VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABP) — American Baptists plan to tap both international relief efforts and local churches with strong ties to the Haitian-American community in responding to human suffering caused by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is also working with American Baptists and other partners on both short-term and long-term recovery efforts.
Officials at American Baptist Churches USA said Jan. 14 that National Ministries would target regions with a strong Haitian presence to identify needs both within Haitian-American churches and in Haitian churches and families with whom those churches have relationships.
That work will be coordinated with work in Haiti under the auspices of American Baptist International Ministries, Church World Service and the North American Baptist Fellowship.
Lemaire Alerte of the Alliance of Haitian Baptist Churches told American Baptist News Service that meetings are being held to determine needs and response strategies for churches in the United States, Puerto Rico and Haiti. He urged prayer for Haitian-American Baptist churches throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, for Haitian Americans waiting for word about loved ones and for first responders as they arrive from around the world to confront a humanitarian crisis.
With 1.3 million members in 5,500 churches, American Baptists are one of America's most diverse Christian denominations. Though historically viewed as predominantly white, American Baptists today claim no racial majority group. The ABCUSA includes Caucasian, black, Hispanic, Asian and American Indian congregations as well as the Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico. There are about 30 predominantly Haitian-American congregations affiliated with American Baptists.
CBF officials announced Jan. 14 the organization would coordinate most of its response through field personnel jointly appointed by CBF and ABCUSA. CBF/ABC missionaries Nancy and Steve James, both medical professionals, were in the United States when the earthquake struck. On Jan. 14 they headed back into Haiti, carrying medical supplies. After arriving, they planned to set up a staging area for channeling relief and supplies.
"We need your prayers for all the suffering ones and for us to know how God might want to use us," Steve James wrote in an e-mail update to CBF leaders.
The Fellowship is not equipped to act as a first responder in disasters, and plans to focus is efforts on making a long-term impact in the affected region, working alongside ministry partners.
The Fellowship has already connected with partners such as Conscience International, which is sending a medical team to Haiti by early next week; Crosslink International, which has already received donations of medical equipment to accompany the first teams to go in to the affected region; and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, which will help connect Fellowship Baptists with volunteer opportunities in the coming weeks and months. The Fellowship is continuing to connect with other partners.
"As CBF field personnel and partners are listening on the field for needs and resources, CBF churches and individuals will be called on to share their resources, skills sets, and specialized training," said Chris Boltin, the Fellowship's short-term assignments and partnerships manager.
Those interested in serving in Haiti can list skills and experience on a volunteer-application page at the CBF website. There is also a donation page for financial gifts for Haiti response.