Earthquake Crumbles Haiti

Join the relief effort 

Help EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response reach out to the Haitian people. Click on the links below to learn how. Check out the video (right) about TouchGlobal’s ongoing response to the crisis in Haiti and the opportunity to get involved in changing lives for Christ.

Urgent SOS from Haiti

Shelter is the most critical need in Haiti. TouchGlobal needs EFCA church teams from October through January 2011 to respond to relief requests.

Learn

Read recent stories and updates about Crisis Response relief efforts in Haiti, subscribe to regular email updates, and explore our blogs. View the Spring 2010 edition of EFCA Today for an online slideshow of images from Haiti and a downloadable brochure highlighting the efforts of TouchGlobal in Haiti. 

Give

Learn how you can give both supplies and financial donations to the relief efforts in Haiti – current needs are updated regularly. Create and send Crisis Care Kits.

Serve 

Learn how you and your church can tangibly serve the people in Haiti through short- or long-term service.

Pray

Lift up specific needs and prayer requests to the Lord.

Equip

Find various resources for you and your church regarding Haiti relief.

Overview of EFCA response

Thank you for praying for the situation in Haiti. The Crisis Response team is very grateful for God’s protection and leading.

Immediately following the earthquake in January, Crisis Response focused on distributing food, tents, and medical supplies to meet the most dire needs. Now, a new normal is settling over the earthquake-affected region in and around Port-au-Prince. While the team is no longer focusing on food distribution, the need for ongoing medical care and appropriate shelter is still apparent. 

Currently, EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response efforts focus in three primary areas:

1. Developing partnerships

• Identifying and networking with current and potential ministry partners, both in the US and Haiti, in order to help establish an intentional, sustainable, disciple-making and church multiplying ministry that supports long-term recovery 
• Exploring US partners to help mobilize needed resources and volunteers

Current partnerships include Vision of Hope Ministries, a pastor in Cap Haitian, Christianville Foundation, Reaching Haiti 4 Christ, Jesus in Haiti Ministries, and Christian Center Institute.

2. Recovery and development

Healthy recovery efforts include discussions and strategies leading to empowerment and development. Early discussions with partners about potential long-term recovery and development ideas including:

• rebuilding housing
• rebuilding and adding capacity to existing ministries to meet ministry demands and opportunities
• community health evangelism
• orphan care
• sustainable food (agricultural development/education; possibly feed mills, chicken houses, fishponds).
• education for children and work force training
• medical clinic
• micro-enterprise

Throughout the first few months in Haiti, Crisis Response has worked and continues to work closely with local community leaders, assessing and identifying needs as well as ensuring that they (the Haitian leaders) are empowered to take ownership of the long-term recovery in their country. 

3. Ongoing logistics

EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response is establishing a solid logistical foundation for an effective long-term response:

• securing and renovating facilities near Gressier to house staff and volunteer teams – the second story of the base camp is almost completed
• seeking vehicle and equipment donations
• setting up communications and other basic facility needs
• recruiting long-term staff willing to serve for 3-12 months
• coordinating arrangements with national partners for managing volunteer teams

Teams are needed to serve in Haiti now. Read current information about volunteering or sending teams. 

Donate to the work and ministry of EFCA Crisis Response in Haiti

Give online now, or mail your donation to:

EFCA
Earthquake Relief #21709-3970
901 East 78th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55420-1300

Please make your check payable to "EFCA" and write "#21709-3970" in the memo line.

More information

• Contact haitiresponse@efca.org  
• Learn more about EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response
• Learn more about EFCA TouchGlobal
• Learn about other ReachGlobal ministries