“Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house.  It collapsed on them and they are dead.”  - (Job 1:18-19)

Whether it is a “wind from the desert”...a “tsunami wave from the sea”...or an “earthquake from below”—each leaves death and devastation in their path.  Just like Job lost all of his children in a few brief moments when the “four corners of the house collapsed,” untold thousands of families in Haiti have experienced the same thing.  Tens of thousands are reliving the story of Job in a very personal way.

This horrific killer earthquake of epic proportion has already taken the lives of over 250,000 people—and still counting.  And while Job had no idea what was taking place in the heavenly realm “behind the scenes,” we all need to be very careful about pontificating, judging and assuming blame at a time like this.  To do that is to speak presumptuously as Job’s “friends” did to him—only adding insult to injury.

One thing for sure, millions of lives in Haiti and the Diaspora have been forever impacted by this earthquake.  There is hardly a family in all of Haiti that has not lost some family member or friend.  Many will never know the fate of loved ones who had to be hurriedly buried in mass graves to thwart a massive epidemic.  They will always live with questions that will never be fully answered this side of eternity.

My last 10 days in Haiti have been some of the most heart-wrenching and heart-warming I have ever experienced.  I don’t know when I have wept more tears—sometime uncontrollably!  But often my tears were a mixture of unspeakable grief and unspeakable joy as I watched the faith of Haitian Christians singing, worshiping and praising God in the midst of their pain and suffering.  On my last Sunday there before returning home for a few days, I slipped in the back of a packed Haitian church.  Even though the words were in Creole, I knew very well the melody they were singing with such conviction: “Count Your Blessings, name them one by one; count your many blessing see what God has done!”  I broke down in tears at their joy in the midst of sorrow!

Then I went over to the post-opt wards where many patients were lying on mattresses we had prepared for them.  Some with IVs…many with splints or casts…a number with amputated legs or limbs.  Then they began to sing with uplifted hands: “No one ever cared for me like Jesus!”  Once again I dissolved in tears.  Seldom have I ever seen that kind of joy in the midst of suffering and loss!  And I have never experienced those songs sung with such conviction in American Churches in the midst of our peace and pampered prosperity!  The Haitian Christians have a level of faith, hope and joy that I know little of!  As I watched, listened and wept, my own faith seemed so small in comparison!

Indeed, James was so right when he observed: “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the Kingdom He promised those who love Him?” (Ja. 2:5).

So my friends, the church is alive and well in Haiti—in spite of the earthquake!  It may have devastated their homes—but not their faith!  I’m writing this from Haiti, on my way to the airport to fly home, and am going to stop by and film another massive rally in the park outside the now-imploded Haiti White House.  In the last several years it has been my privilege to preach a number of times in the National Palace, formerly a place where voodoo reigned.  But this weekend there were 3 “National Days of Prayer and Fasting” that were attended by, in some estimates, a million people.  You should have already read about that on my last blog.  All over downtown there are makeshift “tent cities” where tens of thousands are living on the streets.  So it will be an incredible joy and privilege to continue the spiritual revival and healing taking place in Haiti.  And the key Christian catalyst in all of this is our dear friend and partner, Chavannes Jeunes.

So I covet your prayers and continued financial support as we seek to hold up the arms of our Haitian brothers and sisters who are working so tirelessly and selflessly to minister spiritually and physically to their own people.  I will be sending other reports from there as I have the opportunity.  And my wife, Patt, will be sending out some incredible stories of people we have ministered to at the Double Harvest Hospital that will deeply touch your heart and personalize this crisis for you.

In His Healing Love,

PS:  Every gift you give for Haiti Relief through Impact of Hope (IOH) will go 100% to meet needs.  Because of the anonymous generosity of a businessman friend, all ad min expenses are being paid from other sources.  So every penny you give will go directly to Haiti.  And to make your giving more quick and convenient, you can give on line by following these simple instructions below.  So please give generously for their good and God’s glory.

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