Atlantic Union Members Respond to Requests for Assistance in Haiti Relief Efforts

January 14, 2010

By Ednor A. P. Davison

Assistant to the President for Communication, Atlantic Union Conference

(978) 368-8333 ext. 3028; communication@atlanticunion.org

Atlantic Union Members Respond to Requests for Assistance in Haiti Relief Efforts

A massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti, on the afternoon of January 12, 2010, leaving massive devastation in its wake. It is said to be the strongest quake to hit Haiti in more than 200 years. As a result, the death toll continues to rise and thousands have been injured and left homeless. Damage to the infrastructure—homes, office buildings, churches, schools, hotels, phone lines, power lines, and more—has been severe.

Haiti has more than 335,000 Seventh-day Adventists worshiping in 470 churches. In addition to a hospital and university, the church operates dozens of schools there. According to Larry Evans, undersecretary for the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, two of the largest Adventist churches near the presidential palace were destroyed. There are serious concerns for the children who were attending the school attached to one of those churches. One union worker was killed when a wall fell on him. Many have been sleeping on the lawns of the Haitian Adventist University and hospitals in Port-au-Prince.

Following news of the quake, administrators in the Atlantic Union and the six local conferences met individually and collectively to determine the most effective method of mobilizing members to assist the Haitian community. According to Donald King, Atlantic Union Conference president, "Union and conference administrators . . . have agreed to declare Sabbath, January 16, 2010, as a special union-wide Day of Prayer for the people of Haiti." (See www.atlantic-union.org/news_haiti-101210.html.)

Special offering days have been designated by conference officials to give members the opportunity to donate to the relief efforts. Local church leaders will be communicating information beginning, Sabbath, January 16, regarding what actions individual conferences are taking to assist in the relief efforts. In addition, the Atlantic Union Conference has designated Sabbath, February 6, 2010, as the Sabbath to collect a special offering for relief efforts in Haiti. All churches in the Atlantic Union are being asked to join together in taking a special offering on that day. "We solicit your prayers for the leaders of the country and people of Haiti as well as the leaders and members of our churches. As you may imagine, the needs are enormous, so we request your financial support in alleviating the suffering of the people," said Louis Metellus, vice president for the Atlantic Union Haitian Ministries." (See www.atlantic-union.org/news_haiti-101210.html.)

The more than 102,370 members in the Atlantic Union worshiping in about 562 churches and 62 companies are being asked to pray for the millions of people in Haiti affected by the earthquake, along with those involved in the search and rescue efforts, and the many Haitian members in the Atlantic Union Conference who are attempting to receive word about their families.

 

Information about the relief efforts will disseminated as it is received. If you have credible information you believe should be communicated contact the Atlantic Union Conference Communication Department at communication@atlanticunion.org.

For more updates about Haiti and related links, visit www.atlantic-union.org.