Missionaries from two New Jersey Churches are safe after Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Haiti.
The leaders of Allentown's Lifechurch said residents of their Haitian orphanage in Port-au-Prince and a volunteer from Allentown survived. Members of Trinity United Methodist Church in Hackettstown arrived at JFK in New York this morning. They had gone to Haiti on a yearly mission to bring badly needed medical supplies to the orphanage.
At the time of the quake, the group was with the orphans in an open field, playing ball, said Frank Procaccini. Any other time they would have been in the buildings. The orphanage and the Hotel were destroyed, killing many inside.
I have read about and heard of numerous accounts of rescues in a most impossible situation, with no equipment and supplies available. In almost every occurrence, it is told of prayers being answered.
I wept at the images of Haitians waiting for help on rooftops which could barely hold them following the 2008 hurricanes, back-to-back. I was terribly upset at the delay in reaching them. It seemed then, as it does now, their government just does not care. The only word I've heard from their president was regarding the presidential palace being destroyed.
Wednesday, Well known evangelist Pat Robertson publicly implied the Haitians deserved their fate as they swore a pact with the devil. While his inappropriate context certainly had bad timing, and would not be understood well by many in the global audience he reached, it was not far from truth.
Michael Savage, well known radio show host, has taken the issue to the other extreme, making light of the voodoo situation while denouncing Robertson without mercy, for two days. I respect Savage's political opinions, most of the time, but, he should leave spiritual issues to the experts. He became just as "ridiculous" as Robertson.
The truth of the matter is God will judge evil nations (which I've heard Savage express in the past). God will bring down an evil people. Unfortunately, innocents cannot be excluded from a national tragedy. While I am certainly no expert, as well, I will not exclude the facts for degradation sake. I believe for everything there is a reason. I do not believe in coincidence, 90% of the time.
For generations Haiti has been known as the Voodoo Capitol of the world. Carried over from the African slave trades, those of whom ended up on the tropical Island, which at the time was called Saint Domingo, have evolved traditional rituals into a serious and threatening religion involving murder and torture.
The difference in the background of the slaves has helped integrating beliefs, rites, songs and dances of different tribes to create a syncretic religion.
From the beginning the authorities already suspected that the meetings organized by the slaves, even the ones connected to the dancing meeting were related to religious (actually, witchcraft) practices.
Along the way, Voodoo was even integrated with Catholic beliefs, hence the depictions above by Haitian artists. Other satanic religions, such as Santeria, have also stemmed from these same basic evils. It is rampant and responsible for many violent incidents globally and here in the U.S.
So, while it is a great tragedy, and I have encouraged all within the sound of my voice (or network) to help in any way possible, let us not preclude the reality of Haiti's nature. I call for fervent prayer, for those still alive but not yet reached by rescuers, for the families of the victims, and for the spiritual enlightenment of the survivors- that they would be led away from the dominant evil in that country, and brought to salvation, in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen!
PLEASE HELP THE HAITIAN RED CROSS EFFORTS BY DONATING JUST $10 BY TEXTING "HAITI" TO 90999
it will be billed to your phone bill
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