Warrick to continue ministry in Caribbean; relief efforts underway

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Thursday, January 14, 2010

While the general church made the decision to transport General Superintendent J. K. Warrick from Haiti to Florida, the general superintendent is remaining in South Florida to help the Miami-based Caribbean Regional Office with response initiatives on behalf of the denomination. Although he was scheduled to conduct district assemblies in that nation, the disaster has forced suspension of those events.

Regional and global leaders determined that skilled respondents were necessary for an effective and efficient response to the overwhelming needs of the devastated nation. The move of Warrick, who stated he was grateful to be able pray with survivors and offer them the comfort of Christ, and those traveling with him to Florida facilitates the accommodation of much-needed responders.

The national church in Haiti has a strong indigenous leadership and has already initiated relief efforts. According to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM), churches in Haiti - the ones that are able - are engaged and continue to respond to the needs of their respective communities with comfort, prayer, shelter, and supplies.

Relief efforts are being coordinated through NCM-Caribbean, who reports communication to and from Haiti has been very difficult thus far, but the effort is in motion and more trained help is on the way. They are currently working with several groups to do immediate relief work.

NCM-Caribbean is encouraged by the generosity shown by many Nazarenes, such as Obed Santiesteban from the Southern Florida District. Santiesteban works with Cargo Express International, a cargo company run by Jose Garcia, a member of the Hialeah Good Shepherd Church of the Nazarene. Cargo Express has offered NCM the use of the company's warehouse space to store supplies, as well as the company's assistance with shipping containers to Haiti.

Nazarenes have been generous to give, also. According to their head office, $70,000 (U.S.) was given to NCM for Haiti relief efforts in the first 48 hours of accepting donations.

There are other means of help, too. Click here for a list of items that individuals, groups, and churches can donate to the effort. Click here for directions on how and where to ship these items.

To view a video about the earthquake from Global Communications, click here.

NCM-Caribbean wishes to share the following message:

We've had many people Email and call about the need for immediate response teams after the recent earthquake in Haiti. We are grateful for your availability and willingness to help. We are continuing the process of assessing the specific needs and how the Church of the Nazarene in Haiti can best respond to the tragedy there. We expect that the immediate search and recovery efforts will take awhile before we can begin to work on longer term recovery efforts. If you are interested in being notified when response teams are needed, please Email ncm@caribnaz.org.

In addition, Heart to Heart International, which was founded by Nazarene Gary Morsch, sent a team of volunteers and medical supplies to the Caribbean on Wednesday evening. Several large shipments of medical aid are scheduled for the near future. For more information, see the following video reports (KCTV-5 report, Kansas City.com) or visit hearttoheart.org.

More information concerning Haiti relief efforts and additional reports will be posted to ncnnews.com as it is received.

Donations

It is essential that the Global Church continue its generous support through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries to ensure critical supplies reach needy areas and can be administered to those in need.

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation for Haiti Earthquake Relief online can do so through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at ncm.org. Checks can be marked "Caribbean Disaster Response ACM1204" and mailed to Global Treasury Services, PO Box 843116 Kansas City, MO 64184. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3.
--NCN News, NCM-Caribbean

 

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