Message from Pastor Shawn
Dear Calvary Family,
As you have seen on the news this past week, the devastation in Haiti is immense. My heart has been broken and I have been stirred to prayer many times. I can’t imagine what it would be like to still be searching for lost loved ones. So, what can we do as a church to make a difference?
PRAY. The first, and most important thing we can do is to pray. Please join me in praying for the families who have lost everything. Pray that they will look to Jesus alone to be their hope, when all else looks hopeless. Pray also for the rescue workers, for their security and that they will be effective in their various jobs. Pray that the people of Haiti will see the love of God displayed to them through many of the aid workers.
GIVE. Thank you to those of you who have already stepped up and made donations to help the relief efforts. As a church, we will also be taking some next steps to assist those who are in such dire need. Over the next year, Calvary will be sending medical and construction teams into Haiti. We will also be collecting much-needed supplies and medicines to accompany our teams and to be sent through our partner ministries.
Together we will have the opportunity as we exit the worship center after each service Sunday to give to a special offering for Haiti relief. This special offering is above and beyond our regular Sunday offering. One hundred percent of the funds received will be used to send teams and supplies from Calvary to serve the people of Haiti in Jesus’ Name.
GO. Over the next few weeks and months, Calvary will be organizing teams and pairing individuals with groups going out from various relief organizations. We are in need of people who are willing to help us organize logistics, teams, and supplies. We are also in need of people who would be willing to travel and help in person. The greatest need for the first few months will be security and medical personnel, counselors, French speakers, contractors, and those with experience in relief work.
Pastor Kirk Dewitt and his team of servants in Community/World are coordinating our efforts as a church. They have set up a new email address through which you can communicate with them regarding our Haiti response (haitirelief@calvarycc.org). Please let our team know how you would like to help. There will also be more information available on my blog, during our weekend services, and at Calvary’s Mission Counter in our main lobby.
As our Haitian brothers and sisters have now lost the very little they had, we can humbly show them the honor James 1:9-11 talks about by being the hands and feet of Jesus in their lives. People matter to God. Stuff is here today and gone tomorrow. We have a window to use the stuff we have to make a difference now in the lives of hurting people.
See you Sunday as we gather to worship our Lord, pray for and give to Haiti, and leave changed by God’s perspective on people and possessions.
Shawn
P.S. Here are links to Christian-based relief organizations to whom you can give financially to help the church be the church of Jesus Christ.
Ministries associated with the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) who have Haiti Relief Funds.
I will keep you posted of other avenues through which we can help Haiti now here on my blog. Thanks for caring like Jesus!
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