As we now approach the second week of the aftershock and intense relief efforts reaching into Haiti, it has been made clear that the need there is bigger than we could have imagined and our commitment to aid there must be long term. We are acutely aware that what we have begun there won’t end soon, and are excited to be used by God to help bring restoration to this nation. We do have people who are already on the ground assessing the need and in the beginning stages of restoration.

Through the amazing power of technology, we have been able to keep up with some of these people assessing the specific immediate needs of the country and those already on the ground doing work. Make sure to follow these people on Twitter who are on the ground in Port au Prince, organizing relief efforts here, or heading out soon to get to work in Haiti.

@MikeHaman: http://twitpic.com/yt80s – Critically wounded being cared for @LuvAchild

@TheGreeneTeam:For those interested in shipping supplies, we are working on a drop site to send supplies to in DR/Haiti Stay tuned

@CharlesAYoung :woke up to black hawk helicoptors, generators and view of rubble.. today gonna be connecting with mssion of hope, summaritans purse.

@MikeHaman, @TheGreeneTeam, Rusty Domingue & @CharlesAYoung all on the ground in Haiti

@wheresChance :40+ people helping Haiti. Some are going. Some are sending. Some are praying!! Spread the word. http://itsChance.com/Haiti //[This guy is rolling out this week with a team of 40+. Going to be doing some great things]

@DinoRizzo: Our very @mikehaman is on the island the world is watching headed to a orpanage with a few supplys in the DR#pray4haiti.

@SamaritansPurse: “These doctors are sharing their faith through actions. May God bless and guide them.” #Haitiupdate Read more>http://bit.ly/7NYxGR

@gutspastor: Money and goods are pouring in for #Haiti, this is going to make a remarkable difference in that island. Go to www.gutschurch.com to give!

Also make sure to keep up with any updates at our Haiti Relief page & Pastor Dino’s blog for updated information!

If you’ve been reading the Servolution blog for a while, you may remember our post about GUTS Church’s Tougher Than Hell Motorcycle Rally that they hold each year to raise money to feed kids, drill wells, build and support hospitals, cut roads and educate children and families in order to preach the Gospel in Haiti. It’s a movement that, since being started in 2001, has served over 1.5 million meals to starving children on the island.

This is a church that has a deeply connected relationship with the island that was recently ravaged by the disastrous 7.0 earthquake , and who’s heart has been broken at the news and images of the hundreds and thousands who have lost their life and those left with such need in the aftermath. They have become one of the main hubs in Tulsa, Oklahoma for rallying support and gathering supplies to send to those on the ground working in Haiti.

They are encouraging their church members and the whole city of Tulsa to gather food items, building supplies and money to send in order to teams working from La Gonave, Haiti to begin the rebuilding process that daunts a country who has for years been the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

The team at Guts actually has a breakdown of the monetary needs for the country and where any money donated will go:

$25 feeds a family for a month
$45 for a family hygiene kit
$100 temp shelter
$9000 water purifier – servicing 500 families
$20,000 transport container

For more information about what is happening with Guts relief efforts & their connections in Haiti, check out Pastor Bill Scheer’s blog or the Guts website. We are so grateful for amazing churches like this who do whatever it takes to meet a need and offer hope to the brokenhearted. Our one hope is that together we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people of Haiti.

During this tragic time in Haiti we as the church are faced with a great opportunity to be able to truly show the love of Christ through serving. In the following letter we have listed three great ways for you and your church to get involved on a national scale for relief efforts. Thank you so much for all that you do and continue to do for the cause of Christ. Be sure to twitter and blog about all that your church is doing for relief efforts, also if you have any stories or pictures please send them to us at serve@healingplacechurch.org. If you have any questions feel free to call me or email me at 225-247-6185 or jp.brumfield@healingplacechuch.org

To find out more about the ways you get get involved,
please visit our Help for Haiti page.

JP Brumfield
Outreach Coordinator
Healing Place Church

Check out this post from Pastor Dino’s blog about how we can engage the need of millions in Haiti:

I’ve been talking with my good friend David Meyer (Joyce Meyer Ministries’ Hand of Hope) and Kirk Nowery (Samaritan’s Purse) this morning about Haiti. My heart breaks for the victims of this earthquake. So many people hurting. I’m thankful for the strong relationships we have with these organizations and the aggressive way they’re responding to the need in Haiti.

I want to encourage everyone to pray for those affected, pray for those responding to the need, and pray about how God would have you get involved. I’d love to encourage you to get behind these two organizations: Joyce Meyer Ministries (working alongside Convoy of Hope) and Samaritan’s Purse (led by Franklin Graham).

This is yet another chance for the Church to stand up and make a difference by leading the way in responding to the needs of so many who’ve suffered this tragedy.

Stay tuned for more updates – here and on my twitter and facebook as well.

Make sure to check back for updates on involvement in this crisis and leave us a comment letting us know what you or your church is doing to engage the need!

Today, we were faced with a huge opportunity to reach out to many people in the Baton Rouge area. Weather forecasts have predicted a hard freeze heading towards us tonight; many families in Baton Rouge and the surrounding area are without the luxury of central heating in their homes. Knowing this need, we were able to purchase one hundred space heaters, this afternoon. Currently, the heaters are being delivered to both our Baton Rouge and Donaldsonville Dream Centers and will be given to families in need. We are so honored that God would allow us this opportunity to share His love by means of meeting a simple, tangible need.