Our greatest contribution is to first PRAY! We have direct access to the throne room of heaven to a Father who loves His children in the Haitian community. Prayers should be targeted to search and rescue workers who are still trying to find bodies of people still living who are buried in rubble; family members in Haitian communities who have yet to hear if their loved ones are safe or alive; and our own Grace Brethren families who continue to agonize over the lack of information.
Another way to help is financial. Your gift to "Relief Agency Brethren" will support emergency relief and recovery efforts to help those people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Assistance provided by the Relief Agency Brethren may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers and providing financial resources and recovery.
A plan of action is being written and will continue to be a very fluid document until we are able to understand both the short term and long-term needs of this crisis. Our immediate response is to partner with Convoy of Hope. We have already released $10,000 to purchase a container that is on its way to Haiti. Convoy of Hope has staff on the ground in Haiti. They have a warehouse just outside of Port-Au-Prince with food, water and purification devices and have already begun response efforts. COH feeds 13,000 kids every day in Haiti through 27 different schools and orphanages. But their in-country resources will only stretch so far.
The greatest need currently is food and water. We know their water supply infrastructure has been affected. It's also clear that people will be out of work for an extended period of time and food will be even more scarce than normal. We are working to expedite containers of food, water, medical and sanitation supplies as quickly as possible. Typically loads are sent by sea. In this case, we will seek to airlift as many shipments as possible. Each container can usually serve around 12,000 people. Due to the fact the airport is not in the best shape and very few flights are allowed to land and the shipping ports and cranes have been damaged an ‘airdrop' is being planned for this Saturday.
At this time, we are not deploying volunteer teams. Due to the dire needs, logistical hurdles and poor security, we are not considering sending volunteer teams, with the possible exception of medical professionals. Not only do we have a responsibility to help the people of Haiti with our best efforts, but we have a responsibility to keep our volunteers in a reasonable realm of safety. As the situation stabilizes and we feel adequately prepared to send volunteer deployment teams, we will let you know.
"Our first hope is to meet the three most basic needs for as many people as we can; water, food and shelter. Because the temperature levels in Haiti range between eight-five and ninety degrees Fahrenheit, our priority has to be water. In those kinds of temperatures people can only live 2-5 days without it."
A temporary "PLAN OF ACTION" is listed below that highlights the scope of our thinking. Let the Church rise! Let's be Grace Brethren and be true to the first word of our commission from our Commander In Chief, "GO!" and to His greatest action, "GIVE."
PLAN OF ACTION:
- Secure Container With Supplies For Airdrop - DONE!
- PRAY: Search & Recovery; Families; Hope; Medical, Food & Water; Safety
- Challenge Churches To: Give $; Purchase A Container $10,000
- Plan to Mobilize "GO TEAMS" for long term rebuilding
- For our FGBC Leadership as they work together to come alongside our FGBC
- Churches to organize and unleash God's Love on Haiti