About
On Friday, January 15, 2010, the Lord enabled FBC to quickly respond to a growing number of requests within the FIRE Fellowship (and others) who wanted to respond to needs in Haiti, but were not sure who or what organizations to trust. It’s true that the International Red Cross/Red Crescent and Salvation Army are usually first responders in such huge calamities. Also, several resourceful countries are able to send in immediate aid. However, sometimes even good Christian relief organizations (e.g. “World Relief”, which tries to work through evangelical churches) have significant overhead costs and don’t have a priority to work in, with, and through believers who are already there and have a sustainable witness and long-term presence in the nation/communities.
So, we responded to an appeal to serve FIRE churches and others in financial accountability and stewardship, leveraging our solid relationships with reliable people like Josue Raimundo, the IBSJ church in Santo Domingo DR, and Pastor Angel Castillo. We know that it takes weeks, months, and years to recover from such a catastrophic earthquake. We strongly desire to see God glorified and the greatest need of Haitians, that is their need for Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, to be met. We are grieved to tears and our spirits numbed by the enormity of the death and injury and desolation. Yet, we hope that by channeling our sympathetic relief funds and energies to and through our brothers and sisters in Christ in Haiti and neighboring DR ministries, we will see a strong testimony of Christian love and articulation of the Gospel in previously unexpected ways because of the earthquake. While are ready to assist with financial stewardship right away, we hope that we will not have to continue in this role beyond 12 months; in the meantime, we hope that the picture and the players will be clearer and we will be able to confidently pass the baton on to other responsible brethren.
Thank for your continuing prayers and concern. Remember to pray that God would be glorified and that Jesus Christ would be exalted through it all!