Some 68 hours ago, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti. Haiti shares an island mass with the Dominican Republic, where the earthquake was also felt but without the intensity that rocked Haiti. My father had been in the Dominican Republic on a Work and Witness trip and left to return home the night before the earthquake hit. I am grateful for his safety. General Superintendent Dr. J. K. Warrick arrived in Haiti to begin conducting District Assembly just prior to the earthquake. He was not injured in the quake, nor were Field Strategy Coordinator Bill Dawson, his wife and volunteer Rachel Reed, who were accompanying Dr. Warrick. Because of the crisis that now exists, district assemblies have been postponed, and Dr. Warrick, the Dawsons and Rachel Reed have been transferred from Haiti to the Caribbean Regional Office in Miami, from where they continue to monitor the situation and provide direction as needed. Their continued presence in Haiti would have been a hindrance to the work that currently needs to take place, and we are grateful they were able to evacuate safely.

The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti is served by national leadership. Our Bible College there, the districts, the child development centers and other compassionate ministry projects are led by capable Haitian Nazarenes. These brothers and sisters are the permanent presence and ministry of the Church of the Nazarene in this country of great need. The Church of the Nazarene in 2010 is celebrating 60 years of ministry in Haiti. Historically, as the work of the church in Haiti matured and developed national leaders, foreign missionaries were removed or transferred to other fields, and leadership responsibilities were placed in the hands of nationals. This is appropriate and effective mission strategy and is practiced globally by the Church of the Nazarene. Sometimes, foreign missionaries carry out specific support tasks on a temporary basis in fields where the work of the church is in hands of national leadership. However, there are currently no foreign Nazarene missionaries assigned to Haiti. Latest reports from the Caribbean regional office and regional director, Dr. John Smee, indicate there are over 118,000 Nazarenes in Haiti. Many of our Chicago Central Nazarenes have made trips to Haiti across the years, building churches and developing various compassionate ministry projects. Word from Haiti indicates that there will be a continuing long-term need for such assistance in the future as well.

So then, what do we do now as Chicago Central Nazarenes, to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti respond to their current national humanitarian crisis? For some, the immediate natural impulse is to want to board a plane for Haiti and try to go help directly in any way we can. The word coming to us from international news sources and from our church is that any immediate travel to Haiti is out of the question. The airport in Haiti has no ramp space as 75 aircraft clog the area, and the airport has no jet fuel for refueling. Emergency personnel need space and logistical freedom which is hampered by non-essential personnel and flights. There will be opportunities to travel and minister after the immediate crisis is over. However, the immediate need is for:

• · Search and rescue efforts, which are being conducted by UN and international forces
• · Medical attention by professional physicians
• · Medical supplies
• · Food and water
• · Temporary shelter

I have been in communication with our general church on an appropriate response. Here is what I believe would be most helpful (and we want to be most helpful) to the people in Haiti:

1. Be informed:

a. Along with the news broadcasts, the church will be posting regular updates on the Nazarene Communications Network at www.ncnnews.com.

b. A brief Sunday School lesson has been prepared and made available to pastors and churches, with information about Haiti and the current situation. Many churches will use this on Sunday, January 17 to inform their people and call them to action. That lesson is available for download behind the "Links and Downloads" tab of this website.

c. A video is available online at http://www.vimeo.com/8743653 .

d. The NCN photos on Facebook can be found at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=138310&id=90402863350 .

2. Pray in an informed, specific manner. Our prayers are certainly for our fellow Nazarenes, but also for the entire population of Haiti, for the relief workers, for government stability, for the logistical matters of getting supplies in to the country and distributed effectively, for the rebuilding efforts, for the children left orphans and parents who have lost children, and for everyone who has suffered loss. Pray often, and rally your church and your community in prayer. God answers prayer.

3. Donate financially. In terms of making an immediate impact in the relief efforts, this is the most effective way for most of us to respond. Dollars are quickly translated into the medical supplies, temporary shelter and food and water that is so desperately needed right now. The compassionate ministries office of the Caribbean Region is coordinating efforts for the global Church of the Nazarene. Click on the following link: http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1204 for more information about donating specifically for this crisis in Haiti. As little as $10 will feed a family for a week. Most of us can give much more than that.

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation online can do so through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at www.ncm.org. Checks can be made out to “General Treasurer”. Please indicate in the check’s memo line that the funds are designated for "Caribbean Disaster Response ACM1204". Mail checks to the Global Treasury Services, PO Box 843116 Kansas City, MO 64184. Be sure and also indicate your district and local church name when sending in your check. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. A flyer on ACM1204 is available behind the "Links and Downloads" tab of this website.

4. Send relief items through our Nazarene leaders in Florida. Behind the "Links and Downloads" tab is a list of “Disaster Response Needs for Haiti”. If you have these items available to ship. You may ship them to Obed Santiesteban, a Nazarene compassionate ministries leader in Miami who operates a warehouse for such items and works with a global shipping operation. He is working directly with our Caribbean regional leadership to ship items for Haiti. Along with the attached list is a document with instructions on packing and shipping these items to Miami.

5. For medical personnel who wish to make themselves available to assist in humanitarian efforts, please contact the regional office of compassionate ministries by email at ncm@caribnaz.org to let them know of your availability. We are also partnering with Heart to Heart International. Volunteers may sign up at their website at www.hearttoheart.org.

6. District Work and Witness ministry and rebuilding efforts. After the immediate crisis is passed, there will be significant need for help in rebuilding in Haiti, including the rebuilding/repairing of Nazarene church facilities, homes, compassionate ministry centers, the building of clean-water wells, and more. In collaboration with our District NMI President, Rev. Rodney Miller, and working with our District NYI and SDMI departments, I am establishing a District Crisis Response Team that will be making plans for our participation in those efforts in the months ahead. Dr. Woody Webb, VP for Student Affairs at Olivet Nazarene University, will also be a part of that team, helping us coordinate with the Olivet community and the ONU Chaplain’s Office in our response as well. If you would like to be informed of these plans and would like to participate in upcoming projects, please send an email to ccdoffice@ccdnaz.org. All district pastors will automatically be included on the email list for these plans. We encourage the participation of our district Nazarene congregants in these efforts.

As of just a few moments ago, the general church issued a new press release. You may link to it at: http://www.ncnnews.com/nphweb/html/ncn/article.jsp?id=10008852 .

So, there is plenty that we can do right now, as well as later. Let’s do all we can for the people of Haiti, in the name of Jesus.

Thank you!!

Brian E. Wilson

District Superintendent