Responding to the Crisis in Haiti
In recent weeks, the hearts of the world have been broken by the unfolding crisis in the nation of Haiti, which was struck by a massive earthquake on January 10.
The effects of the earthquake have been positively devastating for the people of Haiti. The capital city, Port-au-Prince, was heavily damaged, with Haitian President Rene Preval estimating that nearly 170,000 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. The International Red Cross estimates that about three million people have been affected by the disaster.
Trinity Baptist Church has taken an active role in assisting the people of Haiti, through special efforts to raise money and direct resources to the relief efforts led by Christian organizations.
Among those organizations is the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a body that represents Baptists from across our nation. Daniel Vestal, the Executive Coordinator of the CBF, has encouraged member churches to support the ongoing relief effort in Haiti.
“The urgency of responding to a natural disaster forces us to recognize the absolute necessity of cooperation and collaboration,” Vestal said in a video message released through the CBF website.
These collaborative efforts, including food distribution, medical services, and financial support, are supported by member churches such as Trinity. So far, our congregation has raised $8,592.50 toward the Haiti relief efforts, and we will continue accepting donations for the next several weeks.
Many different parts of our congregation have become part of Trinity’s combined effort to address this crisis. University Pastor Nils Smith said that the students who worship at Segue on Monday evenings have been active in rising to this challenge.
“This past Monday, on January 18th, things were noticeably different,” he said. “Like all of us, the hearts of these college students were heavy for the people of Haiti. That night we set up prayer stations with specific prayer requests for the people of Haiti and saw the students respond by praying individually and in groups for the people in Haiti. Also, for the first time, we gave the young adults an opportunity to give financially to meet their needs and the students responding by giving over $300 to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship efforts providing relief in Haiti.”
Nils has enjoyed watching the spiritual growth that our University students are experiencing.
“These college students that gather on Monday nights have an incredible passion for God that is naturally contagious,” he said. “I want to encourage you to come and experience Segue one night for yourself, even if you are not a 20-something, so that you can know and understand the powerful ministry that is going on at Tripoint every Monday night.”
Our high school students have also begun to consider how they can be a part of the effort to provide financial resources to the relief effort. Interim Student Pastor Chris Tripputi described a unique effort being led by our students.
“We are selling t-shirts,” Chris said, adding that the design is unique to the TBC Student Ministry. “Our hope is to raise awareness and to encourage people to get involved.”
The shirts, featuring the slogan “Hearts for Haiti,” bear the words “Give, Serve, Pray” at the bottom as a reminder of how each of us can become involved in the relief effort.
Tripputi said that the students will be selling the shirts for $20 each ($30 for two), and all of the money will go directly toward Trinity’s combined offering. He also said that the student ministry will host a bake sale at the end of February to raise money for the offering.
As we continue to support the relief efforts in Haiti, Trinity members are encouraged to remember the ongoing effort in their prayers.
“Please pray for the suffering people of Haiti, asking God to give them grace and strength,” Vestal said in his video address. “Please pray for divine wisdom and courage for all of us as we seek to help.”