Haiti Update - January 30, 2010

From Steve Spellman, Our ReachGlobal partner we took to Missionary Flights Int'l Jan 23:

7 of the most exhausting days of my life...but you never stop, you never shut down because anything we do is dwarfed by the need, by the devastation, by the hurting of people who don't have the "choice" to be here. Many are asking how I'm holding up. I'm in good health, eating carefully, traveling always with a translator, driver (and oft-times personal guard) and simply trying to be more of a help than a hindrance. I'm surrounded by incredible people and am running 100 miles an hour just to keep up with them - and all of us running to catch up to the needs.

I'll probably fly out between Feb. 8-10. Head home for 2+ weeks and then possibly return for the first 2 weeks of March,helping to set up a system to receive the myriad of teams wanting to come down and "stand in the gap" with our Haitian friends.

Thanks, all, for caring and praying so much

VOHM Haiti Relief Update - January 28

From VOHM president, Greg Schuenke: 

Based on information and in consultation with Brian Duggan, EFCA's ReachGlobal Latin America Director, we decided on the need for the following things:

-The need for VOHM/TouchGlobal to develop and staff a field hospital next to our Berard EFCA Church is no longer necessary.
-Medical supplies should now be shipped to Touch Global.  You can see their contact information here.
-VOHM/TouchGlobal will focus upon construction and support for now in the north in the Cap Haitian area.
-A deep well and water purification system long in the planning stages for Berard will go ahead.  Funds for this project have already been raised and volunteers with expertise in this area are engaged in making this project a reality now.
-Complete the construction of the orphan house.  This Friday, a 14 member team arrives to finish the security fence around this property and begin work on the bathrooms and the tiling inside the house.
-Repair of Ministry complex in Berard.
-Financial support for disaster-related activities.

TouchGlobal has assessed the situation in Port au Prince and is developing a plan which may include among other initiatives a partnership with VOHM in the Port au Prince area as well as in the north in and around Cap Haitien.

HAITI Earthquake Update - 1/19/10

Dear LifeSong members and friends,

Sometimes we in LifeSong can feel pretty small... what can such a little church do....???   We are not alone in the work of the LORD!    Read on...

As we said on Sunday, our most powerful tool to help out with the extreme needs in Haiti right now continues to be PRAYER... Use the information below to guide your PRAYER:

Our Missionary Chain to help with the Haiti Earthquake Relief is fully mobilized to put any financial resources given to them, right to work.

Pastor Henoc Lucien - pastors three church plants in the Cap Haitien area and has been helping with all of his resources since day one.  His mission board is Vision of Hope Ministries (address below).

Rev. Glen Schreiber, EFCA Southeast District Superintendent, has also been coordinating efforts to mobilize medical equipment and supplies as well as medical personnel with our EFCA TOUCHGLOBAL crisis team.  He is in daily touch with Vision of Hope Ministries and TOUCHGLOBAL.  He is mobilizing our EFCA south Florida churches to coordinate aide to Haiti to meet the medical emergencies now as well as the longer term needs of Haiti.

Pastor Jacques Francois, EFCA pastor of our Haitian church plant in Miramar FL (Miami area) called Jerusalem Community Church.

Pastor Absolon Joseph, leading our Port-au-Prince church plant which is part of our EFCA Southeast District mission effort.  Pastor Joseph, his new wife and church members are still unaccounted-for.  (We have confimration that Pastor Joseph, his wife and church members have now all been found alive.  THANK YOU, LORD JESUS!)

Pastor Steve Exantus who directs Reaching Haiti-4-Christ which oversees our Port-au-Prince church plant.

Kevin Watterson with TOUCHGLOBAL is now on the ground in Haiti assessing the greatest needs and how best we in the EFCA can help.  He too has just sent a report that the greatest need now continues to be MEDICAL.

Mark Lewis also with TOUCHGLOBAL, coordinating the effort at their Ft. Lauderdale warehouse.

If you are in a financial position to help and should the Lord lead you, here are the top two places where you should send financial support right now:

VISION OF HOPE MINISTRIES, (Pastor Henoc Lucien), Box 681, Eagle River, WS  54521

 -and -

EFCA TOUCHGLOBAL, Earthquake Relief #21709-3970, 901 E 78^th Street, Minneapolis, MN  55420-1300

Updates will certainly follow.  This will be a long-term effort.  After the commercial news media all go home, believers will still be there.

May the God of grace be glorified in the response of His people.  May Jesus Christ be praised!

Haiti Earthquake Update

 FROM Rev. Glen Schreiber, Our EFCA Southeast District Superintendent

So much I could write but here's some basics... (Thursday, Jan. 14)

1.  We still haven't heard from those in our church plant in Port-au-Prince (PAP).  Please pray for Pastor Absolan Joseph, his new wife, and church members.

2.  Pastor Steve, who directs Reaching Haiti 4 Christ which oversees our PAP church plant, has a ticket to fly to PAP in a week to bury his father, is not sure what the status of that flight is, or when he might be able to travel home to take of family and "family."  I feel so bad for him having so much to wonder about (with his family and the church there) and having no information to work with and no place to go to help.  Pray for his passage to Haiti.

3.  EFCA TouchGlobal is doing a masterful job of preparing to go before us and set up for future teams.  The problem: they can't get into Haiti either.  Pray for quick passage and wisdom as they seek to set the groundwork for the rest of us to follow.

4.  Henoc Lucien, our pastor in Cap-Haitien is on the move and the following just came from Greg Schuenke, president of the Voice of Hope Ministries which is the stateside support organization for Henoc.  "I have been in contact with Henoc last night and this morning.  He is now on his way to Port-au-Prince to bring as many back to Cap-Haitien (CAP) as he can."

 5.  The Voice of Hope Ministries website has been updated and will try to stay as current as possible.  Please follow at http://www.vohmhaiti.com/.

6.  I'm not surprised but I am always amazed at the incredible response of the Body of Christ.  Thank you all for your prayers and willingness to help.

May God be glorified as He once again shows His ability to redeem... Glen

Greetings to newcomers to LifeSong!

We are still rejoicing because our first phase to our church building is completed.  As 2010 has now begun, you are invited to grow with us in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the knowledge of His love.  Worship with us any Sunday at 10:30 AM in our new facility on the west side of Central Boulevard, just south of the Indian Creek traffic circle (north of Dakota Drive).  Check out LATEST NEWS for a couple of pictures from New Year's Eve at LifeSong!

What to Expect on Sunday