Relief Funds Helping Haiti Churches

The Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund continues to be used in re-building lives in Haiti. One  example is in an effort led by retired missionary to Haiti, Dr. Jim Blackburn. Returning from a trip to Haiti, Jim saw the need for supplies to help care for medical and missions teams assisting in the recovery and rebuilding. Since most of the grocery stores in Port-au-Prince or on the island of La Gonave are closed or destroyed, he contacted The Wesleyan Church World Headquarters leaders and began to coordinate a special relief effort to send food supplies.

Jim, whose wife Martha is General Director of Wesleyan Women, said “One of the big problems in Haiti is there is nowhere for the volunteer teams to buy food. There needed to be a bridge of supplies until the grocery markets re-open.”

A Plan for Emergency Kits

Dr. Blackburn, in cooperation with The Wesleyan Church leaders and the Global Partners department, had a plan to supply food not only for the volunteer teams, but also for distribution to Haitians through national Wesleyan churches. Since many of the national pastors and missionaries lost their homes as well as their churches, emergency kits for pastors and their families would also be needed. Contacts were made and shipment was arranged. A major gift from Shunem Ministries, hospitality and encouragement ministry to missionaries on leave or traveling to the Indianapolis area, paid for air freight to Haiti from Fort Pierce, Florida. A 22-foot truck was rented at minimal cost to take the shipment to Florida.

Next, he arranged food and supplies purchases with Wesleyan Emergency Relief funds at a local grocery chain. The Blackburns’ Fishers, Indiana, garage was soon filled to overflowing with stacks of food and ice chest/coolers that would be used for the pastors’ emergency kits.

Many Helping Hands

Then, a steady stream of friends, family, and Wesleyan associates volunteered to pack the items for shipment. With thanks for the assistance of Sam’s Club, Penske trucking, and Shunem Ministries, and several Wesleyan churches, Jim began to see the vision become reality.

The pastors’ emergency kit coolers were filled with 25 pounds of rice, a tarp, blankets and other needs by an assembly line of people whose hearts had been touched by the crushing needs of the Haitians and those who minister to them. Skids were stacked with boxed food items that would be distributed by Global Partners’ Caribe Atlantic Area Director Dan Irvine. The Wesleyan Church has a hostel for visiting teams, but the earthquake had cut off electricity and water. Food supplies would also feed medical and missions teams on-site.

Global Partners General Director H. C. Wilson, whose department of The Wesleyan Church helped to facilitate and coordinate the effort, said, “Global Partners expresses appreciation to Jim Blackburn for his passion and willingness to assist in delivering these much-needed supplies.”