Notes from Chuck
Crossbridge Family,
Our hearts are broken this week as we look at the images coming in from Haiti. I have gone from feeling numb—like there was nothing I could do—to wanting to hop the next flight out and save the whole country.  I was going back and forth from what pastor and author Jarrett Stevens called “a numbed sense of powerlessness and detachment to a harried sense of temporary responsive activism.”
Stevens goes on to write, “We are praying instead that God leads us and leads you to a God Given, Holy Spirit Driven, Sustainable and Responsible Response that reflects the way of Jesus.” I think that is a great thing for us to pray as individuals and a church community.
In light of that here are some things we can do to assist our neighbors in Haiti today.
- PRAY: Pray that the Haitians would encounter true, whole gospel relief and attention. Whole gospel relief would include spiritual, emotional, psychological, social, and physical relief.  Pray for that for those who are suffering, for those serving, for families, new orphans, and widows. We need to pray, “Lord, have mercy on the Haitians,” and “Lord, bring your Kingdom peace and healing upon them.”
- GIVE: Â There are many great organizations you can give to during this crisis. Whatever amount you have in your head, what if you upped it by 25%?
- Compassion International Disaster Relief Fund – https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/disasterrelief.htm?referer=105910
- Living Water International – You can read about the need for fresh water in Haiti and how the earthquake affects it by clicking on the link. http://www.water.cc/initiatives/haiti/
- Get a HELP HAITI t-shirt. All proceeds go to Haiti. http://www.aaronivey.portmerch.com/stores/product.php?productid=17149&cat=0&page=1&featured
Let us respond to Haiti as Gospel-centered people. Let us pray, cry, give, and help if we can.
I’ll see you Sunday.
Chuck
PS – We will be continuing “ID: Discovering Your Spiritual Identity” this Sunday. Invite a friend to come with you.
