Port-au-Prince, Haiti….[IAD Staff]
As political turmoil escalated recently in Haiti, leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America visited the country and reported that there was no loss of life among church members and met with local church leaders on how to meet the needs there.
“The church [in Haiti] is strong, but very needy,” says Pastor Israel Leito, president for the church in Inter-America, who visited the country accompanied by other church administrators, on April 12. “No church property has been damaged and no members have suffered any physical reverse,” he adds. Pastor Leito goes on to say that the church is now worshiping during its regular services.
Among the challenges church leaders face in Haiti is resolving some urgent financial needs, according to Leito. He goes on to explain that the Adventist University in Port-au-Prince has been unable to meet its payroll obligations to its workers. Some local field offices are in financial need, also.
“The Division has made firm financial commitments in order to assist the Haitian Union at this time,” says Leito. Some neighboring unions donated funds to help the church in Haiti face this situation.
“The Haitian Union is very thankful for the assistance received and continues to remain strong,” adds Leito.
Haiti has the largest number of Seventh-day Adventists of any union or region in the Inter-American territory with 273,000 members worshiping in 365 churches and congregations.
