HAITI: Hope in the midst of Hurt, Salvation in the Storm!
O
ver the past 3 months, people around the world have witnessed the devastating scenes from Haiti. Most are just now beginning to grasp the utter loss of life and total collapse of the Haitian infrastructure – a collapse made even worse by a bleak outlook and a prolonged economic drought experienced by the Haitian people. Ultimately, we are left with the question, “What now?” What is our individual responsibility, as well as the Church’s collective responsibility, to this as well as other crises that may arise? What cultural differences must be overcome to ensure that our criteria for success in Haiti can be attained? Finally, we must ask the question, “Can we sustain what’s been started?” What are we prepared to do now that the glow of the television cameras has been turned off of Haiti and turned on to some other natural disaster? One thing is certain; Haiti represents one of the many areas affected by natural disasters. However, unlike others, Haiti appears the least likely able to respond and rebuild at a rate that will ensure the future health and vitality of the country. Those that remain behind echo the sentiment that there is a remnant of people that are waiting on the blessings of the Father and that the generational curses they believe in will be broken and replaced with hope and anticipation of a new and wonderful country where opportunity springs eternal. They are hoping for a day when the faceless, voiceless remnant of Haiti will sway in unison to the words spoken by Christ, “In so much as you have done to the least of these, you have done unto me.”
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We are reminded in the New Testament that if we identify ourselves as Christians (Christ-like) that we will “feed His sheep.” Sheep remind us of our own humble beginnings, our own inadequacies and missed opportunities. The Haitian people may not have had the same opportunities as us, but they are sheep, nonetheless. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the plight of the populous. We should become “life coaches” to the Haitian people. Each church’s organization should be responsible for making a positive difference for a segment of the Haitian people. We cannot expect the various governments to continue the welfare approach to solving crises around the globe – an approach whereby they pour in the necessary financial support and prop up the fledgling country’s infrastructure and, as a result, these countries become dependent on those governments for economic survival. It holds true for all people. My pastor once told us, “We are to be dependent totally upon God, but interdependent upon each other.” We have to present ourselves to the people before we can offer Christ and the Word of God to the people. Haiti is a country hurting, grieving, convulsing from the weight of years of political blight and governmental rule from the top down. Only a select few receive the profits and economic windfalls from various mechanisms within the country. God’s economy is vastly different. Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder…” In God’s economy, leaders lead from the bottom up. Until God is restored unto His rightful place in the hearts and minds of the Haitian people, they will continue to have a government that cannot provide for their basic needs.
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