This week I and several other pastors had the privilege of going to Haiti with C3Global. C3Global is a network of churches that is trying to provide hope, help, and healing to the thousands of homeless children in Haiti due to the devastating earthquake that happened on January 12, 2010.
The Crossing (with C3global's leadership) is sponsoring an entire orphanage dedicated to providing 4 things to 50 orphans in this terrible place:
- Nutrition. Most of Haiti is seriously without decent food. We are making sure these 50 kids get 3 square meals a day.
- Sanitation. Most of Haiti is without clean water or plumbing. We are seeking to provide a clean environment and pure water for these kids so that they can be healthy.
- Education. We are teaching these kids English or French and giving them a good education so that they can grow up and take care of themselves. Knowledge is power.
- Transformation. We are bringing these kids Jesus so that they have the life changing power of Christ in their lives.
Below are several pictures as well as 3 observations from my trip:
1. The Haitian people are beautiful. One of the things that struck me about being in Haiti is how wonderful these people are. They are quick to smile, and in spite of their poverty and lack of opportunity are really trying to make progress.
2. Haiti is a serious mess. There are no quick fixes here. Most people are living on top of trash and rubble in tents or tarps. There is very little clean water or economic opportunity. The need here is so great. THE CHURCH CANNOT IGNORE THIS CRISIS! WE ARE THE ONLY HOPE IN ALL THE WORLD. James 1:27 says we are to take care of widows and orphans in their affliction. So we must do this. We must act.
We may not be able to fix everything, but we can help 50 children. The way the world changes is one life at a time. If you are a pastor reading this blog, please consider joining C3Global and sponsoring an orphanage. As more and more churches get on board, we will see thousands of children find hope, help and a future.
3. The Crossing cannot help these kids temporarily; we must be in this for the long haul. Haiti is too devastated to just be here a short time. It will take them years to rebuild, so The Crossing needs to be there long-term helping children find hope. I am committed to leading our church to stick to this thing and really watch God work miracles in kids' lives and in this country.
