Dear brethren of the General Conference units around the world,
Christian greeting with Galatians 6:10:
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
In the last few days, we have been saddened by the news of the passage of Hurricane Matthew through the Caribbean Region and the USA. We regret the suffering of the thousands of people who have been affected by this natural phenomenon.
We were further saddened by the news that our brethren and churches in Haiti were also affected. Due to this catastrophe, communication is very difficult, and at this time it is not possible to assess all the damage suffered by our brethren and church buildings in Haiti. But we have been informed that our church in Port-au-Prince lost its roof and several church families lost their houses, crops, and furniture. Relatives of our church members are also in need of urgent assistance at this difficult time.
We are glad and thankful to God that our brethren are all alive and have only suffered material loss. However, some of their relatives lost their lives and the families are in need not only of financial assistance but also of spiritual comfort. Let us keep praying for them.
The Haitian Mission leadership is doing its best to assist as many people as they can. However, their resources are limited and they need external help.
As soon as we received the first official contact from the Haitian Mission, we sent financial assistance to meet their most urgent needs, such as water, food, medicine, and other basic needs for the moment, but our brethren will need much more. This country is one of the poorest in the world, and our brethren face financial difficulty in the best of times, so this event is an opportunity for us to show Christian love towards them.
We appeal to your heart to send a generous offer to enable the GC Welfare Department to further assist our suffering brethren and the Haitian people in general who are in great need at this moment, as well as to restore our church buildings damaged by this natural disaster.
Thank you in advance for your assistance to these suffering souls.
We will post updated reports once we receive more information regarding what is already being done to help.
You can send your donation by PayPal to treasurer@sdarm.org or through the treasury of your Union or Field.
You brother in Christ, André Devai,
On behalf of the General Conference Welfare Department
