It seems like living in Florida sometimes brings us a little closer in the U.S. to natural disasters than our other fellow Americans. The hurricanes of '04 were a challenge for us all, but there is no time to live in the past with Haiti in such dire need. The world has witnessed destruction of epic proportions and Florida is one vital stopping off place on the way to Haiti. Our Haitian pastors all are desperate to hear from Haiti and to go to Haiti. Our prayers are with them. Now is the time not only for prayer, but action. TCBA is working with two major entities at the present. As always we work with Florida Baptist. We await to hear plans as they have people on the ground administering to sick and dying people. We also are working to coordinate feeding ground support for the Mission Flights International that has a base of operations at Ft. Pierce Airport.

 

Pesently we are coordinating our churches in the feeding of ground support. You can learn more about this effort and learn how you may be involved by going to Haiti Relief on this website. You can be involved in feeding workers, volunteering to sort and pack supplies or collect supplies and drop them off here at the TCBA Office.

 

I know that some of you are itching to go to Haiti. In fact, there are tat least two of our pastors that I know of who are in Haiti as I write this article. There will be a long term ministry that will emerge as we help the good people of Haiti to pick up their lives. I hope that you will plan on making Haiti your church group's destination this next mission trip. We will be sharing plans in time as to when, how, where and what you need to know to make that trip a reality. For now you and your church have ample opportunity to lift the burden of Haiti from here through those people who are in Haiti tirelessly working. I just got off the phone with Terry Ryan who said that Fritz Wilson is working with eleven Doctors who are working day and night to treat sick and injured people in Port-au-Prince. Craig Culbreth, Director of Partnership Missions is working disaster relief with our pastors in Haiti as they dig their lives out from under the ruble. Pray for these teams.

 

Dr. Sullivan has challenged us to give. He made the statement that an average Haitian can live on a quarter cup of rice a day and that a one-hundred pound bag of rice will feed a family of four for a long time. Just $20.00 will buy the bag of rice. Florida Baptist will distribute this rice through its churches in Haiti. You may give to the Florida Baptist Haiti Relief Fund if you would like to be a part of this effort.

 

We are on Facebook at TCBA. Let me encourage you to join us and keep in touch with the relief effort and other ministry opportunities as they come our way.