Haiti

Florida Baptist Assessment Team Arrives in Haiti

A two-person Florida Baptist Convention assessment team arrived in Port-au-Prince, Sunday, Jan. 17, and is in the process of determining how Florida Baptists can meet needs and provide assistance to the residents of the earthquake-damaged city.

The team consists of Dennis Wilbanks, associate, Partnership Missions Department, and Joseph Gaston, director of the Language Haitian Church Development Department. While in the Haiti airport, Gaston, a native of Port-au-Prince, led a Haitian woman to faith in Christ.

Wilbanks directed the Convention’s disaster response in Haiti after five previous hurricanes. In preparation for the response, the Convention has purchased 21 tons of rice to be transported to Miami and readied for shipment to Haiti.

Wilbanks reported that the Convention-owned mission house is severely damaged but may be useable.

“This will be among our first rebuild priority because it will allow us to facilitate construction teams and clean up crews much more quickly,” said John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention.

The house, located in Port-au-Prince between the airport and city, will be the base of operations for the Convention’s relief efforts. The mission house sleeps nearly 50 volunteers at a time and provides food and safety for mission teams traveling into Haiti.

“We anticipate having a word this week about our churches in Port-au-Prince, as well as our pastors’ homes,” he added. “These are our brothers and sisters serving Christ in this difficult nation.”

Wilbanks will be working with seven national missionaries serving in Haiti as employees of the Florida Baptist Convention who have been reported to have survived the earthquake. They are believed to be assessing damage within their churches and communities.

“These men have been trained in disaster relief by the Florida Baptist Convention,” said John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer. “They know their country, their people and have experience responding in the aftermath of hurricanes. We are grateful to God that they are safe and are there to minister to the Haitian people.”

Craig Culbreth, director of the Convention’s Partnership Missions Department, who has traveled to Haiti 60 times in the past 11 years, and Fritz Wilson, director of the Disaster Relief and Recovery Department are scheduled to travel to Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Florida Baptists’ 15-year partnership with Haiti Baptists has resulted in the starting of 892 congregations across the nation.

Financial contributions are being received to secure food and humanitarian assistance. Florida Baptists and their churches can contribute directly to the Florida Baptist Convention. Every dollar donated will be used to purchase food and to provide humanitarian resources. All administrative costs are being underwritten by the Cooperative Program and Maguire State Mission Offering.

Gifts can be sent to the Florida Baptist Convention at 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, Fl 32207, designated “disaster relief.” Contributions by credit card can be made through the Convention’s website: www.flbaptist.org.

Updates on the Convention’s response efforts in Haiti will be posted on the website: www.flbaptist.org.