Special Prayer Request for Haiti

January 13, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Wesleyan Church
Department of Communications
Ronald D. Kelly
317.774.7907
communications@wesleyan.org

HAITIAN WESLEYANS IN EARTHQUAKE AFTERMATH

Communications from Haiti have been complicated by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck 10 miles from the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on January 12. Aftershocks, some as powerful as 5.9-magnitude, continue to bring physical and emotional devastation to the country.

Global Partners Director of Operations, Peter Moore, said, “Of the106 Wesleyan churches in Haiti, the epicenter of this earthquake has directly impacted five congregations in the greater Port-au-Prince area. One of these, the largest Wesleyan church in Haiti, is located in the area that seems to have been hardest hit. We have not yet been able to establish communication with the pastor of that church or anyone associated with it at the time of this posting.”

Thankfully, all Wesleyan missionaries are safe and accounted for. Caribe Atlantic Area Director, Dan Irvine reports, “We are finding the information posted on the major news sources to be accurate and coinciding with the reports that we are receiving locally. The major cell phone provider for the country is not functioning and the only news we are receiving out of Port-au-Prince is internet and radio news.” Our Caribe Atlantic Area Director, Dan Irvine reports, “We are finding the information posted on the major news sources to be accurate and coinciding with the reports that we are receiving locally. The major cell phone provider for the country is not functioning and the only news we are receiving out of Port-au-Prince is internet and radio news.”

There is significant damage in the town of Anse-a-Galets where the Wesleyan hospital is located but at this point we are not aware of any loss of life. Upon initial examination the hospital appears not to have sustained any major damage but as a precaution, the patients slept in the tin roof clinic last night instead of the concrete roof hospital building. Our missionaries on the island of La Gonave have however been hearing the traditional death wail signifying that another family in our community has received devastating news regarding a loved one in the capital city.

The leaders of our National Church and our Global Partners missionaries are grateful for the corporate prayers and support of our global Wesleyan family during this difficult time. Wesleyans helping Wesleyans in their time of need is the rally cry of the hour for our brothers and sisters in this disadvantaged country.

Please make your check payable to “The Wesleyan Church” as you mail your timely donations to the “Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund”, 13300 Olio Road, Fishers, Indiana, 46037.

For Canadian donors: Relief cheques are to be made payable to "The Wesleyan Church of Canada" and mailed to 1830 Mountain Road, Moncton, NB E1G 1A9.

To make a credit card donation click here or call 800.707.7715. Use fund number “WM07-0005” with the description “Haiti Relief."

You may also direct your donations through World Hope International, the primary partner in ministries of compassion for The Wesleyan Church.

With 9 million residents, Haiti has been called the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. A report by one news company said that 75% of the population lives on less than $2 a day. Its resources for rescue and relief efforts are almost non-existent. But Haiti has long been on the hearts of Wesleyans. Over the years, scores of volunteers from Wesleyan churches and organizations have been involved in ministries of compassion, both on Haiti’s mainland and on the island of La Gonave.