We are all concerned and prayerful as we hear of the devastating news and subsequent realities coming from Haiti. News reports are frequent following Tuesday's massive earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. This is Haiti's worst quake in two centuries. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has suffered a number of recent disasters, including four hurricanes and storms in 2008 that killed hundreds.

How can we respond?

Pray - Update

At the time of the quake, a mission team of 22 people from CBOQ (Ottawa, Montreal and Leamington) were concluding a mission week. All 22 of the Canadian Baptist Mission Team arrived in Montreal early this morning (Friday, January 15). The team from Montreal and Ottawa are now at home. The team from FBC Leamington, Ontario still has a 10 hour drive so they are staying over in Montreal for a day to rest. See the Toronto Star article.

We are happy that our dear brothers and sisters have all made it back. They are exhausted. Esther Narcisse, wife of Pastor Franky Narcisse, of Eglise Evangelique Baptiste d'Ottawa says she is relieved that her husband and friends are home now and safe. But she went on to say that there is now a tremendous cloud of grief and concern that is hanging over the Haitian communities that they serve. Even this morning one woman learned that all 10 members of her father's family perished.

We have many Haitian brothers and sisters throughout our constituency, particularly in Montreal, Ottawa, Fort Erie and Windsor. They are are deeply concerned for their family members and friends in Haiti.

While the mission team is home safely, they have witnessed and been a part of a terrible tragedy they will not soon forget. Pray for emotional healing as they return to their lives in Canada.

Give

Canadian Baptist Ministries and The Sharing Way are partnering with the Baptist World Alliance and Action through Churches Together (ACT) and the French Baptist Union. Your gifts to assist with this huge need are critical to our response. To assist with this emergency, click here to donate online, call 905.821.3533, or send a cheque marked "Emergency Relief" to Canadian Baptist Ministries, 7185 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 5R4.

A semi will be parked at Leamington McDonald's starting Thursday, through the weekend, to accept donations of non-perishable food, over the counter medications, first aid kits and other helpful items. A full list is available on the church's website.