HAITI (ANS) -- Among the many people in Haiti missing and feared dead is an indigenous MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) worker. Two others are missing following the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.

According to Ron Wismer, crisis team manager at MAF headquarters, none of the ministry's missionary staff in Haiti were injured.

However, MAF is withdrawing its non-essential staff and dependents from Haiti, Wismer said. A team of key staff members will remain to coordinate relief efforts. MAF has sent ministry directors to Haiti to assess the needs and set up the ministry's response.

"We are grateful to God for his protection of our missionary staff," said John Boyd, MAF president. "We do not yet know the exact status of all of our Haitian staff members, and ask for your prayers for them and for all the people of Haiti during this time of great sorrow."

To respond to the disaster, MAF has set up the "Haiti Disaster and Recovery Fund." Donations can be made at www.maf.org/news/maf-news/massive-earthquake-hits-haiti.  MAF expects to work with other relief agencies as they begin providing disaster assistance.

Disaster response is an MAF area of expertise. After an initial needs assessment is completed, Wismer said the ministry will coordinate logistics and provide air transportation for aid agencies working within Haiti. In times of disaster, MAF often takes government and relief officials on flights to survey and assess damage and develop a response plan.

Casualties of the quake, Haiti's worst in more than two centuries, may run into the tens of thousands, relief sources estimate.

Wismer said that the MAF hangar and airplanes were undamaged in the 7.0 quake, which flattened entire neighborhoods of wealthy and poor alike. But because the earthquake's epicenter and heart of the devastation was in the capital, Port-au-Prince, none of the planes in MAF's fleet of three aircraft have been used.

Missionary staff homes sustained only moderate damage. One home's security wall collapsed on two sides, Wismer said. Missionaries, however, have slept on porches and outside their homes in the past two nights because of ongoing danger of aftershocks.

Haiti's communications infrastructure sustained severe damage. Cellular phone service is sporadic. Some staff members' homes are equipped with VSAT internet connections. "Skype works if you can find somebody with an Internet connection," Wismer said.

MAF has served the missionary community and the people of Haiti since 1986. Currently, seven MAF missionary families, seven national staff members, and three aircraft serve 16 airstrips from a base of operations in Port-au-Prince. MAF also has one email hub in Port-au-Prince, supporting six clients.

To enable the work and maximize the effectiveness of Christian workers and agencies, MAF provides missionaries, medical staff and community development workers the means of ministering to the people of Haiti through light air transportation services, communications networks and distance education.

Ministry says Pre-positioned food and shoes provide assistance to Haitian earthquake victims

ANS has learned that when a container of food and shoes was shipped to Haiti and stored in a local warehouse for emergency use, no one knew how quickly the Haitian people would need it.

In response to the deadly earthquake that shook Haiti, Global Aid Network is assessing the situation and determining how to distribute some one million pre-positioned meals to earthquake victims.

In addition to items already on the ground, Global Aid Network, the relief and development arm of Campus Crusade for Christ, has eight containers of supplies poised for shipment as soon as an appropriate port is located. In the meantime, Global Aid Network is collecting funds for staff in Haiti to purchase more food, medicine and supplies.

Esperandieu Pierre, national director of Campus Crusade for Christ in Haiti, is coordinating disaster relief efforts on the ground. He is working with a network of some 75 churches and pastors—some of whom participated in 2008 hurricane relief efforts—to distribute food and supplies.

“My people are hurting and we want to do whatever we can to help them in this time of great need,” said Pierre.

Duane Zook, Global Chairman of Global Aid Network is available for interviews about disaster relief efforts in Haiti. He will also be available after Jan. 15 via satellite phone to give a first-hand account of the situation in Haiti.

Zook stated: “Several months ago we shipped a container of food and shoes to Haiti ‘just in case disaster hit.’ It’s incredible how God uniquely positioned us to be ready at Haiti’s greatest time of need."

Global Aid Network, the relief and development arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International, partners with businesses and churches to provide hope and compassionate aid -- including food, clothing, school supplies, and other necessity items -- to hospitals, orphanages, and schools in needy communities around the world. In 2008, Global Aid Network provided relief assistance to hurricane victims in Haiti.

Global Aid Network USA has its root in a humanitarian aid project to the former Soviet Union, “Operation Carelift," originally started under the Josh McDowell Ministry. Since then Global Aid Network has since distributed more than $175 million worth of aid and has conducted projects in more than 60 countries.

Individuals can donate to Global Aid Network’s disaster relief efforts in Haiti; visit www.gainusa.org .

(Media Note: Photos will be available as soon as possible from partners on the ground in Haiti. To request photos or interviews please email kdye@demossgroup.com.  )

Meanwhile, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains has deployed to Haiti following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that shook the country on Tuesday. The first RRT Chaplains were on the ground within 24 hours of the earthquake.

An assessment team is now on the ground in Haiti and is working to meet the needs of the victims. News reports indicate that there are possibly more than 100,000 casualties in and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

"Chaplains arrived yesterday in Haiti to assess the level of need and to determine how to best provide emotional and spiritual care in the aftermath of the tragic earthquake that devastated the impoverished country," said Jack Munday, director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.

"Please pray for the victims of the earthquake, especially those who are still searching through the rubble looking for lost loved ones. Pray also for our team as they bring hope and comfort in the midst of this disaster."

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has deployed in coordination with Samaritan's Purse, the international relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, who is also president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Together, the two groups will meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those who have been affected by the earthquake.

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is a nationwide network of chaplains across 40 states that are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. Since the ministry was launched in 2002, it has deployed following dozens of natural and man-made disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and shootings.

(Media Note: While en route to Haiti yesterday, Rapid Response Team Deployment Manager Keith Stiles offered several sound bites. The audio can be accessed using the following information: ftp://ftp.bgea.org/pr/public/

Username: bg/ftppr. Password: "bg public relations" - Include the spaces when typing the password."

(Media Contact: Erik Ogren; (704) 577-2109; eogren@bgea.org)

HCJB Global, Samaritan’s Purse Join Efforts in Haiti After Massive Quake

A quick response by HCJB Global Hands has put an emergency medical response team from Ecuador en route to the devastation on the Caribbean nation of Haiti after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 12.

In response to Samaritan Purse’s request for a medical help, International Healthcare Director Sheila Leech immediately began assembling a medical team including surgeons, family physicians, nurses, an anesthesiologist and a water engineer.

A registered nurse, Leech is heading the group as she has done in previous disasters around the world such as in 2005 when a medical team from Ecuador helped in quake relief efforts on Nias Island, Indonesia.

Samaritan’s Purse is centering its relief efforts at a 100-bed hospital in Port-au-Prince operated by a local partner, Baptist Haiti Mission. The hospital, 20 miles from the quake’s epicenter, only suffered minor damage and has electricity from back-up generators.

The hospital’s director of operations, Kyrk Baker, called the situation “overwhelming” with patients lining the floor. “There are big box vans coming in with people to see a doctor,” he told Samaritan’s Purse. “It’s just unbelievable the amount of people that are lined up trying to get basic medical care.”

Samaritan’s Purse has chartered a DC-3 cargo plane from Missionary Flights International (MFI) to transport supplies such as water, shelter materials, medical supplies and other emergency needs to Port-au-Prince. The first flight departed from Fort Pierce, Fla., Wednesday afternoon. A second flight on Thursday will carry additional supplies and staff members from Samaritan’s Purse and HCJB Global.

Family physician Dr. Steve Nelson said search and rescue efforts will be essential during the first few days. “We expect we will be receiving patients with severe traumatic injuries,” he explained. “A lot of the early response will be surgical, yet we hope to be able to manage some of the other kinds of problems that will be seen early because of the lack of water and infectious disease.”

While team members will concentrate on meeting people’s physical needs, their spiritual welfare is also pre-eminent. “We’re going with a team that we know—people who love the Lord and want to share Him in every way as we’re in this ministry situation of disaster response,” Nelson added. “We want to be able to show the face of Jesus as we work with our hands. We trust the name of Jesus will be lifted up in all that we do.”

HCJB Global and Samaritan’s Purse combined efforts after two natural disasters in 2007, including an earthquake that left thousands homeless in Pisco, Peru, and flooding that inundated southern Mexico’s Tabasco state.

The quake struck while an HCJB Global engineer was in Port-au-Prince to repair an automation system for partner radio station Radio Lumière. The engineer and three other technical workers, including two volunteers from the U.S., escaped injury. Operated by the Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti, Radio Lumière is a radio ministry with a network of nine stations that reaches 90 percent of Haiti’s population. Radio station 4VEH, operated by cooperating ministry One Mission Society (formerly OMS International) in Cap-Haitian, was not damaged by the temblor.

“Our hearts go out to the suffering people of Haiti,” said Ken Isaacs, vice president of programs for Samaritan’s Purse. “We appreciate the close working relationship we have with HCJB Global for this response. Please pray that God will use this relief work for His glory.”

“This is an opportunity to show God’s love in a tangible way,” added HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson. “We feel privileged to play a small part in this emergency operation.” In order to donate to the relief efforts, please visit www.hcjbglobal.org .

(Sources: HCJB Global, Samaritan’s Purse: written by Ralph Kurtenbach and Harold Goerzen)

ANS has also learned that Mercy Ships has mobilized its Disaster Response Team to address the destruction that has occurred in Haiti. This Team has been designed to assess and activate Mercy Ships volunteers and assets to address specific need in relation to medical and non-medical issues. The execution of our Disaster Response will continue for many months and possibly years to address all that has happened to the people of Haiti.

A media advisory states this is consistent with Mercy Ships focus of providing sustainable relief to the areas they are serving with the assurance of local partners that can keep the relief effort continuing long after the Teams have returned back to their homes.

The advisory says a good example of this is during the Tsunami tragedies in Indonesia where we had teams that dealt with medical relief, but also had teams come in after the initial clean up to help to re-establish the local fishing industry. Because Mercy Ships is not structured to be a first responder agency, they will not normally engage in activities typically associated with search and rescue or 'immediate response' efforts.

The news advisory says that in relation to specific Haitian Teams, the decision to mobilize teams will be an evolving process as they seek to address the needs of its partners on the ground. These teams will be both medical and non-medical and mobilized in relation to skills needed and the partner’s ability to support and sustain the program. Mobilization may occur within days, while other teams may be asked to serve in the months ahead. The nature of the destruction will cause this process to be quite the logistical challenge for our Disaster Response Team and the patience of our volunteers is much appreciated.

Mercy Ships says it has an immediate need of funding to support the mobilization of these teams. They also need volunteers to supply their contact information with the skills that they can offer. Teams will be formed in the future based off the volunteer database and specific needs for the specific program.

Mercy Ships operates the entire organization under the same premise whether it is with its ships or with their Mercy Teams.

A spokesman said: "We have very set procedures that allow for maximum benefit from every donation and skill from our volunteers. The nature of any disaster is for immediate response to cure all that is wrong. Our focus is to respond quickly, but in a manner that ensures long term success at delivering hope and healing to those that have been affected by the tragedy. Our organization has not been designed to come and help and just leave. We want to be able to bring forth aid, but also help to build for a sustainable future."

The ministry says many people are already following the fluid updates on the Mercy Ships’ website at www.mercyships.org . The group said their focus is to respond quickly, but in a manner that ensures long term success at delivering hope and healing to theses that have been affected by the tragedy.

World's largest charity for children also in Haiti

Leaders from the world's largest child development organization, Compassion International, are also on the ground in Haiti to assess the devastation caused by Tuesday's earthquake and organize urgent relief efforts.

A Compassion International team is in Haiti to provide immediate relief to the people of Haiti in the process of accounting for 64,000 sponsored children.

"The damage is truly catastrophic," said Compassion International President and CEO Wess Stafford.

"We are going to do all we can to provide immediate relief and to continue, without interruption, our long-term work with the children of Haiti to permanently break the terrible cycle of poverty in this, one of the poorest nations on the planet."

Working in Haiti since 1968, Compassion currently has 230 child development centers in Haiti that serve more than 64,000 children, many in and around Port-au-Prince.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

* Port-au-Prince native Edouard Lassegue, Compassion International's regional vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean

* Begining his career as a relief worker in Haiti, Wess Stafford is now leader of the world's largest Christian child development organization; he currently has a number of local staff who have not yet been accounted for

* Americans who recently visited their sponsored child in Haiti

Compassion is urging those seeking to assist in its Haitian relief efforts to find additional information about Compassion International at www.DeMossNews.com/Compassion .

Norm Nelson, President of Compassion Radio, said that ministry is reaching out to Haiti also.

"We are partnering with a long-established mission organization in Haiti by supplying medical, food and clean water resources and establishing one or more refugee camps immediately.

Follow- up outreach will include supporting orphan care long term. Contributions can be made online at www.compassionradio.com  , and by phone at 1-800-868-2478. In addition Compassion is putting together radio programming on the disaster to be aired in the next few weeks.

Nelson added: "We have a history of compassion outreach in the Caribbean region following hurricane and earthquake catastrophes dating back to the 1970s when Hurricane Fifi hit the Carribean coastal area of Honduras."

Israel responds to Haiti crisis

According to the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, the Israeli government is sending a delegation of over 200 medical and emergency relief personnel to establish a field hospital in Haiti to assist with the humanitarian crisis left by a massive earthquake earlier this week.

The hospital will include 40 doctors and 24 nurses, and is scheduled to leave Thursday evening. The hospital is capable of treating 500 patients and will include an intensive care unit, two operating rooms, a pharmacy, and an X-ray lab.

Other Israeli emergency and rescue teams are rushing to the disaster area with food and medical supplies, including four ZAKA volunteers, and a 12-man search-and-rescue team dispatched by the humanitarian group IsraAID.

Israel is sending emergency medical teams and tons of humanitarian supplies in a goodwill gesture that reflects positively on its image worldwide.

Author Gil Ahrens Reaches Out to the Suffering in Haiti

In response to the horrific earthquake in Haiti, author Gil Ahrens has created a special promotion to raise funds for earthquake relief.

Ahrens, who shares his personal story of loss and adversity in the new book 'Shattered, Shaken and Stirred', is reaching out to the thousands that are suffering in Haiti.

Visitors to www.amazon.com/gp/product/098428950X  may enter the Promo Code GSAHAITI upon checkout at Amazon and receive 10% off any version of 'Shattered, Shaken and Stirred.' Gil will donate 25% of book sales to Food for the Hungry www.fh.org  , which is providing food and relief to Haitians in need.

Gil’s first book, 'Shattered, Shaken and Stirred: Reconnecting with What Matters Most After Loss and Adversity,' is his account of the aftermath of the collision that left his wife paralyzed but their three-week-old daughter miraculously unscathed.

“People who go through challenges often think they are alone and that their struggle is uniquely incapacitating,” says Gil.

“Part of my intent in writing this book was to say that they—we—are not alone. That the journey of hardship, no matter the form, is not an isolated trek. It is on a road shared by many others. And it is a road everyone travels on eventually. In fact, it is a foundational element of life, dating back to Adam and Eve and carrying through to the greatest example: Jesus. It’s incredibly naïve and selfish of us, really, to believe that we should be somehow immune from hardship and suffering, that somehow we are entitled to a blissful life, free of profound suffering.”

Shoe charity collecting footwear for Haitians

Foot Solutions stores worldwide, on Behalf Of Soles4Souls®, the shoe charity, is collecting gently-used shoes for the victims of the earthquake In Haiti.

According to a media release, Foot Solutions, on behalf of Soles4Souls, the international charity dedicated to providing free footwear to people in desperate need, is asking the public to drop off their gently used shoes at any of their 240 worldwide locations and or contribute monetary donations for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

"Foot Solutions is working aggressively with Soles4Souls to help our Haitian neighbors in this terrible disaster," said Ray Margiano, Foot Solutions CEO and Founder.

"I have been to this country and am well aware of the level of poverty that exists and the shortage of supplies that are difficult on a normal level and this is especially hard on this struggling country," Margiano said. "We want to do everything we can to help."

“Recovery for the people of Haiti will require a sustained humanitarian effort from everyone who can give,” said Wayne Elsey. “We are grateful to our partners at Foot Solutions for their support in the process of rescuing and rebuilding the lives of these victims.”

To find the participating location nearest you log on to www.footsolutions.com  or call 1-888-FIT-FOOT.

Foot Solutions, a worldwide franchise company dedicated to helping people achieve better health through their feet, is a recognized leader in speciality footwear and custom inserts. The company focuses on providing a full line of quality shoes, arch supports and foot care accessories for all customer lifestyles. Since March 2009, Foot Solutions stores, through its affiliation with Soles4Souls, have already collected nearly 17,000 pairs of shoes for people in need worldwide. For more information, visit www.footsolutions.com .

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. We distribute these shoes, free of charge, to people in need around the world. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 7 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently distributing one pair every 9 seconds). The shoes have been distributed in 125 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.

Media Contacts:
Jill Sharpe
Public Relations Consultant

Jsharpe@footsolutions.com
 (954)205-4252
Julie Levin
Public Relations Consultant
jbslevin@bellsouth.net

(954)805-3465

Haitian native helping with relef efforts

Wyclef Jean, who is from Haiti, is putting together relief efforts, according to Ron Backer. VP, National Accounts, Sony/RED-An Artist Development Company.

Backer told ANS: "If you are interested in helping I know this is a wonderful organization and ALL of the money will go to relief efforts."

In a statement, Wyclef Jean said: “Haiti yesterday faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced.

"I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now."

Wyclef Jean continued: "President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands ‘ready to assist’ the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible.”

He asked those interested to please do one of two things: Either you can use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill), or you can visit www.Yele.org  and click on DONATE.

A hymn for the suffering

A World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) news release says one of its church musicians has created a hymn for Haiti.

Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), composed a hymn entitled “In Haiti, there is anguish” with lyrics to be sung to the music of the popular hymn “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”.

The first verse of the hymn raises the question on the minds of many as they see news images of the impact of the quake.

“In Haiti, there is anguish that seems too much to bear;
A land so used to sorrow now knows even more despair.
From city streets, the cries of grief rise up to hills above;
In all the sorrow, pain and death, where are you, God of love?”

The general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed
Churches, Setri Nyomi, today sent the hymn to all of the
organization’s member churches with the suggestion it be sung at services this Sunday along with prayers for the people of Haiti.

In his message Nyomi says, “I am sure you too have been stunned by the news of the devastating earthquake in Haiti that we woke up to yesterday. Haiti has been through so much and our hearts
bleed to see them go through yet another major crisis with such a heavy loss of life and so much destruction.”

The hymn lyrics are reproduced here below:

In Haiti, There is Anguish
ST. CHRISTOPHER 7.6.8.6.8.6.8.6 (“Beneath the Cross of Jesus”)

In Haiti, there is anguish that seems too much to bear;
A land so used to sorrow now knows even more despair.
From city streets, the cries of grief rise up to hills above;
In all the sorrow, pain and death, where are you, God of love?

A woman sifts through rubble, a man has lost his home,
A hungry, orphaned toddler sobs, for she is now alone.
Where are you, Lord, when thousands die—the rich, the poorest poor?
Were you the very first to cry for all that is no more?

O God, you love your children; you hear each lifted prayer!
May all who suffer in that land know you are present there.
In moments of compassion shown, in simple acts of grace,
May those in pain find healing balm, and know your love’s
embrace.

Where are you in the anguish? Lord, may we hear anew
That anywhere your world cries out, you’re there-- and
suffering, too.
And may we see, in others’ pain, the cross we’re called to bear;
Send out your church in Jesus’ name to pray, to serve, to share.

Tune: Frederick Charles Maker, 1881
Text: Text: Copyright © 2010 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All
rights reserved. Permission is given for use by those who
support Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) brings together 75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries.

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649,at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Chief Reporter