Christ United Methodist Church

If one member [of the body] suffers, all suffer with it . . . ~1 Cor. 11:26

     A prayer for the people of Haiti can be found on the website for the General board of Discipleship (GBOD) of the UM church:  "How can we express your love, O Lord?  How can we be your hands, O Lord?  Give us strength and courage to do what pleases you, so that we can put your love in action, by word and deed, and make your presence known."   We have all been affected by the suffering in Haiti, and I thank you for your already generous response as CUMC seeks to be God's hands in Haiti.  May we all continue to be moved to respond to all of our neighbors in need, near and far, sharing the love of God in word, prayer, and deed.

     One of the great gifts of the United Methodist Church is our wider "connection," not just with other Methodist churches, but with various agencies who are now at work in Haiti.  Updates on the UMC's work in Haiti can be found on the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) website at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/Umcor/, or you can "friend" them on Facebook for daily updates.  I encourage you to view a video UMCOR has made regarding the needs in Haiti and how the UMC church is helping by clicking here.

     Many of you, even before viewing the video, have asked about serving in Haiti, and currently the GBOD recommends individuals and teams not set out for the country right now.  However, there will be a great need for "hands on" volunteers in the future.  The status report below details the GBOD's current position on travel to Haiti:

"We know the church seeks to respond to the great crisis in Haiti.   . . . We have already received an outpouring of inquiries and offers for volunteers to provide a variety of services.  While we are encouraged by this spirit of support, we strongly advise that teams and others not set out for Haiti at this time.

There will be great need for short-term and long-term volunteer mission groups in due course - for medical care, rebuilding, and responses to many other needs.  However, the current state of Haiti is not conducive to the safety and welfare of the volunteers; security is a major concern; infrastructures are shattered.  There is little access to water, power, fuel, and even roads.

An UMCOR Team is on the ground, coordinating with relief partners on appropriate courses of action.  As you know, the United Nations (representing government) and the Red Cross go into massive disaster areas first.  This is long-established international protocol.  Church-related and other relief organizations follow.  Objectives of our initial team include the assessment and organization for the reception of volunteers.

In collaboration with jurisdictional coordinators of UMVIM, we are making a registry of potential individual volunteers and teams.  The time for volunteers will come and their assistance will be crucial."

     So, what can you do NOW?

     1.  Pray  for everyone that has been touched by this tragedy, the professional teams that are on the ground now, and all the wonderful miracles that have happened and continue to happen.

     2.  Pray about your own response to this severe crisis affecting our brothers and sisters.  If you are interested in volunteering, listen to God's calling, and we will continue to let you know how you can be involved.  Health-care professionals interested in volunteering may contact me (), as some organizations are beginning to take medical professionals.

     3.  Donate funds to UMCOR in order to get relief directly where the Methodist Church is helping now in Haiti.  Go to http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325 to donate online.

     4.  Participate in the collection of blankets, tarps, and health kits here at CUMC as we join the coordinated efforts of our sister churches through the NC Conference of the UMC.  We will continue collecting health kits and arranging assembly days to nurture fellowship and congregational involvement.  Already, we've collected over 200 health kits and hope to receive many more.  Please contact the church office if you are able to seek donations for a particular time that we can later assemble into kits. Click Haitian Health Kits for directions and contents for assembling a kit.  Completed kits may be left in Ascension Hall.

     5.  Outreach to your neighbors and those outside CUMC, encouraging them to consider focusing their support of Haiti through our church.  It is a wonderful outreach possibility.

     6.  Remember all our brothers & sisters around the world who remain in need of God's love and our care.  CUMC is supporting many international outreach missions that still need our ongoing support, including:  Mission 1:27, supporting 120 orphans in Russian; Beyond our Borders, helping numerous Latin American efforts; and Habitat for Humanity Africa, where we will build homes this summer.  Your prayers, service, or contributions are needed here as well as with our various local mission initiatives.

     Please contact me with any questions or if you would like to help in a particular way.