Two hundred years of poverty and devastation had left Haiti in near ruin. Generations of Haitians had lived in perpetual poverty. Many had nothing to start with—and now the massive earthquake in January has taken untold thousands of lives. The chronically struggling nation of Haiti now lies in literal ruins. Infrastructures, road systems, banks, hospitals, even the government buildings have crumbled. Haiti’s former Prime Minister assessed the situation and said, “The country was fairly dysfunctional before this. The institutions were weak. People were left largely on their own. But this has wiped out everything.”

Now we all stand at a pivotal crossroads. Will we allow this earthquake and its devastation—including the deaths of so many precious people and the destruction of a vast portion of the nation—to be one more in a long line of Haiti’s ruinous disasters? Or could this be a turning point for the nation?

The Church of Jesus Christ has a unique role in Haiti that no other entity is afforded. The church has more compassion, manpower and people than any government agency or aid organization. The church here does not come and go—it is always present. And it will rise up and act to aid Haiti in its hour of devastation. We can declare with words and deeds that God brings beauty from ashes. Yet how does his restoration begin? If God is truly to bring beauty out of the smoldering ashes of Haiti, what will it look like? And what should be our part?

Emergency Relief

Only a few months ago, World Challenge held a Pastor’s Conference in Port-au-Prince. More than 1,000 pastors were in attendance. We are committed to work with these pastors and on their behalf. Contact has been made with their key leaders, and plans for relief are already in action. The donations coming in are being distributed among several lead pastors, enabling them to bring food and water to their neighborhoods to keep people alive. As Haiti slowly reopens, World Challenge is preparing to send medical teams in regular intervals to help provide long-term care for the injured.

The Rebuilding Process

In the weeks and months to come, we will continue the work David Wilkerson began in Haiti 55 years ago, when he first went there to build a church. We will stand beside pastors to help them rebuild church structures demolished by the earthquake. Moreover, there is a great need for new and rebuilt orphanages, as untold numbers of children have lost their parents in the disaster. Many of the pastors we work with have taken in these children and are caring for them. World Challenge is well suited to help rebuild over the long term, and in the coming weeks and months we will send teams to Haiti to help rebuild and establish much-needed churches and orphanages.

Specific Initial Projects

Pastor Cangé (on left) in front of his church in Delmas 2 district.

Right now, World Challenge is providing food and medicines to pastors who distribute them to those in great need. We have sent funds to two pastors, Cangé Michelet and Wilson Charles, who are providing resources for churches, schools and neighborhoods that were destroyed, as well as caring for orphans. We are helping to rebuild a church and Bible school in Port-au-Prince. And we are rebuilding and supplying a food center in Cite Soleil, the most impoverished and violent area of Port-au-Prince.

A Special Word From David Wilkerson

I have stood in the gutters of devastated cities, walked through the world’s largest slums, and seen things that would break the most hardened hearts. In 60-plus years of ministry I have been no stranger to the suffering around the world. Yet rarely, if ever, has there come to my attention such utter pain, ruin, loss of life and utter destruction as caused by this earthquake in Haiti. I first traveled to Haiti 55 years ago, even before going to New York City and establishing Teen Challenge. We were able to build a church in Haiti back then. Since that time World Challenge has been deeply involved in ministering to the needs of this nation—building schools, supporting feeding programs for thousands of children, helping build churches, and supporting missionaries and local pastors in evangelism outreach.

At such a time as this, we hear the call of God to respond wholeheartedly. We will be committed to work primarily through the pastors on the ground. We cannot meet every need but we can make a difference. We can do what God calls us to do, and that will make a world of difference to those Christ puts in our path. By God’s grace, we will be there just as we have over the past 50 years. We will continue to give all that we can now and in the long restoration to come. We thank you for taking a moment to pray and ask God what he would have you do.

Update from Pastor Claude Houde

We have been working night and day to send humanitarian aid to our network of affiliated churches, schools, partners and organizations in the affected areas (and directly to immediate partners such as Pastors Cangé Michelet and Wilson Charles). Almost a month after the earthquake and subsequent tremors that have struck Haiti, we now know there have been more than 150,000 deaths with hundreds of thousands injured, and over 1 million left homeless. Make-shift “camps” are now seen all over Pétionville and other affected cities and we are helping them directly. 5000 felons have escaped from the maximum security penitentiary in Port-au-Prince and authorities in Haiti are reporting much violence, looting and unrest. Pastors are speaking to us directly of many gang rapes and attacks on families living in the refugee camps. They are encouraging their people to stay in groups and organizing security watches.

Although banks and Western Union were closed for over a week after the earthquake, they are now operational. However, people are forced to deal with long lines and very dangerous conditions as they come out of the banks with money. Despite these obstacles, we have been able to establish a direct channel, which is safe and effective, to send help directly to the people, churches, schools, orphanages, organization, and on-site pastors and leaders. Your support allows us to provide water, food, medical assistance, material, survival kits, tents and bedding.

Our next priority will be to consider mid-term lodging accommodations and “resource camps” for the homeless as well as the eventual sending of medical care, construction, psychological care specialist and ministry teams to Haiti. All governments, NGOs and ministry sources on the ground are telling us it would not be wise to send larger teams right away because of security, lodging, equipment and supply concerns. We have been sending small medical teams of specialists, surgeons and nurses. We believe that the coordinating of all of our efforts for sending teams in the next few weeks will be a key component of our second phase.

Our third phase will be the assessment and consideration of our most urgent reconstruction projects. Church buildings are destroyed, yet pastors are officiating funerals many times a week and ministering in open air services. There is a spirit of brokenness and prayer as thousands gather in the streets and parks to seek God and hear His Word.

Pray for Haiti. We are in daily contact with our Haitian friends, who are surviving in the midst indescribable horror. Your generosity is making a difference and saving lives today.

As has been reported in the media, the organization and distribution of direct help by the international community and NGOs has been extremely difficult, and thousands are in danger of dying from malnutrition, epidemics and injuries. Our friends have lost family members, their own homes, churches, orphanages, schools and humanitarian aid buildings, which were completely destroyed. However, your commitment to Haiti is feeding people, giving them water to drink, treating their injuries, housing them and helping the multitudes of our Haitian brothers and sisters pick up the pieces after their tragic losses. Your gifts are helping them recover and survive, giving them hope, one person at a time. There is an unprecedented spirit of prayer, repentance, courage and unity sweeping Haiti and thousands are turning to God.

Thank you for praying and giving to Haiti. We believe that from the earthquake will emerge beauty from the ashes and that tragedy will become transformation. By God’s grace, through your help, and through the fierce and unbreakable determination of the Haitian people, we will rebuild a better Haiti. We will be sending a more complete report shortly. On behalf of our family in Haiti, we thank you.