After four deadly hurricanes last year, Haiti is now reeling from a massive earthquake. Untold thousands have lost their lives, people are still in the rubble and multitudes are sleeping on the streets. World Challenge is moving to respond to the desperate cry of these people. We are assessing the needs on the ground and have long standing partnerships with pastors, leaders and missionaries in this area.

Visit our donations page and select the Haiti Earthquake Relief option.

We are gathering resources to send substantial food supplies. Several doctors have already committed to going as immediately as possible. We have been in contact with pastors, leaders and even the Mayor of the area that was at the center of the earthquake. I have met her on several occasions and she is a godly woman who truly loves with Jesus’ heart.

My father first went to Haiti over 55 years ago, even before he started Teen Challenge. Ever since, this ministry has been deeply involved in church planting, supporting missionaries and helping with clinics, orphanages and schools. Our missions outreach team was just there a few weeks ago. We are committed to stay.

Below is a report from our Field Representative who works directly in Haiti:

Conditions are in full emergency status, with practically all communication non-existent. Reports are informing us that the city of Port-au-Prince is in an ‘other worldly’ condition, with destruction, death and despair all around. Mobility in the city is basically at a stand still, with the major airport just being assessed as ‘open’ this morning. Local streets are littered with debris from damaged or collapsed buildings and homes. Many people are choosing to live in the streets rather than their homes for fear of aftershocks collapsing their homes on top of them. The dead are lying where they fell, with more being laid openly in the streets. Availability of resources, in all categories, is already minimal or exhausted altogether.

We have been unable to reach our pastor contacts yet but reports are that the portion of Port-au-Prince known as Petionville, appears to be the epicenter of the quake’s impact and is exactly the location that our Haitian partner lives and ministers. The Hotel Montana, situated on the top of a mountain in Petionville, has reportedly collapsed. At the bottom of this mountain is the church and bible school World Challenge supports, yet the conditions of both are unknown at this time.

This emergency is at hand and we must take all possible action. What we have seen through past experience is that once the cameras leave much of the attention and then much of the help dissipates. We have been there and now we must double our efforts to stand with this nation in Christ’s name to support and supply their needs.

As the Holy Spirit leads, please act upon what he has placed in your heart. Every cent of every dollar will go directly to the desperate people of Haiti. In the coming weeks, months and years, we know we are called to go into the areas of the worst devastation and help rebuild, restore and be a blessing to so many in such dire need.

To donate, please visit our donations page and select the Haiti Earthquake Relief option.

Update

As you probably have heard in the news, Haiti suffered another major tremor recently. The nation is still reeling from the devastation that has been unleashed on this tiny, impoverished nation.

We have been actively monitoring the situation in Haiti and have decided to wait until there is some stability in the country before sending in teams. For this relief endeavor, we are partnering with the following groups: CHE, Times Square Church, The Springs Church, Eglise Nouvelle Vie in Montreal, and Nicky Cruz Outreach. All of these organizations have sensed the same leading from the Holy Spirit to wait for a time until sending in much-needed help.

Currently we are looking at helping Haiti both in the near term, as well as on a long-term basis. We have had the following groups volunteer to travel to Haiti: 13 medical (1 doctor, 5 RNs, 1 trained in triage, 4 EMTs, 1 Med Tech,1 first responder), 3 in supplies, 6 in misc help which includes military teams.

For Phase 1, we will be sending in medical and relief personnel with supplies within the next 2–3 weeks, pending information we receive from Pastor Wilson. Following that, we will look at sending another group in with food and supplies. During these initial phases, we will assess how we can assist with rebuilding. Phase 3, and beyond, will be involved in reconstruction of Wilson’s church, possibly and new orphanage, and the seminary that was in operation at the church. We will also be available to help in rebuilding the homes of the church members who houses were destroyed.

We were able to speak to Pastor Wilson via phone recently and he let us know that the village of Lartigue was essentially unharmed! The children, church, and school all escaped damage. It is likely that since the roads to Lartigue were rendered impassable, the villagers are in need of food. We will be ready to help them as well.