A project to rebuild houses and churches in Haiti ended in 2013 when funds were depleted, but it has been reinstated to build one more house for a family. The project manager is hoping that further donations and volunteers ensure that this project continues to help even more people in Haiti.
When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, 250,000 died and 300,000 were injured. Homes and other structures were left in rubble, displacing 1.5 million people. Regular Baptist International partnered with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism to raise funds to rebuild houses and churches. Through individuals’ and churches’ generosity, $125,000 was raised.
“These donations reminded me of the famine relief sent to Judean believers by the first-century church,” says Dave Manore, ABWE project manager, referring to Acts 11:29 and 30.
After conducting a survey, Manore determined that the funds would best be used by constructing church buildings and houses for pastors who partner with Regular Baptist International. The goal was to help those who would in turn be able and willing to help others.
ABWE engineers went to work designing cost effective earthquake- and hurricane-resistant buildings, and construction began shortly thereafter. ABWE and Regular Baptist International combined their efforts to build nine houses and two churches between 2012 and 2013.
This year, funds were made available to build one additional house. Pastor Elisme Dieunord and his family moved into their new house Aug. 2, the very day it was completed.
“We have a coalition of 90 pastors, and about half of them still live and worship in tent structures,” Manore says. “What a blessing it would be to continue this program.”
Donations designated for the Haiti disaster relief program can be sent to ABWE, P.O. Box 8585, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8585. Construction volunteers can contact Dave Manore at dmanore@abwe.cc.