You have seen the heartbreaking pictures. You have heard the desperate cries for help. The needs are staggering! The devastating effects following Haiti’s earthquake will last for perhaps a generation. We already know of approximately 200,000 deaths, one to one-and-a-half million people left homeless, and orphans now numbering over a half million.
Jim AustinThanks to the faithful efforts of those involved in the South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief, efforts of emergency assistance are well underway as we labor alongside other relief organizations. The well-oiled, highly trained disaster relief teams of our state convention have been actively ministering in Haiti since the early days of the quake’s aftermath. Five medical teams, comprised of 47 healthcare professionals, have already served in Haiti. South Carolina Baptists have raised more than $350,000 for the total relief effort. Buckets of Hope, collected at eight sites across the state, have totaled 6,486 thus far. The contents of each bucket provide nutritional aid for a family of four for one week. Other teams – such as assessment, crisis intervention and incident command – have also been on the ground from our state.
Evangelistically, 418 Haitians thus far have made public professions of faith in Christ through the faithful witness of South Carolina Baptist volunteers. The Buckets of Hope donated by South Carolina Baptists are being distributed through Baptist churches in Haiti; medical clinics are also ministering out of Baptist churches to insure that ministry contacts and followup will be available to all those receiving assistance. There is mounting evidence that, out of this great tragedy, a profound turning to the Lord is occurring.
As South Carolina Baptists continue to prepare for this protracted relief effort, 951 volunteers recently gathered at Anderson University for disaster relief training. Other disaster relief training events, including those related to the Chile relief effort, will be forthcoming as crisis ministry continues. There is an ongoing need for more medical teams, building teams and crisis interveners.
Please continue to pray for those devastated by the effects of the earthquakes. Pray for those faithful disaster relief volunteers as they continue to serve. Pray for Cliff Satterwhite and his more than capable team as they lead our state disaster relief effort. As faithful followers of our risen Lord, South Carolina Baptists are demonstrating the love of Christ to the hurting, sharing the words of Christ to the lost, and exhibiting the presence of Christ to a watching world.
– Austin is executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.