Update on our missionary partners in Haiti living through devastating Hurricane Matthew

Grace Church has global staff in Haiti. They are directly affected by Hurricane Matthew. They will notify us as soon as possible their status and needs.  Those directly affected include, Olivia Bernadine with Breathe Partners in Bercy, Haiti and Galen & Cassandra Sadler and family with Kings Cross in Caberet, Haiti.  They are on the ground, hunkered down, and awaiting Hurricane Matthew to pass.   

Please pray for their faith to remain strong and for God to protect them.  Ask God to give them wisdom as they seek to provide emergency relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. You can give to support their relief efforts on their mission organization websites.  When disaster strikes, caring for our missionary partners is a top priority.  Please join us in prayer for them, and consider a gift to help with emergency relief to those in the immediate vicinity of their home and ministry. 

Olivia Bernadine serves with Breathe Partners.  Here is where to give online. Thank you for your donation. What you give today will make a difference tomorrow. Give now. https://breathepartners.com/give/ Please add in the memo: Hurricane relief

Breathe Partners will cooperate with Samaritan’s Purse to organize relief efforts right after the storm.

Galen and Cassandra Sadler serve with Kings Cross.  I am awaiting directions on where to give so that we can help provide life-saving relief to those in Cabaret and Galgal, Haiti. 

Steve Sager who oversees the ministries of Kings Cross wrote this update: “We have set up a relief fund at     https://kingscross.webconnex.com/Relief

At this time, the storm is bearing down in our area.  Many live in mud & stick homes and have issues during a regular storm.  We have opened our school buildings as a safe place for anyone needing shelter.  We also have food available for those in need.  Most people cook in outside kitchens & the storm would prohibit them from any cooking.  Fortunately last year, we build a block building for cooking.   

At this point, we do not know what damage has occurred in outlying areas.  We are monitoring this & will keep our school open and people fed.  At the present time, we have no damage to our property other than a solar panel that broke.   Saddler family is safe. 


I will keep you up to date on any changes.   Thank you once again for your support & prayers.

Steve Sager

www.youhaveachoiceministries.org"

Newslinks from Twitter about Hurricane Matthew & Haiti:

·         From NPR 

·         From USA Today 

·         From WorldVision 

Saved People Serve People--Caring for Orphans around the world

 
Email tomp@visiontrust.org

Country Lead: Central African Republic,Togo, Sierra Leone, Haiti
Sending Agency: VisionTrust
 
Our Missionary Partner: Pastor Tom and Sue have served in our church for many years. Pastor Tom served as Missions Pastor for ten years.  Sue has always worked helping special needs kids in Smithville at Green Local Schools.

God called them to develop fully devoted followers of Christ first in Africa. Then God called pastor Tom to serve at Grace Church.  Later, God called him to serve in Africa with ICDI, now with VisionTrust as country lead for orphan care in Central African Republic, Togo, Sierra Leone, and Haiti.  We support Pastor Tom as our missionary partner from Grace Church.  


Their Mission: Pastor Tom oversees the orphan care ministries of VisionTrust in Africa and Haiti.  He travels a lot. He has logged over 78,000 air miles in one year for VisionTrust. He quips that it is no wonder he has a sore seat. 

The needs of orphans and their extended families is exacerbated with war, displacement, and disease.  In the Central African Republic civil unrest hampers the care of orphans.  In Haiti, the recovery efforts from the devastating 2010 earthquake are slow and challenging.  In Togo, sustainable income to support families is daunting, but God is making a way for families to support themselves. In Sierra Leone, Ebola ravages families and brings death and despair.  If you want more information, please contact Pastor Tom Peters via email. Or you can learn more about the ministry of VisionTrust by visiting their webpage.


How to Be Involved

PRAY:

• Please pray for consistency & perseverance in their walk with the Lord.
• With helping to oversee four countries for VisionTrust, sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming.  Please pray that Pastor Tom will see the work through God’s eyes, and with the end in mind, so that the immediate challenges don’t overshadow what God is doing in each country long-term.
• For the last three years, the Central African Republic has been subjected to war, continued violence and a virtual total lack of law & order.  For a period of time under the rebel Muslim government, it looked like there would be restrictions enforced on the ability to share the Gospel.  God intervened & the rebel government was overthrown, but the violence continued.  Please pray that as the Gospel is presented, not only will it touch people individually to turn to God for salvation, but that it would also touch the society as a whole so that the violence would subside & people can live at peace with God and with each other.
• Please pray for an effective, fruitful ministry (John 15:16). A couple of the countries that we’re working in are looking at trying to expand their outreach to orphans and vulnerable children.  Two of our national leaders in particular need special wisdom from the Lord right now; Josué, and Semira.
• We praise God for His grace in our marriage!  Pray that we continually keep that grace in view so that we keep short accounts with the Lord, and with each other.
  
  

ENCOURAGE: Pastor Tom's birthday is April 28.  Sue's birthday is December 15.  Anniversary is June 25, 1982. 

CONNECT: Pastor Tom on FaceBook

 

Pastor Tom with their sponsored orphans. Scan his blog