L’Eglise des Freres d’Haiti (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti) has sent a response to a pastoral letter from David Steele, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren. The pastoral statement for Haiti was sent to the church in Haiti on March 7 (see www.brethren.org/news/2024/a-pastoral-statement-for-haiti).
The response thanks “all our brothers and sisters who are helping us pray for the country of Haiti from the chaotic situation that it finds itself in today that affects every Haitian.” It continues, in part: “We believe that only prayer can get the country out of this situation. It gives us a lot of strength to know that our brothers and sisters in other nations are helping us to pray.”
Haiti has been wracked by gang violence, political turmoil, and economic hardship, which have merged into a spiraling humanitarian tragedy in recent weeks. The country is “on the verge of an abyss,” according to United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk. The UN reports that 5.5 million Haitians, nearly half of the population, are in need of immediate assistance and clean water, including 3 million children, and that “around 1.4 million are one step away from famine.”
In related news, brief updates on the situation of the church in Haiti have been received from leaders in l’Eglise des Freres d’Haiti. Vildor Archange, who works with the Haiti Medical Project, reported that “It’s a tough situation right now. Keep praying for us.” He wrote that “the situation in Haiti is still bad, mostly in Port au Prince, the capital. A lot of people are running nowhere. Many people want to fly to other countries… [but] the national and international airports are closed. Some people are leaving the capital under many difficulties to go in the countryside.” Archange himself left the capital two years ago to return to his home area of central Haiti, where he says people are able to live “more or less in peace.” For this reason, the Haiti Medical Project has most of its activities in the central plateau and the north and northwest of Haiti. Well drilling and health care activities continue “in the communities where we can go,” he wrote. However, there are six communities where pastors and Haiti Medical Project workers have had to flee because of the gangs: Laferye, Gran-Boulaj, Mòn Boulaj, Sodo, and Acajou.
Following is the full text of the response from l’Eglise des Freres d’Haiti, in English and in Haitian Kreyol:
Haiti, March 11, 2024
Our brothers and sisters,
Mission Evangélique des Eglises des Frères d’Haïti (MEEFH) greets you in the name of God Almighty. He took advantage of this wonderful opportunity to thank all our brothers and sisters who are helping us pray for the country of Haiti from the chaotic situation that it finds itself in today that affects every Haitian. We believe that only prayer can get the country out of this situation. It gives us a lot of strength to know that our brothers and sisters in other nations are helping us to pray. It is the greatest support and the most important support we can receive from our brothers and sisters, when we know they will help us in prayer, as the word says in Matthew 18:19, “Here is what I will tell you again: If two of you agree on earth to ask for anything when they pray, my heavenly Father will give it to them.”
Yes, we believe that prayer is the key that can open all doors.
A shower of thanks to all our brothers and sisters helping us pray for the situation of our country Haiti to change.
May the peace and love of God always fill our lives!
Signatory:
- Pastor Romy TELFORT Secretary General
- Pastor Réginald LUBIN Office Secretary and treasurer
- Brother Augustin Orilesse Acting Moderator
- Pastor Dieupanou Saint-Brave Member
- Sister Mirlande Louis Member
- Evangelist Hernso Desrivières Member
- Pastor Yves Méus president of the ministerial commission
- Association of pastors in Haiti
Haïti, 11 Mars 2024
Frè ak sè nou yo,
Mission Evangélique des Eglises des Frères d’Haïti (MEEFH) ap salye nou nan non Bondye ki gen tout pouvwa a. Li pwofite bèl okazyon sa pou li remèsye tout frè ak sè nou yo kap ede nou priye pou Peyi Haïti soti nan sitiyasyon kawotik ke li twouve li jounen jodia ki afekte chak grenn Ayisyen. Nou kwè se sèlman Lapriyè ki kapab soti peyi a nan sitiyasyon sa. Sa ba nou anpil fòs lè nou konnen frè ak sè nou yo nan lòt nasyon ap ede nou priye. Se pi gwo sipò e sipò ki pi enpòtan nou kapab resevwa nan men frè ak sè nou yo , lè nou konnen yo ap ede nou nan Lapriyè, Menm jan pawòl la di nan Matye 18 : 19. Men sa m’ap di nou ankò: Si de nan nou mete yo dakò sou latè pou mande nenpòt ki bagay lè y’ap lapriyè, Papa m’ ki nan syèl la va ba yo li.
Wi nou kwè Lapriyè se kle ki ka ouvri tout pòt.
Yon lapli remèsiman ak tout frè nou yo ak sè nou yo kap ede nou priye pou sitiyasyon peyi nou Haïti kapab chanje.
Se pou lapè ak lanmou Bondye toujou ranpli lavi nou!
Moun ki siyen:
- Pastè Romy TELFORT Sekretè jeneral
- Pastè Réginald LUBIN Sekretè Biwo ak trezorye
- Frère Augustin Orilesse Modérateur en Fonction
- Pastè Dieupanou Saint-Brave Manm
- Sè Mirlande Louis Manm
- Évanjelis Hernso Desrivières Manm
- Pastè Yves Méus prezidan komisyon ministeryèl
- Asosyasyon pastè yo nan Ayiti
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