HAITI QUAKE RESPONSE STATEMENT FROM THE NPUC

 NPUC president, Max Torkelsen, is urging Northwest members and churches to help fund relief efforts in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake on January 12, affecting much of Haiti’s capital.  The Red Cross has estimated a projected death toll of at least 50,000, with an additional three million people hurt or homeless.

 While accurate information is understandably slow in coming, Larry Evans, General Conference undersecretary, says the Adventist Church has 1000 churches in the area, with about 330,000 members. Preliminary reports show two of the largest Adventist churches, which housed five congregations, were destroyed. The nearby Adventist university sustained significant damage but portions of the campus are still being used to stage relief efforts. The Adventist hospital in Port-au-Prince is functional and already serving as a clinical center.

 Inter-American Division president, Israel Leito, and NAD president, Don Schneider, encourage NAD Adventists to help with funding, but advise strongly against well-meaning but counter-productive trips to Haiti to volunteer on-site help.

 ADRA hopes to raise $500,000 within the next seven days to help with their onsite efforts. Follow ADRA updates at www.adra.org or donate directly to the relief efforts online at Haiti Earthquake Response Fund.

 NPUC churches which collect special ADRA relief offerings, should have members designate this on tithe envelopes as “ADRA-Haiti.” Haiti ADRA Earthquake Relief church bulletin insert masters are available for downloading HERE.

 However, AN IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: Since no ADRA funds can be used to specifically target the special needs of Adventist churches, schools and members, NAD and NPUC churches will be mobilizing additional offerings in the coming weeks to directly help the church rebuild its mission and the lives of its members. Those offerings should be designated on tithe envelopes as “Haiti Disaster Relief.” Updated info will be posted at GLEANERONLINE when available.

 “Haiti is one America’s closest neighbors, and certainly fits Christ’s description of ‘one of the least of these,’” says Torkelsen. “I encourage our NW members to unite in a vigil of prayer support and sacrificial giving to provide for this critical need.”

Steve Vistaunet

Asst. to the President/GLEANER editor

Northwest Adventist Headquarters