January 16, 2010

Haiti. Right now the one word says more than any word can say.  Wherever you listen, look or turn right now you can connect in some way to the devastation being experienced by thousands of people in our world.  We have received emails, phone calls and checks of church members whose hearts are stirred to do whatever they can to lend support and friendship to the people of Haiti.

Today there are two things you can do now:

  • First, you can stop whatever you are doing and have a conversation with God.  Yes, you can pray while you are driving and yes you can pray while you are working. But on behalf of the people who need your prayers why don’t you just stop and give God your full, undivided attention.   Say what you need to say about this. If you have questions, ask them. If you have tears, cry them.  If you have no words, be still in the presence of God.  God created the world…and God knows more about the quake of the land and the suffering of the people who were there when it hit than we can comprehend.  God can take our questions, our tears, our compassion and our helplessness.  And when we bring this to God in prayer we can expect guidance, redemption, hope, creative compassion and an abundant provision of whatever we are asked to do to help our neighbors in need.
  • The second thing you can do is provide financial support.  You can donate online at  http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/. We will also give our February 7th Communion Offering for the Haiti relief effort.  Checks must be marked for “UMCOR Haiti Advance #418325.”

Here are a couple of “active” things you can do with your children.

In the days and weeks to come we will all learn and organize for long term effective responses to the people of Haiti. The Missions & Outreach Committee is already compiling a list of ideas on how our church can help. For now, thank you all for being a house of prayer.  Blessing and peace to all of you.

Vona