Baptists in the Disaster Zone: Haiti
“Obviously the Lord touched the hearts of many Baptists in Romania and I am so glad that we are
able to do this as part of the Baptist world family.”
Moses Sudheer, a Baptist pastor in Andhra Pradesh state in India, reported, “By God's grace we
collected 4,500 Indian Rupees (approximately US$100) toward relief for the earthquake victims in
Haiti…. Our hearts moved with compassion for the bereaved families of the terrible earthquake that
occurred in Haiti,” Sudheer wrote.
Others, though not in a position to offer financial assistance, assured the BWA that they were
keeping Haiti in their prayers. “The Nepal Baptist Church Council does not [have the] ability to do
anything except pray,” said Ratna Bahadur Rai, general secretary. “However, our requests [go] to our
Almighty God for the victims.”
Maurice Mondengo from the Democratic Republic of Congo composed a song, “Tears of the
Sunset,” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dPPtxreqoY) in memory of the victims who died in the
quake. In reference to the time of day the quake struck, (in the evening), Mondengo said, “Those we
mourn were close to seeing the sunset of Tuesday, January 12, 2010. But alas, they never will again.”
After recovery comes rebuilding. The challenge after the massive destruction in Haiti, which saw
more than 200,000 persons losing their lives and between 60 and 80 percent of the buildings in Portau-
Prince badly damaged or destroyed, is to rebuild the infrastructure of the country. It is also to help
to meet the spiritual needs of the people. Fortunately, Baptists have had long experience in assisting
in rebuilding lives, leaning ever resolutely on the power of prayer and the compassion coming from
our Lord.
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