Thanks to everyone who has prayed for Haiti and contributed to the Haiti Relief Fund in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. So far, FBA members have given more than $52,000 towards this effort. God is at work in the midst of the crisis, and it has been encouraging to hear first-hand reports from our missionaries on the ground. Here are a few snapshots from Edner Jeanty, serving with CrossWorld in Port-au-Prince:
HAITI IN CRISIS: FBA Missionaries Bring Hope in the Midst of Disaster
“Haiti devastated by massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake.” (Associated Press)
“A disaster of ‘catastrophic’ proportions.” (Reuters)
“Haiti survivors desperately wait for aid.” (Wall Street Journal)
These are just a few of the headlines that dominated world news when a terrible earthquake struck the island of Haiti on January 12. In addition to the countless media reports on the situation in Haiti immediately following the earthquake, FBA heard directly from our missionaries on the ground in Port-au-Prince and others who are based in the Caribbean.
Reflections from our missionaries, in their own words…
From November 1-8, First Baptist Church Atlanta held its 2009 World Missions Conference. Started in 1979 by Dr. Stanley and a handful of committed members (including Faith Promise missionaries Bill and Joy Boerop), the Conference is an annual event and many consider it to be one of the most exciting weeks in the life of our church.
Shoe Box initiative draws record participation from FBA departments and members
On November 1, 2009, Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, preached the opening message of the 2009 World Missions Conference. He shared a powerful message and challenged the congregation to serve God faithfully, even when it requires tremendous sacrifice to follow His will for our lives. Franklin shared many examples of how God has used the obedience of individuals to make an eternal impact in the lives of others. One of the illustrations he focused on was Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a project of Samaritan’s Purse, which was started in 1993. Since then more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe, and this year OCC hopes to deliver the shoe box gifts and the Good News of God’s love to 8 million children around the world.
