Haitian Relief Fund
Brothers and Sisters,
The devastation in Haiti as a result of the recent 7.0 earthquake has left us all wondering what we can do. Cornerstone has contacted one of our former Elders, Bob Bell, who used to be a missionary in Haiti with CrossWorld, a very reputable missions agency (the Hoobyars, whom we also support, are also with CrossWorld). CrossWorld has 14 missionaries in Haiti and a seminary in Port-au-Prince. Bob Bell has personal contact with two missionary couples located near the epicenter of the quake. The mission seminary has been totally destroyed. Two of the students are now confirmed dead. The seminary property is now a relief camp attempting to help over 2,000 people in need of medical attention, water, food, and shelter. CrossWorld missionaries Bruce and Cindy McMartin are spearheading this relief effort. The McMartins have worked for a number of years with community organizations in the city of Port-au-Prince. They help run a large home (now damaged) for abandoned teen boys and pre-teens.
We want you to know that Cornerstone’s Agape Team has designated $2000.00 to be sent to CrossWorld-Haitian Relief, c/o Bruce McMartin. Additionally, we will put out our Agape Fund box for the next three Sundays for our people to donate. All Agape Fund monies collected over the next three weeks will go directly to the CrossWorld-Haitian Relief Fund (in addition to the $2000.00 already disbursed). Please pray for Haiti and consider this offering as one way to help our fellow-believers in Haiti to be the hands and feet of Christ in this time of tremendous need. Checks should be made out to CFBC. You may put “CrossWorld-Haitian Relief” in the memo line if you like.
For more information go to http://www.crossworld.org/home.html . Also, take time to read today’s update from CrossWorld below.
In Christ’s love for all,
Pastor Milton
Found under the Rubble in Haiti
We now know that the two unaccounted for STEP Seminary students buried in the collapsed seminary building are now dead and one has been retrieved this morning. With all the carnage all around and blocked transportation systems, permission has been given to bury them on campus. There is much grieving today among the entire staff and the more than 2,000 Haitians on campus.
CrossWorld Personnel Update: David and Phyllis Schmid and Bruce and Cindy McMartin are working feverishly to bring stability to the Bolosse campus. In David's report this morning he cites issues such as "we are facing a potable water crisis...more people come every day...many still sleep uncovered... the situation with the crowd is serious...Phyllis and I have slept outside since the event..." The report contains pages of similar descriptions. They are grateful for small mercies such as a few tarps brought by World Relief personnel; and "three 5-gallon jugs of Culligan potable water after much effort."
International Director for Haiti, Dwight Lehman is in contact by phone via skype with the team. He says there are "wall to wall people" on campus. But get this: while he was on the phone, Phyllis said "Dwight, can you hear the people singing hymns. It sounds wonderful." Right then in the midst of chaos and death hundreds were singing, praying and 'praising God'. One woman was holding a newborn baby. Can you believe it? You can't make this stuff up!
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