How Harvest Can Help Haiti

Click the banner above to visit the Free Methodist World Missions Website designed especially for Haiti relief.

Free Methodist Church Response Plan - ABCD

After visiting Haiti on Saturday I realized the response plan I had initiated was too slow and too cautious. Once given the "go-ahead," the Free Methodist World Missions team jumped into action, accelerating the plan. Following are the sequential elements of the FM response plan.

Team A
FMWM is sending team "A" on Thursday, via Dominican Republic, to evaluate, prioritize and establish a rudimentary infrastructure for relief. The "A" team will be on the ground in Port-au-Prince until the following Tuesday. Priority will be given to:

• evaluating the structural integrity of the standing schools because they can serve as temporary housing and relief centers.

• connecting with aid and government distribution points for water, medicine, food and temporary shelter.

• creating a plan for effective deployment of relief teams.

Team "A" is five persons: FMWM’s Director of Mobilization, Area Director for Latin American Ministries, FMCNA’s videographer, a structural engineer, and a long-time FOHO (Friends of Haiti Organization) leader.

Team B
At the same time, team "B," focused on medical relief, will be working from Dessalines Hospital (four hours north of Port-au-Prince). Many injured are being transferred there. This team "B" will be working through northern points of entry into the country.

Team C
Next in the sequence are "C" teams: relief teams from FM churches. It's a testimony to our people that many are volunteering to serve. What a wonderful people, these people called Free Methodists! Several teams already had tickets (even before the earthquake) and are awaiting resumption of commercial flights into Port-au-Prince. But, as you can imagine, we must have a way to keep "C" teams housed, fed and usefully deployed (vehicles, communication, etc) or it will be a waste of money and energy.

We ask that you honor the following process for "C" teams:

1. all teams coordinate through FMWM's VISA office.

2. all teams have VISA insurance (trust me, the insurance saves lives - we can't be coordinating with individual insurance companies).

Team D
Then, the first week of February, the "D" team, made up of Canadian Bishop Keith Elford, Dominican Republic Bishop Cecilio Osoria, and me (U.S. Bishop David Roller) will go to coordinate leadership and relief between all four countries.

Please continue to pray for Haitian superintendents (Clovis, Delamy, Charite, Devariste, Clodius, Bathelemy). Those most directly involved are emotionally drained and near the breaking point. Also remember Linda Adams and her ICCM team — they carry a heavy burden too. Pray for "A" and "B" teams; they have planning and packing to complete, shots to get, and perhaps some fear.

Stateside, this has been Free Methodist World Mission’s finest hour. I know the focus is Haiti, not North America, but I have to say this: they have responded in the most noble, most Christ-like ways. They scrambled all resources, personal and institutional. They laid aside every convenience, they didn't sleep, they didn't eat. For nearly seven days they have had telephones glued to their ears — evacuating personnel, developing multiple plans, juggling possibilities, consulting with experts, challenging the giving church. Even though they didn't have enough information (much was unclear those first few days), they did not hesitate, and then made a thousand mid-course corrections. Only God will know how to reward you. The church simply thanks you!

January 16, 2010 - 9:00 p.m.

With profound sadness, Free Methodist World Missions reports Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, Merle West, and Gene Dufour, the three missionaries who have been unaccounted for, have not been located and are now presumed to not be alive. Today Bishop David Roller conducted a funeral service at the site of the building they were in which collapsed when Tuesday's earthquake hit. These three individuals gave their lives in service to the Haitian people whom they loved deeply.

Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, and her husband, Jack, were appointed as career missionaries to Haiti in March 2004. Together they worked alongside the national church to develop and strengthen the conference, pastors, church leaders and members. Jeanne's deepest desire was that Haiti, the Pearl of the Antilles, would shine again with "Haiti for Christ" becoming a reality.

Merle West had been ministering in Haiti since 1978. He served as president of FOHO (Friends of Haiti Organization) and supervised construction of the new FOHO building. Merle was active in Craftsman for Christ and worked construction in the Miami Haitian churches. He also took three trips to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Gene Dufour had been on three trips to Haiti and one to Africa. Gene, along with Merle, was active in Craftsman for Christ and worked construction in the Miami Haitian churches. Gene and Merle were good friends, enjoying each other's company and sharing a heart and love for Haiti.

Jack Munos and Katie Zook (Arlington FMC, Arlington WA) remain in ICU in a Miami hospital. Both continue to improve. Katie was on a 2 year VISA assignment which began September 2009. She was assisting Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos in day-to-day ministry and helping with hospitality at the FOHO Guesthouse.

DeeAnn Snyder has arrived safely in Michigan. Dan is expected to arrive late this evening. James, their son who was with them in Haiti, returns to his college in the U.S. this evening.

Among the Free Methodists serving in Haiti at the time of the earthquake were several VISA Ministries volunteers. Melanie Brooks, Chris Browne, Dave Hornish, and Bruce Oberlin, part of the Clear Blue Global Water Project from the Cornerstone FMC (Akron, OH), returned home safely late yesterday evening.

Working in conjunction with the Clear Blue team, Rev. Arron Swenson and Jason Sheete from Cornerstone Community Church (Pendelton, OR) and Kelly Perkins from the Deer Flat FMC (Caldwell, ID) are expected to arrive in Seattle this evening.

Russ and Sherrie Cole from the Quincy FMC (Quincy, WA), who have been in Haiti since November helping with guesthouse management/hospitality, bookkeeping and maintenance, depart from Miami on Monday. 

The Free Methodist Church of North America has an unbelievably large presence in Haiti.  Free Methodist World Missions has set up a website with information, videos, messages from Bishop David Roller as news becomes available, and of course, how you can help.  If you are deciding to financially donate to Haiti at this time, please consider doing so through Free Methodist World Missions.  Here are some statistics as to the FMC presence in Haiti as well as how to pray:

Pray for:
► the safe rescue of Jeanne, Merle, Gene and our many Haitian friends who are unaccounted for.
► physical healing for Jack Munos and Katie Zook.
► safe evacuation of the VISA volunteers and mission families who need to leave.
► emotional healing for the missionary team and for the Haitians as they face this overwhelming trauma.
► the exploratory team to arrive safely. Pray they will have wisdom and discernment as they assist the Haitian church to create a response strategy and action plan.
► the Port-au-Prince pastors as they attempt to comfort and lead their people (19 full FM churches and 12 church plants are located in the greater Port-au-Prince area).
► relief supplies to reach Haitians.
► word concerning the welfare of Haitian ICCM staff and 1,867 ICCM-sponsored children participating in 16 schools in the Port-au-Prince area.
► the thousands of ICCM-sponsored children and their families who have been impacted.
 
The Free Methodist Church in Haiti
► 73 full churches
► 28 church plants
► More than 8,900 children sponsored through International Child Care Ministries
► 86 ordained elders
► 15 conference ministerial candidates
► 85 local pastors
► 11,643 full members
► 2,229 preparatory members
► 1,727 junior members
► 15,599 grand total members
► 12,720 average attendance
► 117 primary schools / 22,122 students
► 20 secondary schools / 2,859 students
► 11 dispensaries
► 1 hospital

International Child Care Ministries also has a large presence in Haiti and is, of course, deeply concerned for the welfare of the children there supported by our members worldwide.  Click the image above to visit the ICM website and view updates and information, including information for sponsors of children.