Haiti Update from Dr. John Sullivan--February 24, 2010

 

Port-au-Prince--A reported 40,127 Haitians have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ since the Jan. 12 earthquake hit the impoverished nation, according to pastors and director of missions of the Confraternite Missionaire Baptiste d'Haiti (CMBH).

"Haiti is ripe for a spiritual movement from God," said Craig Culbreth, director of the Florida Baptist Convention Partnership Missions Department, which coordinates the work of the CMBH, upon his Feb. 22 return from Port-au-Prince.

During a Feb. 16-17 city-wide holiday observance in Cap Haitien, Haiti's second largest city, Culbreth saw, "thousands upon thousands filling the streets where people are seeking God and asking Him to spare them from what happened in Port-au-Prince. For me it was a New Testament expression of what it looks like when the Spirit of God shows up. I have never seen anything like it."

The reported conversions are not expected to translate into baptisms for several months.  The practice among Haitian Baptist churches is to require new converts to undergo several months of discipleship training to ensure the person understands their spiritual decision and the Biblical mandates for leading a Christian life.

Since the earthquake, the CMBH pastors have distributed 51 tons of rice which provided 437,750 servings to Haitians in both Port-au-Prince and outlying areas where refugees have fled. Additional feedings are expected.

The CMBH is the Florida Baptist Convention-funded partnership of nearly 900 Haitian Baptist churches serving across Haiti. Through this partnership the Florida Convention employs seven indigenous missionaries in six regions in the nation.   

During the week of Feb. 16-22, Culbreth was on his third trip to Haiti since the earthquake to determine how Florida and Southern Baptists could reach beyond the capital city of Port-au-Prince and meet needs of refugees who left the capital city.

Together, he and Dennis Wilbanks, associate in the Partnership Missions, have visited five of the six associations, conferring and praying with the directors of missions and Haitian pastors in the associations.

He compared this "window of opportunity where the people are hungry for the gospel to the U.S. after 9/11 when hundreds flocked to the churches."

Culbreth cited recent events in many of the 110 churches in the Port-au-Prince area where throngs of people have been seeking spiritual guidance in the church meetings, which have been held outdoors because the Haitians feared to enter buildings. Church leaders have reported 28,000 salvations in this Ouest (Port-au-Prince) association.

Many conversions took place during the three days of prayer and fasting called by the Haitian government, Feb. 12-14, reported Culbreth. "People were in the streets, literally begging God for forgiveness and mercy," said Wilbanks, who was in Port-au-Prince at the time.

Professions of faith have been reported by Florida and Southern Baptist medical and disaster relief teams as these volunteers shared the gospel.

The upsurge in the reported conversions appears to fulfill a pre-earthquake vision by Louis LaBranche, CMBH director of ministry. "Pastor LaBranche said he had a vision of God telling him that 1.5 million Haitian will be saved in the next five years. He believes it and so do I," Culbreth said.

Culbreth traveled to Leogane, the epicenter of the earthquake which is located 18 miles west of the Haitian capital. "Reports said that 90 percent of the buildings have been destroyed, but I did not see a house that was not damaged. The roads are buckled and people are pouring out in the streets."

Culbreth was in Port-au-Price during the 4.7 magnitude aftershock Feb. 22, asserting that the Haitians continue to live in fear of their lives.

The next three months will be crucial to "reaping the harvest in Haiti," Culbreth said.  CMBH leaders are planning 14 area-wide crusades-two in each of five association and four in Port-au-Prince-during the next months. The Florida Baptist Convention has authorized $53,000 to purchase Bibles and tracts, and rent sound equipment for the Haitian leaders.

"This is their dream and vision," said Culbreth. "They are making the plans. We are only providing funding to make it happen."

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Haiti Update from Dr. John Sullivan - January 22, 2010

Subject:  New Video Encourages Florida Baptists' Support

The Florida Baptist Convention has produced a second video titled "Haiti Relief Update" which features Dr. John Sullivan sharing the Convention's response to assist the Haitian people.  He calls upon Florida Baptists to pray and give to support Haiti Earthquake Relief.  The two-minute video is available to download and to show during Sunday or Wednesday worship services.  The following link will take you to the OneMission.tv site.  (If this link is not active, copy and paste the URL into your web browser.)

http://www.onemission.tv/VideoStore/StateBaptistConventions/Florida/tabid/216/CategoryID/7/Category2ID/9/List/1/Level/3/ProductID/489/Default.aspx?Category3=Florida+Baptists&SortField=ProductNumber+DESC%2cProductName

Noting that the average Haitian subsists on a quarter cup of rice each day, Sullivan observed that every Baptist can be a part of the Haiti relief effort by sending $20 to buy a one hundred pound bag of rice.  "That bag of rice will feed a family of four for a long time in Haiti," he explained.

Latest reports from the Convention's assessment team in Haiti indicate that the Convention-funded food distribution effort is expanding.  Rice - the basic staple of the Haitian diet - is being distributed from Baptist churches in five communities surrounding Port-au-Prince.  Pastors and churches affiliated with the Confraternite Missionnaire Baptiste d'Haiti (CMBH) - Florida Baptists' mission partner in Haiti - are coordinating the food distribution. 

The Convention also sent additional funds to purchase rice for distribution in Cap Haitian, the nation's second largest city.  Again local CMBH pastors are coordinating the food distribution.

An Arkansas Baptist medical team accompanying the Florida Baptist assessment team continues to do triage and treat other medical needs of those injured by the January 12 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.  The team is assisting on average 70 persons each day.

Although all banks in the Port-au-Prince area are closed, the Florida Convention has paid the payroll of the 22 Haitian employees who either work at the Convention's mission house or serve as one of the six regional missionaries.  In addition, the Convention has provided cash assistance to 100 Haitian Baptist pastors, most of whom are bi-vocational and are without work. 

Meanwhile efforts have begun to repair damage to the Convention's mission house located in Port-au-Prince.  The goal is to have it repaired and operational by January 30 to accommodate the first wave of 55 Baptist disaster relief volunteers.  In the meanwhile, the Florida and Arkansas teams have been housed in the El Shaddai orphanage in Bon Repos, located north of the Port au Prince airport.  The private orphanage is managed by Marie Prinvil, a former Florida Baptist Convention employee.

More details on the response activities will be available on the Convention's website www.flbaptist.org and on the Florida Baptist Witness website www.gofbw.com.

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Haiti Update, January 19, 2010 - From Dr. John Sullivan

Subject:  The Miracle of Multiplication

The Biblical miracle of the fishes and loaves had a modern day twist for the Florida Baptist Convention when it made an initial purchase of 21 tons of rice for use in Haiti relief efforts.  An Arkansas Baptist church's matching gift of rice has multiplied the initial commitment into a total 84 tons of rice being earmarked for Haiti.

This miracle of multiplication started on Friday, January 15, when Executive Director John Sullivan negotiated to purchase 42,000 pounds of rice from a grain distributor in Stuttgart, Arkansas.  Sullivan negotiated for a low price of $20 per hundred pound bag.  With the deal confirmed, the Convention arranged to send one of its disaster relief semi-trailer units to Stuttgart to take delivery of the rice.  On Monday, January 18, a second order was placed for another 21 tons of rice for delivery at the end of February.

On Tuesday, January 19, Sullivan received a call from Pastor Sam Roberts of the First Baptist Church, Stuttgart, Arkansas, who had learned of the Convention's purchase and planned use of the rice.  He told of the church's mission committee authorization to purchase 42 tons of rice to supplement the Convention's commitment to feed Haitians.  The combined purchase and donation brings the total commitment to 84 tons or 168,000 pounds of rice which will be distributed in Haiti as soon as possible.

Sullivan noted that the average Haitian subsists on a quarter cup of rice each day.  He went on to observe that every Baptist can be a part of the Haiti relief effort by sending $20 to buy a one hundred pound bag of rice.  "That one bag of rice will feed a family of four for a long time in Haiti," he explained.

Once the grain is delivered in Haiti, distribution of the rice will occur from the many Haitian Baptist churches in and around Port au Prince.  Florida Baptists' 15 years of partnership and assistance provided to Haitian Baptists has resulted in a model effort to distribute food and clothing without the chaos experienced at government-controlled food distribution points.

On another developing front in the effort to aid Haitians, the U. S. government is preparing to airlift orphans and other Haitian refugees from Port au Prince to Miami. According to the Miami Herald, federal agencies are gearing up under an existing crisis plan called "Operation Vigilant Sentry," drawn up in 2003 to help prepare for any mass migration from the Caribbean.  Miami-Dade officials are looking at housing the refugees in the currently closed Krome Detention Center in West Miami-Dade and the old Baptist hospital facility in Kendall.

The influx of refugees will present a unique ministry opportunity for Florida Baptists in South Florida.  As a result, the Convention has directed its Church and Community Ministries personnel, led by Marc Johnston, to begin developing action plans to assist in  receiving, processing and re-settlement of these Haitian refugees. 

Details are few given that the situation is very fluid.  However, additional information on the Convention's response will be posted on the Convention's website www.flbaptist.org. 

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January 16, 2010

UPDATE ON HAITI FROM DR. JOHN SULLIVAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER

A Florida Baptist Convention assessment team is expected to travel to Port Au Prince Monday, Jan. 18, to determine how Florida Baptists can meet needs and provide assistance to the residents of the earthquake-damaged city. The team also expects to learn the condition of the Convention-owned mission house and the safety of employees who serve as mission leaders and mission house staff.

A report received early on Friday indicated that six of the seven missionary employees in Haiti have survived and are in the process of doing damage assessment of the needs of the community.

"These men have been trained in disaster relief by the Florida Baptist Convention," said John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer. "They know their country, their people and have experience responding in the aftermath of hurricanes. We are grateful to God that they are safe and are there to minister to the Haitian people." 

Meanwhile, many of the 15 mission house employees still have not been located. The Convention-owned mission house has been severely damaged. The mission house sleeps nearly 50 volunteers at a time and provides food and safety for mission teams traveling into Haiti. 

The Convention assessment team has had difficulty getting into the country. On Thursday afternoon the Port-Au-Prince airport was closed due to overwhelming demand of its facilities by relief planes and supplies being airlifted to Haiti. The United States Federal Aviation Administration restricted air traffic from the U.S. to Haiti. The shipping port is said to be destroyed by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Transportation from the airport to the neighborhood where the mission house is located is expected to be a problem due to limited gas and impassable roads.

The assessment team will consist of Craig Culbreth, director of the Convention's Partnership Missions Department; Dennis Wilbanks, associate, Partnership Missions Department; Fritz Wilson, director, Disaster Relief and Recovery Department; and Joseph Gaston, director of the Language Haitian Church Development Department.

The Convention, working in cooperation with Baptist Global Response and other Southern Baptist Convention agencies, is planning to establish feeding sites in and around Port Au Prince, offer medical personnel and supplies, help those hurting in the churches and assist local Baptist churches get back on their feet. 

The Convention has received assurances of financial support, equipment and medical resources from across the SBC as well as 40,000 volunteers who are ready to be mobilized. 

The Convention has ordered 42 tons of rice to be transported to Miami and readied for shipment to Haiti.

Florida Baptists are being asked to remember in prayer the people of Haiti who were suffering even before this latest disaster struck. 

Financial contributions are being taken to secure food and humanitarian assistance. Florida Baptists and their churches can contribute directly to the Florida Baptist Convention. Every dollar donated will be used to purchase food and to provide humanitarian resources. All administrative costs are being underwritten by the Cooperative Program and Maguire State Mission Offering.

Gifts can be sent to the Florida Baptist Convention at

1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville

, Fl 32207, designated disaster relief. Contributions by credit card can be made through the Convention's website: www.flbaptist.org.

Updates on the Convention's response efforts in Haiti will be posted on the website: www.flbaptist.org.  

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January 14, 2010