Help for Haiti: Local churches organize projects for earthquake disaster relief

When disaster strikes, near or far, Southeast Missouri churches rally to help. On Jan. 12, a magnitude-7 earthquake struck Haiti, killing thousands of people and leaving many more injured and homeless. In the weeks following the disaster, several local churches coordinated projects and fundraisers to help Haiti, already struggling as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

"It's part of who we are as Christians of any kind to reach out in sacrificial ways and help those who have been victimized -- to care for them, love them and help them recover," says John Rice, pastor of New McKendree United Methodist Church of Jackson. He believes that service is a "continuous thread of compassion" that begins in the Old Testament and carries throughout the life of Jesus Christ.

New McKendree held a special offering after the earthquake hit and an "Open your Hearts for Haiti" dinner on Feb. 14. Ladies of the church prepared homemade chicken and dumplings, and all proceeds from the dinner went to Haiti. In addition, Lucy Kunz, a seventh-grader who attends New McKendree, rounded up her friends, made bracelets of beads and string, and sold them for $1 each. According to Rice, Kunz collected $350 dollars for Haiti on one Sunday morning.

"The thing is that when we open up a special offering, people keep giving afterward," Rice adds. So far, he estimates the church has raised over $8,000 for Haiti -- and they're not stopping. Rice knows Haiti will have a huge need for aftercare, such as health kits and people to help clear debris and rebuild the area.

"I know there is more to be done and we're ready to do more in the ways of mission," says Rice.

St. Paul Lutheran Church of Jackson also collected a special offering for Haiti earthquake relief, and on Feb. 11, the church held its sixth annual rummage sale to raise funds for mission trips to Haiti as well as Guatemala, New Orleans and inner-city Chicago. Pastor Daniel Johnson has been to Haiti six times, and though he is unable to lead a mission this year, hopes to return in the future to train preachers, minister to the people, and build and repair church buildings.

"They have so many needs," he says. "I have a love for the people. I want to help them by sharing the love of Christ and preparing young men to be pastors who will bring the message of salvation. The Christians there are very vibrant and excited about their faith. They have a deep appreciation for what God has done for them. I want to continue to equip them to take the message to the Haitian people."

Parochial school students are also doing their part to help Haiti. Eighth-graders at St. Mary's Cathedral School of Cape Girardeau made blankets and sent them to Haiti, while the seventh-grade boys' basketball team at Immaculate Conception School of Jackson held a 50/50 drawing for Haiti during their January tournament. The drawing winners all donated their money back to the fund for Haiti. On Jan. 22, Notre Dame Regional High School hosted a 23-act benefit concert for Haitian earthquake victims. The student-organized event was originally intended to raise funds to build a Zambian home and Haitian school, but when students heard of the Jan. 12 earthquake, they decided to change the benefit's focus to earthquake relief.

In the Spirit is a Rust Communications publication published this month.