New Around the Mission

January 15, 2010

Anglican Mission Bishop Offers Relief Assistance in Haiti

We (the whole family) lived there for fourteen months. I have maintained a 20+ year connection with people, friends, and ministry partners, having been in country as recently as last May. I have learned, grown, been humbled, and stretched in my faith over these past 20 years in remarkable ways because of a heart connection to a place and to a people. This place and this people is Haiti.

Haiti people struggling to survive after devastating earthquake.

For the past day and a half I have worked the phones, reconnected with friends, searched for friends, and networked relief supplies. The news has been amazingly bad. Much of what I would call the familiar landmarks of my past twenty-year connection with Haiti are gone. Many of the projects that I have given time, energy, and resources to are gone. Not all my friends and ministry partners are accounted for.

It helps me when I remember that one of the greatest Old Testament prophets, Ezekiel, sat stunned and overwhelmed for seven days when faced with the desperate plight of the children of Israel (Ez 3:15). Grief is real and it is healthy. Jesus exhorts us to mourn with those who mourn.

But we are also to be people of hope – even in the face of death. So Jesus also exhorts us walk with, encourage, and meet the needs of those in pain, brokenness and distress. Because of my long-standing relationship with Haiti, I know that will mean very practical opportunities in the days ahead for us at St. Peter’s walking with and working with Haitians.

Bishop TJ

Please continue in prayer for Haiti that out of this destruction a new day would actually come upon a country and a people who have had and certainly have today – very little to hope for.

My hope for Haiti (and for my own life) is in God alone. I claim this morning for Haiti, God’s promise through Ezekiel to give the children of Israel a new heart and a new spirit and a hope and future that will be good (Ez 11:17-20). —TJ

Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories: Faith in Action