Sustaining Hope in Haiti: The Church's Role

aheckman — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:33:26 +0000

Sustaining Hope in Haiti: The Church's Role aheckman Thu, 11/14/2024 - 21:33

“My family and I have faced very difficult times during the long crisis.”

Magalie, a mother of five, had just received a food parcel to help stave off the hunger that was growing in her home, after her crops and animals were lost in a flood—just one of many difficulties her family has faced in recent years. Though she was describing her own experience, Magalie’s words could have easily been uttered by many of her neighbors in this Haitian community.

For years, Haiti has endured a cycle of economic, political, and social instability. Rival gangs control much of the island nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, while access to food, clean water, fuel, and other essential supplies is frequently limited or nonexistent. Disruptions to school and work are commonplace, and at least 700,000 people are living displaced from their homes.

Despite also experiencing impact from these realities, Nazarene pastors and church members across Haiti consistently demonstrate compassion toward their neighbors. They work to meet immediate needs while also offering spiritual support and encouragement.

“Though it does not solve all my problems, the food kit will allow me to feed my family for several days,” said Magalie.

Haitian Nazarene leaders understand that a food distribution won’t solve the deeper systemic issues that plague their nation. But they have also learned that, in times of protracted crisis, churches can provide solidarity and practical help. These acts of care remind people in need that they are seen, valued, and not forgotten.

“I thank God, my church pastor, and those who provided for the food,” Magalie said.

In 2023, after widespread flooding impacted five Nazarene districts, 136 churches coordinated to provide food packs and seeds to 2,166 families, including Magalie and her children. Some of those families found faith and a new community after the distributions, choosing to join the churches that supported them.

“One of those families did not have a home to stay,” shared Pastor David Eliassaint, the Superintendent of the South district. “In addition to the food kits they received, we shared with them a family tent that Nazarene Compassionate Ministries recently provided.”

Pastor David Eliassaint

Pastor Manacé, from Charpentier Church of the Nazarene, distributed food to both church members and neighbors.

“Having the opportunity to feed my church people makes me happy,” he said. “The food distribution is having a great impact in the church [and] also in the community. It is proof that we are not alone.”

Pastor Manacé

Food distribution at Charpentier Church of the Nazarene

As 2024 comes to an end, the devastating effects of rising violence and instability have left no person or church community untouched. Some churches have closed in certain areas. Recently, members of seven congregations fled their homes as gang activity threatened their safety. The Haitian Nazarene Theological seminary in the capital has periodically opened their doors to provide refuge to displaced people. In January of 2024, when a group of church members sought temporary safety at the seminary, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries leaders made sure each person was outfitted with essential hygiene items, and each child with school supplies. Knowing they would return to homes left literally bare after looting, leaders also shared potential income-generating options to help give each family a better chance to afford the costs of rebuilding their lives.

Nazarene pastors, superintendents, and compassionate ministries staff request earnest prayer for the nation and people of Haiti—for all who are displaced, for those struggling to survive, and for the peace and hope of Christ to reign in the hearts of all.

Haiti

Food Security

Emergency Relief

Live Compassion

The Church Provides Hope: The Aftermath of an Earthquake

aheckman — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 17:49:38 +0000

The Church Provides Hope: The Aftermath of an Earthquake aheckman Thu, 06/16/2022 - 17:49

The Church Provides Hope: The Aftermath of an Earthquake

JUNE 16, 2022 · NCM STAFF

On August 14, 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook the lower peninsula of Haiti, affecting an area with more than 1.5 million residents. In addition to destroying thousands of physical structures and destabilizing the infrastructure of three provinces, the quake directly impacted more than 800,000 people—340,000 of whom were children—and left 650,000 Haitians in need of emergency relief. More than 2,200 people were killed and close to 13,000 were injured.

With your help, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries was able to partner with leaders of Nazarene districts and churches in Haiti to organize a well-orchestrated distribution of relief. Nazarene leaders and volunteers from two districts in Haiti—the Grand’Anse and South districts—drew from recent experience organizing a 2016 hurricane response to mobilize compassionate relief following the 2021 earthquake. Each district created a plan for assembling food kits and established distribution sites for getting essential items to impacted people.

Partnership with groups like Mission Aviation Fellowship and Missionary Flights International enabled the delivery of thousands of tarps that provided cover for damaged roofs or quick shelter for those who lost their homes. Church volunteers assembled 7,248 food kits for families in need, providing enough meals to feed 44,874 people.

The Madame-Juliene Church of the Nazarene in Les Cayes was one of 15 Nazarene churches destroyed in the earthquake. The loss of their building left all 77 families who belong to the church with no structure for gathering; many members also suffered significant losses at home. Due to heavy damage to the community, Les Cayes served as one of the sites for assembling and distributing food kits. Fortunately, church leaders have built strong relationships in the community and, as a result, local store owners allowed relief workers to use their stores as distribution sites.

Many people in the community experienced the love of God through the relief program carried out in Les Cayes. The following testimonies come from the Madame-Juliene church.

"My name is Pastor Louis. I am the church’s pastor of the Nazarene church of Madame-Julien. First of all, I [thank] God who, after the disaster of August 14, 2021, used the leaders of the Nazarene church to send us food supplies and tarps [for] distribution, which was a great success. As a result of the distribution, we have had four people who have given their lives to Jesus as they witnessed love inside the church."

"My name is Sister Manel. I really thank God that I have become a Christian at the Nazarene church of Madame-Julien. I am [thankful for] the Nazarene church leaders who sent us a great help after the disaster of August, 2021, where we ... lost everything and we did not have the means to overcome the situation. We thank God, as he had put in the church leaders’ hearts to assist us in a context where all families were crying out for help with no hope. The food supplies and tarps were really welcomed. We were able to share with our extended families and the pastor shared some with other people out of the church. So, everyone in the community was touched by the distribution."

Thank you for your sacrificial giving to provide relief to the people of Haiti. The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti will continue to provide care during the rebuilding and recovery process, and extend compassion and hope in the name of Jesus.

Haiti

Sustaining Hope in Haiti: The Church's Role

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