfund's disaster response team in the UK,
> pray for those deeply troubled by what they have seen following this disaster, for peace of mind,
> pray for many people who are asking, 'Why have I survived? Why was I saved?' Many are searching for some reason why they lived while others did not.
I am challenged by so many of these prayer requests. Do we believe in a God who works miracles and are we willing to ask him to work miraculously to intervene in this situation? I hope we do, and I hope we are.
Haiti - Tearfund respond
I'm copying here an email I received from Andrew McCracken from Tearfund with information about the response Tearfund partners are making in Haiti.
Latest on the Tearfund Haiti earthquake response
Tearfund partner World Relief is treating earthquake survivors around the clock at one of the few functioning hospitals left in Port-au-Prince. Staff are also mobilising local churches to distribute emergency aid packs. Another partner is running a camp for 2000 people at Dalmas on the outskirts of the capital.
A team of Tearfund's disaster response experts are on the ground working with partners to provide basic essentials such as food, water and shelter, and are planning our longer term response.
Just like the 2004 southern Asia tsunami, the devastation in Haiti is total and the need is immense. Our partners were operating in the country before the earthquake struck, and, just like the tsunami, we'll be there long after it drops out of the headlines, working towards long term recovery. But we need your help.
As Tearfund staff and partners respond to last week's terrible disaster, the support your church can give remains vital. We're on the ground but we can't do anything without money. We want to equip you to communicate this message of need to your churches. We will continue to cover the latest news and prayer points on our website at www.tearfund.org/haitiearthquake but from Saturday morning (23 January), in time for the Sunday service, you will also find:
* An updated prayer PowerPoint presentation
* A brand new film for churches on Tearfund's Haiti relief work
Please use these resources to encourage your church to give what they can to our appeal, either by making a direct online donation at www.tearfund.org/haiti or by sending cheques, payable to Tearfund, to Tearfund, 100 Church Road, Teddington, TW11 8QE
'We believe now is the time for the church to give as Christ has given - without holding back.' Jean Claude Cerin, Tearfund Country representative for Haiti.
Latest on the Tearfund Haiti earthquake response
Tearfund partner World Relief is treating earthquake survivors around the clock at one of the few functioning hospitals left in Port-au-Prince. Staff are also mobilising local churches to distribute emergency aid packs. Another partner is running a camp for 2000 people at Dalmas on the outskirts of the capital.
A team of Tearfund's disaster response experts are on the ground working with partners to provide basic essentials such as food, water and shelter, and are planning our longer term response.
Just like the 2004 southern Asia tsunami, the devastation in Haiti is total and the need is immense. Our partners were operating in the country before the earthquake struck, and, just like the tsunami, we'll be there long after it drops out of the headlines, working towards long term recovery. But we need your help.
As Tearfund staff and partners respond to last week's terrible disaster, the support your church can give remains vital. We're on the ground but we can't do anything without money. We want to equip you to communicate this message of need to your churches. We will continue to cover the latest news and prayer points on our website at www.tearfund.org/haitiearthquake but from Saturday morning (23 January), in time for the Sunday service, you will also find:
* An updated prayer PowerPoint presentation
* A brand new film for churches on Tearfund's Haiti relief work
Please use these resources to encourage your church to give what they can to our appeal, either by making a direct online donation at www.tearfund.org/haiti or by sending cheques, payable to Tearfund, to Tearfund, 100 Church Road, Teddington, TW11 8QE
'We believe now is the time for the church to give as Christ has given - without holding back.' Jean Claude Cerin, Tearfund Country representative for Haiti.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Friday, 15 January 2010
God Loves Haiti
I'm disgusted and appalled by the comments attributed to Pat Robertson and quoted on the BBC News site here, and on other sites.
I hope I am regularly quick to give the benefit of the doubt to those quoted in the press as they are so often misrepresented. However, Pat Robertson has a track record in this area of making obscene and offensive comments like this.
To describe Pat Robertson as an 'evangelist' is surely a massive abuse of the term. What good news is he bringing when he declares a nation and a people who are loved by God, for whom Christ died, as cursed, and describes a horrific earthquake as the judgement of God?
I hope that the people of Haiti experience the love of God in these days, not least through the generosity of God's people from every part of the world giving what they can to help in this time of need. I hope that this generosity is a genuine good news message, a true evangel, that will be heard not only in Haiti but all over God's world.
I hope I am regularly quick to give the benefit of the doubt to those quoted in the press as they are so often misrepresented. However, Pat Robertson has a track record in this area of making obscene and offensive comments like this.
To describe Pat Robertson as an 'evangelist' is surely a massive abuse of the term. What good news is he bringing when he declares a nation and a people who are loved by God, for whom Christ died, as cursed, and describes a horrific earthquake as the judgement of God?
I hope that the people of Haiti experience the love of God in these days, not least through the generosity of God's people from every part of the world giving what they can to help in this time of need. I hope that this generosity is a genuine good news message, a true evangel, that will be heard not only in Haiti but all over God's world.
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Keep Praying For Haiti
I've copied this from the EA web site.
As Evangelical Alliance member organisations respond to the earthquake in Haiti, the Alliance is calling on Christians to pray for the survivors and the relief efforts.
The earthquake, which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, struck on January 12. Relief and development agencies, including Alliance members, responded immediately, deploying staff and creating emergency appeals.
Magalie Boyer from World Vision, who have 370 staff in the country, spoke of the earthquake: "It felt as if a truck had hit a wall. There is extensive damage in the city. People had to spend the night in the streets. They are not comfortable staying in their houses." Boyer added: "World Vision Haiti will distribute first aid kits to survivors, along with basic materials such as soap, blankets, clothes and bottles of water as an initial response."
Power and communication lines are down for miles, roads are blocked and damaged and there is a lack of equipment. This has all stalled the relief effort and made bringing aid to survivors more challenging.
Jennie Evans, Tearfund's Head of Region for Latin America and the Caribbean said: "'With so many buildings destroyed and so many people made homeless, the need for shelter and basic essentials such as food and water is extremely urgent.'
Impoverished Haiti is no stranger to disaster, but this latest earthquake is the largest to hit the Caribbean in 200 years, causing widespread devastation.
With the epicentre just 10 miles from the capital Port-au Prince, countless buildings (including the presidential palace and UN office) and homes have been destroyed and the official death toll is rising continually. Thousands of people sleep in the streets in fear of another aftershock, the hospitals are overwhelmed and family members across the world await news of loved ones.
British rescue teams and Government rescue specialists have landed in nearby Dominican Republic and although figures are uncertain the Red Cross estimated that three million people need emergency aid.
Distressing news pictures depict the injured and dead lying in the streets and screaming from underneath rubble.
Bishop Gerald A. Seale, General Secretary of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean, said the earthquake has had a devastating impact on the progress made in recent years to develop Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere."The social and material gains made in the past two to three years have been totally wiped out by this earthquake," he said. "As Christian NGOs gear up for a major response in the next few days, we need to give sacrificially and pray."Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance UK, said: "At a time like this many of us feel powerless to do anything when we see devastation but as Christians we can always do something.
"Please give generously, and pray passionately for those who have lost everything in this disaster, that aid workers reach the thousands in desperate need and that the Church in Haiti is able to respond to the needs of those suffering."
Prayer points:
Pray for Haitians as they cope with the shock and aftermath of the earthquake.
Pray for the injured, that they would receive the medical attention and assistance they need, and for God's comfort for those who have been bereaved.
Pray for rescue efforts - that survivors are reached quickly and that communication and power lines are restored.
Pray for the local church leaders and Christians as they minister and offer spiritual, physical and emotional help to their neighbours in need.
Pray for the government and leadership in Haiti as they respond.
Pray for the safety and protection of relief staff, rescue workers and aid agencies.
Pray that the appeals for help and financial support will be met with a fast and generous response across the world.
As Evangelical Alliance member organisations respond to the earthquake in Haiti, the Alliance is calling on Christians to pray for the survivors and the relief efforts.
The earthquake, which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, struck on January 12. Relief and development agencies, including Alliance members, responded immediately, deploying staff and creating emergency appeals.
Magalie Boyer from World Vision, who have 370 staff in the country, spoke of the earthquake: "It felt as if a truck had hit a wall. There is extensive damage in the city. People had to spend the night in the streets. They are not comfortable staying in their houses." Boyer added: "World Vision Haiti will distribute first aid kits to survivors, along with basic materials such as soap, blankets, clothes and bottles of water as an initial response."
Power and communication lines are down for miles, roads are blocked and damaged and there is a lack of equipment. This has all stalled the relief effort and made bringing aid to survivors more challenging.
Jennie Evans, Tearfund's Head of Region for Latin America and the Caribbean said: "'With so many buildings destroyed and so many people made homeless, the need for shelter and basic essentials such as food and water is extremely urgent.'
Impoverished Haiti is no stranger to disaster, but this latest earthquake is the largest to hit the Caribbean in 200 years, causing widespread devastation.
With the epicentre just 10 miles from the capital Port-au Prince, countless buildings (including the presidential palace and UN office) and homes have been destroyed and the official death toll is rising continually. Thousands of people sleep in the streets in fear of another aftershock, the hospitals are overwhelmed and family members across the world await news of loved ones.
British rescue teams and Government rescue specialists have landed in nearby Dominican Republic and although figures are uncertain the Red Cross estimated that three million people need emergency aid.
Distressing news pictures depict the injured and dead lying in the streets and screaming from underneath rubble.
Bishop Gerald A. Seale, General Secretary of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean, said the earthquake has had a devastating impact on the progress made in recent years to develop Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere."The social and material gains made in the past two to three years have been totally wiped out by this earthquake," he said. "As Christian NGOs gear up for a major response in the next few days, we need to give sacrificially and pray."Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance UK, said: "At a time like this many of us feel powerless to do anything when we see devastation but as Christians we can always do something.
"Please give generously, and pray passionately for those who have lost everything in this disaster, that aid workers reach the thousands in desperate need and that the Church in Haiti is able to respond to the needs of those suffering."
Prayer points:
Pray for Haitians as they cope with the shock and aftermath of the earthquake.
Pray for the injured, that they would receive the medical attention and assistance they need, and for God's comfort for those who have been bereaved.
Pray for rescue efforts - that survivors are reached quickly and that communication and power lines are restored.
Pray for the local church leaders and Christians as they minister and offer spiritual, physical and emotional help to their neighbours in need.
Pray for the government and leadership in Haiti as they respond.
Pray for the safety and protection of relief staff, rescue workers and aid agencies.
Pray that the appeals for help and financial support will be met with a fast and generous response across the world.
Pray for Haiti
I'm presently on a conference call, listening in, to Anoni (I hope I got that right) and her husband Jean-Marc, who is half Haitian, talking about the disaster and Tearfund's response.1) A Tearfund needs assessment team, with experience from the South-East Asian Tsunami, will arrive in Haiti at the weekend, with a particular focus upon water, sanitation and health.
2) Communications have gone down in Haiti, no one really knows what's happening beyond their kilometer. For 8 hours or so after the earthquake communication by mobile phone was posible, but now they need recharged and there is no electricity. (Humbled to think 48 people around the UK can join in a onference call).
3) A significant disaster, the central coordination of the country will need rebuilt, at the same time as the provision of food, clean water and health care. Many aid, relief agencies have office in Haiti, but these have been destroyed, affected by the earthquake.
4) Tearfund's immediate focus will be on helping with food, shelter and clean water.
5) Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, 80% in abject poverty, 70% unemployment.
6) Pray for Tearfund partners and their ability to offer aid to their communities.
Please pray
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Please Pray for Haiti
Haiti earthquake
Tearfund is today dispatching emergency aid funds to help survivors of the earthquake that has shattered impoverished Haiti.
Tearfund is today dispatching emergency aid funds to help survivors of the earthquake that has shattered impoverished Haiti.
Hundreds of people are missing feared dead after a quake measuring seven on the Richter Scale struck the Caribbean island yesterday.
Many buildings have been destroyed or badly damaged in the capital Port-au-Prince, including the presidential palace and the five-storey UN offices.
Tearfund is in Haiti, responding to this disaster. Please give what you can to support our work using the form below. - see the web page here.
For more news on the situation in Haiti - see here.
For prayer points on Haiti - see here and below:
Haiti earthquake prayer points (last updated 13 Jan 2010)
The Caribbean island of Haiti is reeling after an earthquake caused devastation. Please use the following prayer points:
Pray for the people of Haiti as they deal with the aftermath of the earthquake, ask the Lord to comfort those who are injured and mourning.
Pray for rescue efforts to find survivors trapped in destroyed buildings and for communication links and power supplies to be restored quickly.
Pray for a swift and generous response from the international community to help this disaster-prone poor country.
Pray for the safety and protection of Tearfund staff and partners based in Haiti and that they will be able to respond as effectively as possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)