Survivors amid rubble after Haiti's devastating earthquake

I want to share with you our thoughts on the terrible situation in Haiti and ask all of you to become involved in the massive effort to help.

With the event of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, it appears that many thousands may have died, and many are still trapped in the wreckage. The lack of supplies, such as water, will claim many more lives if help doesn’t arrive in time.

We spoke with a friend, a Haitian who lives here in Charlotte, yesterday.  She shared with us that many of her family members are gathered together, crying, waiting for word on their loved ones who are still in Haiti. She made a profound comment: “Today I am telling everyone to repent (turn away from sin) and embrace Jesus Christ.  He is our only hope.”

Jesus taught that when people are suffering, our responsibility is to feed them, clothe them, and take care of their needs. Here is the passage of scripture:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

– Matthew 25:34-40

Just watching the news and seeing the devastation, you may feel overwhelmed.  What can one person do?  Here are some things you can do:

1. Pray for supernatural intervention – that people who are trapped would be miraculously kept alive by God, and rescued.

2. Pray for everyone involved, including rescue workers and the survivors – that they would not suffer illness or death because of disease, accident or starvation. Pray that they would come to know Jesus Christ.

3. Pray for all who have lost loved ones, for comfort and for them to experience God’s comforting presence like never before.

4. Give: We recommend Samaritan’s Purse, Frankin Graham’s organization that is based here in Charlotte.  They have a team on the ground in Haiti and are providing medical help, shelter, food and water, and hygiene supplies.

5. We have contacted the Haitian Community here in Charlotte and are awaiting word to see what we can do to help them in this hour of need. Pray for the Haitians here in Charlotte, and all over the U.S. as they are suffering unbearably.

Friends, let us reflect on our lives, realizing that we do not know when our lives will end.  Let us live every day with one eye on eternity.  Every day you can make a difference; every day is another gift from God.

In Christ,

Marla Johnson