February 13, 2010 – Port-au-Prince, Haiti…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
As the world continues to pour aid into Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake which struck last month, the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide also continues to assist the church in Haiti, its members, and their communities.
“The church around the world is with you,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, as he addressed church leaders in Haiti last week.
So far, more than $2 million has been pledged by the North American Division, the Adventist World Church, several world divisions and many church unions throughout Inter-America to the church in Haiti, according to Filiberto Verduzco, treasurer of the church in Inter-America.
“Right now we have $1.4 million from these donations in our bank ready to transfer to the special relief fund here for you to manage,” said Verduzco to Haiti church leaders.
Church leaders will concentrate on using the funds for the reconstruction of temples and schools and salaries. Money will also assist church members affected by the disaster.
Adventist Risk Management has already made an initial visit to assess some of the damage to the denominational properties insured before the quake hit, which will aid in the reconstruction of buildings, church leaders said.
“We want to make sure that our temples are functioning as soon as possible,” said Leito, “so plans must be put in place to repair the churches that were damaged first. Then we can concentrate on rebuilding those which were destroyed.”
Churches around the destroyed city continue worship services on church grounds under tarps, others gather in small groups for special services.
In addition, Maranatha Volunteers International was called in by the Inter-American Division to aid in building 185 churches with their One-Day Church Program.” We have been here a few days to assess the needs before our volunteers are set up to work,” said Darrell Hardy, vice president for Maranatha Volunteers International in Latin America.
“The plan is to begin putting up the lightweight steel structure of 20 by 38 feet to provide temporary housing for three or four Adventist families in different established locations,” said Hardy. “We are committed to helping in the best way possible.”
“Once church members have been re-established in their homes, these structures can be moved and assembled again to function as churches,” he added. According to Hardy, some of these structures will initially be set up at the Adventist university and hospital in Diquini to house volunteers who will be putting up the structures. The first shipment of construction materials is due to arrive in neighboring Dominican Republic at the end of this month.
Already in full action after sending 20 containers of food, water, tents and relief supplies for church members and the community in Haiti a week after the quake, the Adventist Church in Puerto Rico is working with government officials and other organizations on the island to provide some 500 wooden hurricane-resistant two-bedroom homes to Adventist and non-Adventist families.
“This is a gift for Haiti from Puerto Rico,” said Pastor Jose A. Rodriguez, president of the church in Puerto Rico, who has already been involved in several children’s projects in Haiti prior to the earthquake. The homes will be put up all in one week, he added.
Other church regions like the Dominican Union and its Adventist Development and Relief Agency [ADRA] office have donated medical equipment, tents, food and relief supplies to the church and its hospital.
The Adventist World Church took an action recently to switch the 13th Sabbath world offering to the Inter-American Division (IAD), of which Haiti is a part, to this year. The IAD was not scheduled for the 13th Sabbath offering again until next year.
“The Dominican Union and the West Indies Union gladly accepted for Haiti to receive this special offering at the end of this year’s fourth quarter,” added Leito.
In addition, several Inter-American church unions, or regions, have assigned one Sabbath where the entire offerings collected will go towards Haiti’s church, according to church leaders.
Top church leaders are thankful for the incoming funds to help the devastated church in Haiti, yet they are still concerned that it will just cover some part.
With schools and businesses shut down in the country and no end to when normalcy will return, leaders continue to plan on how they can provide for the hundreds of pastors, workers and teachers who haven’t been able to return to work.
Concerns over the Adventist university in Haiti, where over 12,000 people are taking refuge on its campus, are also on church leaders’ minds.
“This is a very critical situation,” said Leito. “We want our university to return to its operations for our young people.”
Since the earthquake, ADRA Haiti, ADRA International and ADRA Inter-America are responding by managing the food distribution, medical assistance, sanitation, post trauma and resettlement of the Individually Displaced persons (IDPs) taking shelter on campus.
A thorough assessment of the university buildings is still pending for the coming weeks, as well as the reconstruction of the fenced wall around the campus, church leaders said.
Adventist institutions around the world have sent money to Adventist University, and more has been pledged.
According to Verduzco, funds from Samyook University in Korea and Oakwood College in the United States have been sent to assist operations at the institution. In addition, Montemorelos University in Mexico has begun a special campaign to raise $1 million toward the university, which they hope to achieve in a five-year period.
The Adventist Hospital is also not alone. Loma Linda University, as a member of Adventist Health International, has stepped in to assist in the coordination of medical teams, supplies and operations. In addition, Florida Hospital and Park Ridge Adventist Hospital have joined the network of medical institutions aiding the hospital.
Church leaders said plans are underway for Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries to train local pastors and laypeople to help in the post trauma counseling in Haiti, as well as other projects to take care of the long-term needs of the church members and community at large.
“When one of our family members is hurting, the entire family is ready to help, so it is with the world church towards you,” said Verduzco as he spoke to leaders.
“I think that in the case of Haiti, this will be a long-term project, way beyond 2010,” he said.
It’s a long-term process but one that the church in Inter-America is committed to support, church leaders said.
“This is a strong church, if ever the strongest in this western hemisphere,” said Pastor Leito. “You cannot shake this church.”
For other news stories on the church in Haiti, visit https://recursing-golick.147-182-135-0.plesk.page/
