VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 1/14/10)—As news pours in about the magnitude of human suffering following Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti, National Ministries is working with International Ministries, ABCUSA regions, Church World Service and the North American Baptist Fellowship to coordinate disaster response.

Multiple ABCUSA regions with a strong Haitian presence are developing communication plans targeted at those constituencies in order to identify needs within Haitian American Baptist churches as well as within Haitian churches and families with whom the American churches have relationships.

National Ministries, which has strong ties to Haitian American Baptist churches, is putting plans in place to support needs created within this constituency by the earthquake disaster.

The Rev. Dr. Lemaire Alerte of the Alliance of Haitian Baptist Churches reports that the alliance has been meeting to create a collaborative list of needs and response strategies for churches in the United States, Puerto Rico and Haiti.

Prayers are needed:

• Pray for Haitian American Baptist churches throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
• Pray for Haitian Americans waiting for word about loved ones.
• Pray for first responders from around the world as they arrive in Haiti to face the huge humanitarian recovery effort.

To contribute to emergency funds, visit www.abc-usa.org (click on GIVE), or send your check, made payable to “One Great Hour of Sharing—Haiti Earthquake Relief,” through normal remittance channels.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.