I want you who read this to try to imagine this scenario…
In a matter of minutes the place where you worship God whether it be weekly, every other week, monthly, or even just once a year has now gone to rubble. Now maybe your pastor, worship leaders, elders, deacons, administrative staff, and even members of the body of your church are gone in a matter of seconds. Chaos has now filled your streets, dead bodies can be seen and smelt in the air, needs are everywhere you look as you stand on what was the front steps of your church you once attended…
Where would you turn? For myself, I would like to say at that moment I would fall to my knees and shout, Oh God, use me to advance the gospel in this time of need. After watching Pastor Mark Driscoll’s sermon (www.marshillchurch.org) from this past Sunday morning about his 32 hours he spent in Haiti the individual stories of the pastors, seminary professors, teachers, fathers, women, and children are racing through my head. As I think about what would it be like if in a matter of seconds Brentwood Baptist Church or Fellowship Bible or First Baptist Opelika or wherever it may be for you is now in a pile of rocks. Wouldn’t you want to just ask God why it has happened to us? Maybe even out of some anger in your heart. The amazing thing to me is that story after story the men and women in Haiti Pastor Mark showed continued to smile and say my joy comes from the Lord. That is the type of person I want to be, that even in the days ahead where disaster may hit directly to my family I would be able to say God you are so faithful, my joy comes from you and you alone.
It is my prayer for you today that you might just take some time and think about how you can help what is going on in Haiti. I know that it might be the popular thing to do but I also know that already it is getting less and less attention via the internet, television, etc. One-day people will say that happened a year ago there isn’t much need for me now. Do not fall into that trap people. For I encourage you to check out www.churcheshelpingchurches.com and see how Pastor Mark Driscoll and James Macdonald are partnering with the global church to rise up the church in Haiti once again. Would you consider taking some time out of your day everyday to pray for a movement of leaders to rise up in Haiti to shepherd the hurting and broken hearted in the midst of a tragedy? I pray that you may be moved in such a way to see the urgency to do something now.
Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
