The third and last blog on Haiti this week is going to talk about a long term strategy for rebuilding Haiti. Specifically, what our churches can do in the long term to help rebuild the country and share God's amazing love with the Haitian people.
Something I've been thinking about is organizing the church into teams of people with a specific skills mix and sending them down in shifts to help with rebuilding projects. It would take a great amount of planning and coordination, but could really help when a full-scale rebuild is underway.
First, what will the Haitians need in the long term?
Architects
New infrastructure
Consultants
Construction Workers
Carpenters
Teachers
Long Term food supply.
Counseling
Temporary workers in proffesional jobs where people were lost
and the list goes on.
Does anybody in your church fit this list? How about your list?
The resources to help rebuild this country are right here, under our very noses.
I'm curious. What can your leadership team alone supply in the way of expertise or skill? I'd be interested to hear from you.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
Showing posts with label Haiti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haiti. Show all posts
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Passports at the Ready
I got this comment about Haiti relief efforts the other day from Michael Rhodus, a friend of mine from Excelsior Springs:
"my church is urging people to get the passports. When this phase is done we will be sending teams down to help a missionary we help support in Carfu . He was out out country when it hit , but arrived there a few days ago with a medical team.I would like to go if it is safe enough.Pray about it. We are also taking up offerings to help him. He does not get money from the Red Cross."
What a fantastic idea! One of the things about the disaster in Haiti is that the relief efforts will not be short term. We will be at this for a long time. Not knowing where the biggest need will be, we should be developing short term (money to good organizations) and long term (may I suggest mission trips and long term relief teams) strategies.
Getting your church in gear with passports and whatever training you can give them is a good first step in preparing for a long-term relief strategy.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
"my church is urging people to get the passports. When this phase is done we will be sending teams down to help a missionary we help support in Carfu . He was out out country when it hit , but arrived there a few days ago with a medical team.I would like to go if it is safe enough.Pray about it. We are also taking up offerings to help him. He does not get money from the Red Cross."
What a fantastic idea! One of the things about the disaster in Haiti is that the relief efforts will not be short term. We will be at this for a long time. Not knowing where the biggest need will be, we should be developing short term (money to good organizations) and long term (may I suggest mission trips and long term relief teams) strategies.
Getting your church in gear with passports and whatever training you can give them is a good first step in preparing for a long-term relief strategy.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
Monday, January 18, 2010
Haiti-Do Something
This week I'm going to put a pause to the normal leadership stuff and talk about ideas that have been coming in for helping the people of Haiti. My prayer is that we can share some ideas and by communicating help the people of Haiti better.
My prayer in all of this is that the church rise up as one and flood the nation of Haiti with food, water, shelter, support, rebuilding effort, workers, and of course, the gospel.
One idea that came to me yesterday really caught my attention: A benefit concert. I expect that at anytime, the worldwide music community will start having benefit concerts for the people of Haiti. Why can't we do the same? Surely in your community there are some bands and a central location that you could use to put on a benefit concert.
As for me, I love the idea. After talking with my leadership development team last night, we decided to start putting it together. It's going to take some work. In fact, it's going to take a lot of work. But it's worth it. I'll let you know what organization we will partner with to get the proceeds to Haiti.
In the meantime, share some of your ideas with me. Let me know what you're up to to help the people of Haiti, and how your leadership team is getting involved.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
My prayer in all of this is that the church rise up as one and flood the nation of Haiti with food, water, shelter, support, rebuilding effort, workers, and of course, the gospel.
One idea that came to me yesterday really caught my attention: A benefit concert. I expect that at anytime, the worldwide music community will start having benefit concerts for the people of Haiti. Why can't we do the same? Surely in your community there are some bands and a central location that you could use to put on a benefit concert.
As for me, I love the idea. After talking with my leadership development team last night, we decided to start putting it together. It's going to take some work. In fact, it's going to take a lot of work. But it's worth it. I'll let you know what organization we will partner with to get the proceeds to Haiti.
In the meantime, share some of your ideas with me. Let me know what you're up to to help the people of Haiti, and how your leadership team is getting involved.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
Friday, January 15, 2010
Student Leadership and Haiti
Over the last couple of days, my heart has been breaking for the people of Haiti. I cannot imagine the devastation, pain, and loss that they are going through. There is only so much that pictures and news reports can convey.
As I have been wrestling with my own response to this crisis, I was thinking that this situation would be a perfect opportunity to allow our leadership students to plan and execute some relief programs for the people of Haiti. It is an opportunity for them to share the love of Christ with a devastated people and to learn and grow themselves.
I can't tell you how this is going to go, because we're just starting it. My team is still deciding where the Lord will have us work, and how. I will keep you updated on what we have decided to do, and how. Like me you might be figuring out just what your response to this crisis will be. Maybe you've decided to involve the leadership of your youth, or maybe your whole youth group (whatever the leadership team in my group decides to do will involve the whole group).
Whatever the case may be, and whatever you've decided to do, I'd like to ask that we share those ideas with eachother as much as possible. While this is a good opportunity for our students (and ourselves) to learn, the focus must be on the people of Haiti, and sharing the love of Christ with them.
I'm anxious to hear what you are doing, and eager to get started on our own projects for this ravaged people.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
As I have been wrestling with my own response to this crisis, I was thinking that this situation would be a perfect opportunity to allow our leadership students to plan and execute some relief programs for the people of Haiti. It is an opportunity for them to share the love of Christ with a devastated people and to learn and grow themselves.
I can't tell you how this is going to go, because we're just starting it. My team is still deciding where the Lord will have us work, and how. I will keep you updated on what we have decided to do, and how. Like me you might be figuring out just what your response to this crisis will be. Maybe you've decided to involve the leadership of your youth, or maybe your whole youth group (whatever the leadership team in my group decides to do will involve the whole group).
Whatever the case may be, and whatever you've decided to do, I'd like to ask that we share those ideas with eachother as much as possible. While this is a good opportunity for our students (and ourselves) to learn, the focus must be on the people of Haiti, and sharing the love of Christ with them.
I'm anxious to hear what you are doing, and eager to get started on our own projects for this ravaged people.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
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