NMSI Haiti Response

Friday, January 15, 2010 - rflory

Dear NMSI Family,

I’m sure you’ve been following with great interest and concern the developments in Haiti. Thankfully, we have heard from three of our four families in country and we trust God with the protection and safety of Jean-Martin Etienne, from whom we still have not heard. In addition, we are praying diligently for all the families and individuals impacted by this tragic event.

As in other times of disaster around the globe, NMSI has established a mechanism whereby people in the United States and around the world can participate financially in our efforts to minister the Gospel through practical, concrete efforts aimed at reducing the incredible suffering during this time. Today, one of our CGO-based affiliates shared with me an email that one of his supporters had sent out to a broader network of individuals alerting them to NMSI’s participation in the relief efforts and to the opportunity to financially contribute to Haiti’s immediate needs through NMSI. This supporter gave a ringing endorsement of the integrity of NMSI and the importance of our mission.

If you are interested in challenging your support networks to encourage their friends in such a way, we propose that they include the following language (which I hope will be informative for you, as well):

“In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, New Mission Systems International is joining the global missions community in responding with an outpouring of aid and assistance. Today, NMSI leadership met to define a multi-phase response to the crisis.

First, funds will be made available to our NMSI missionaries in Haiti to provide for their own welfare and that of their families. Our financial system is designed so that money given through NMSI can be accessed immediately on the ground in Haiti by our missionaries using their ATM cards.

Second, NMSI will devote funds to the broader immediate relief needs in Haiti both through our own missionaries and also through strategic partnerships with other ministries whose mission to live out the Gospel of Jesus is consistent with our own. We can’t expect our Haitian national team to be responsible for a large relief effort while they are in such a state of shock and concern for their own safety and that of their families. NMSI’s relationships within the mission world provide many partners through whom we can invest funds given through NMSI for Haiti’s relief.

Third, NMSI is developing a longer term plan for restoration and recovery once the immediate relief situation is stabilized. The extent of the devastation is so deep and broad that it doesn’t make sense for churches or individuals to consider travel to Haiti immediately, as much as their hearts may be drawing them there. This is a situation which requires the largest of relief organizations including the United Nations, the Red Cross, and even the efforts of entire nations to respond.

However, once the immediate needs are being addressed and some stability has been restored, there will be great opportunity for Christians in the United States and around the world to participate in the restoration of that nation through building projects, development projects, etc. NMSI will be well positioned to use the financial resources given by individual and church partners as well as to facilitate the active participation of churches and other teams in the restoration effort to come.

So, as you can see, you can have an immediate and lasting impact on the relief and restoration of Haiti by giving through New Mission Systems International. Please visit the NMSI website at http://nmsi.org/donate.aspx to donate."

I’m sending out this information to all my contacts and hope that you will do the same!

Serving with you and praying for Haiti.

Tim Dammon, CEO

Filed Under: International