Jose Morelos

Yesterday began the construction of a 40,000 gallon water containment system. It will serve the Hospital Buen Samaritano (Good Samaritan Hopsital) in the city of Jimani, on the border with Haiti. The hospital is located on the Dominican Republic side, but 99% of its patients are Hatians. The system will pump filtered water to the hospital.

Here are a few pictures from the travels into Haiti. Many more to show when I return. You can click on them for a larger view.

I have worked with Luis Cruz for 5 years. He is an engineer who supervised the construction of 42 churches built under the umbrella of ICM. Being responsible for ICM´s ministry operations in Latin America, I worked very closely with Luis. Luis has a ministry called Centro Familiar Cristiano (Christian Family Center.) Through this ministry he has helped many families and communities, providing them food, clothing and giving them small loans to start family businesses. Luis is well respected throughout the community and is a man of impeccable integrity.

When we, at Point Harbor, began to sense the need to help Haiti, I immediately thought about Luis and his ministry. His close proximity to the border would make it easy for any help to be channeled thru his ministry to help Haiti. I knew that he would be thorough in the evaluation of the needs and would demand proper accountability. We will be joining Centro Familiar Cristiano in a partnership to help Haiti.

On our way to City Sole, a community in Port-au-Prince, we were stopped by a man waving.  He told us that none had come to help his community of a few thousand. At least 30 had died there and there were some still missing. There were many injured. He begged us to come and see. A crowd soon followed us. We saw several houses that had collapsed. You could not conceive anybody surviving after the crumbling of all the structures.

According to some of the people following us some of the collapsed structures still had bodies in them. Many were living on makeshift tents in what was the community park. The tents were made of plastic bags held together by pieces of wood from pallets. We saw several injured. One was a women laying under a tent in a back yard. She had wounds on her back and hips that seemed infected. We saw babies sleeping on sheets on the ground. The people were angry that nobody had come to help.

As we get ready to travel to the Dominican Republic (DR) we continue to adjust our plans to the changing conditions on the ground.

Our contacts in the DR tell us that Elias Piñas is crowded with many volunteers wanting to help, but who do not know the language, the culture or are without needed skills. They arrive wanting to drive trucks, to cook or move rubble created by the earthquake. This is something that is not needed or is done by experienced volunteers. We do not want to contribute to this growing problem. Our plan is still to travel to Elias Piña, but we may shift to Jimani.  Unless something changes we plan to purchase supplies in Sto. Domingo and drive it to Elias Piña or Jimani. We are told that crutches for adults and children are becoming a priority.

We are not surprised also to start hearing of scammers disguised as ministries and stealing supplies. This is another reason for our fact-finding mission to identify the needs and to work with trusted partners to channel any future support. We intend to do proper diligence in order to channel the generosity of our congregation through the right channels.

From CNN News: -- As delivery of aid to Haiti is hampered by damaged ports and an overwhelmed airport, another conduit into the earthquake-ravaged nation -- its border with the Dominican Republic -- has become a challenging crossing itself, a United Nations situation report says.

The 200 miles from the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo to the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince has been backed up and can take as long as 18 hours to travel by vehicle, according to the report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), released this weekend.

A CNN crew reported taking 12 hours to drive from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, though the crew left before dawn, intending to avoid peak traffic.

Vehicles crossing from the Dominican Republic into Haiti included large trucks carrying supplies and vans and public buses that seemed to be local, the crew reported. Some aid trucks were followed by sport utility vehicles, likely transporting international aid personnel.

Traffic is heading the other way, too, the U.N. reported.

"Hospitals in the border region [in the Dominican Republic] are overwhelmed and have begun to refer patients to hospitals in other cities," OCHA reported, citing the Office of the Resident Coordinator in the Dominican Republic.

"There is a shortage of specialized medical supplies, equipment, and physicians at these hospitals, and no clear inventory of what is needed," the report continued. "An effective waste management system is required for the border region in order to avoid disease and contamination of rivers."

As a result, U.N. aid distribution is being shifted to a different road that goes through the Dominican border city of Jimani, instead of the main highway that leads through the Dominican city of Elias Pina.

The CNN crew, which passed through Jimani, did not witness many injured Haitians crossing from there into the Dominican Republic. A giant pothole there made crossing the border there a one-car-at-a-time affair.

According to a priest in Elias Pina, Haitians there were worried about their families back home.

"There are many Haitians living here in Elias Pina and many don't know anything about their families," the Rev. Mike Seis of the Green Bay Diocesan Mission in Elias Pina wrote in a letter recently. "The casualties are staggering. This weekend all of the Catholic parishes in the Dominican Republic from the 11 dioceses in the country will be sending their Sunday collections to Catholic Charities of Haiti."

I have ministered throughout the Central, Caribbean and South America for almost 20 years. The last 10 years with International Cooperating Ministries (ICM). During that time I have developed close and lasting relationships with pastors and evangelical leaders in those areas. In partnership with these leaders and ICM we have built over 30 churches in the Dominican Republic and over 20 in Haiti.

When the earthquake hit Haiti, my thoughts went immediately to the pastors in that nation and to those in neighboring Dominican Republic. I knew that while the earthquake hit in Port-a-Prince its affects would be felt all across the country and into the Dominican Republic, especially in border towns, such as Elias Pinas.

Our church members at Point Harbor Community Church (PHCC), sensing the terrible nature of the disaster, have been moved and want to help. Therefore, we immediately contacted those leaders in the Dominican Republic for which I have known for years. As I have talked to them during the last few days it is clear that the biggest needs are medical. PHCC and other churches in VA are responding to those needs. Next week Tom Tuttle, Executive Pastor of Point Harbor, and perhaps others, will be traveling to the Dominican Republic carrying resources to purchase medical supplies in Santo Domingo. I will travel ahead of them to get a closer look at the needs and to prepare for their arrival.

The plan is to load up a truck with medical supplies and to take the supplies to the border towns, or maybe across the border into Haiti. Some of the churches will be used as medical centers and ease the load on some of the overburdened hospitals. But we have no illusions. We know that any assistance we bring is miniscule to the overwhelming needs. We also know that the problems will be there for years, well after the media crews have left town. Therefore, part of our trip will be to establish the basis for a continuing partnership. We wish to show the love of Christ to those in need by working through churches in the area. By establishing a partnership with them we will strengthen their presence in their communities and open doors for their life of witness to their people. We wish to support them, remembering that they are the ones who will toil day in and day out, for many years to come.

I heard something from my friend David that made me think. He received a letter from a friend asking for help so that he can "share the Gospel with believers." Sharing the Gospel with believers, what a radical notion!

Through the years I have heard experts talk about differences between discipleship and outreach. But it may be that, in reality, there is none. One is sharing the Gospel with non-believers; the other is sharing it with believers. It is the same Gospel, but with different emphasis. For example: a non believer must hear the section of the Gospel that speaks about a God who:

"…so loved the world, that He gave His only Son so that they may have everlasting life"
 or
 "…everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst…the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life"
or
"…Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…"

The believers must get familiar with the part of the Gospel that says:

"…I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…"
or
"…therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Same Gospel but different emphasis for different spiritual status.

One is outreach, the other is discipleship.

Point Harbor Community Church has established a link with leaders of the evangelical churches in the city of San Juan, in the western part of the Dominican Republic. They tell us that after the first 72 hours, the most urgent need will be medical supplies. The Dominican army is straining to contain a deluge of refugees. They are only allowing into the country those crossing the border from Haiti needing medical attention. Our current plans are to meet the brothers from San Juan in Santo Domingo. We will acquire there all kinds of medical supplies, load them into a truck, and drive them 150 miles southwest, to the city of Jimani. Once there we will determine how to distribute them. Option one will be to drive the supplies across the border. If this is not possible then we will distribute supplies in the border cities of Jimani and Elias Pinas.

@pointharbor: PHCC Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund started: http://bit.ly/5F5aa9. More details at www.pointharbor.net.

Why is it that some religious leaders, when catastrophes hit us, (9-11, Katrina, Tsunamis, earthquake in Haiti, etc.), are quick to point out the "the wrath of God", (Jonathan Edwards's Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God come to mind), instead of God's love? To be sure, the wrath of God is real. The Bible speaks directly about it: 

• Rom 1:18: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." 

• Ephesians 5:6 he says: "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient."

But the Bible also says:

• 1 John 4:9-10 "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
  
  
• 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."  

In my opinion, it is better to make emphasis on the Love of God.  Because, if we believe the Bible, anybody without Christ is already condemned, (John 3:18 "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son), better to show them an alternative. (John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. )

We are about to start a journey into the Book of Acts. These will be one of the many Point Groups that will start gathering weekly at the church and member's homes. Ours will be a survey of the Acts of the Apostles. Our focus will be to discover the role of the church for missions. We will follow here our weekly discussions and practical applications examined within our group.

John 1: 1-18

The Word Became Flesh

 ¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.  ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
 ⁶There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ⁹The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
 ¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
 ¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
 ¹⁵John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " ¹⁶From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the the Father's side, has made him known.

Here's what I think about this section of verses:

One reason to be Bible Smart is because we all need to know places of refuge in times of distress and pain. The Bible provides that place for all of us. There should be places in our bibles, so familiar to us, that instinctively we go there when we seek direction, protection or reassurances. In the last few years several bible passages have provided for me just what I needed. I have almost worn out these pages. Now, when I read them, a flood of memories come to my mind: the dreadful days due to a medical diagnosis, the times of pains due to botched relationships, the moments of anxieties because of business decisions or the pain of regrets for not had been able to give better care to a father. Then these are followed by memories of sensing God's presence during those times. Like the time His presence was so real that I bursted singing, at 3 am, on one dark morning.

• Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
  
  
• Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21
  
  
• He will call upon me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. Psalm 91:15
  
  
• If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for anything and it will be given to you. John 15:7

1. Because that is the way God speaks today

2. Because the Bible is important to God

3. Because we need to hear God when He speaks:

Praise God for a new day!

A new year and a new decade…! A new year filled with potential. There are new opportunities ahead to affect positive changes in ourselves and in others. 

Now, we all desire to have good health and to be in good physical shape. And that is good: good eating habits and exercise will help with that. I can testify that by doing that during 2009 I feel healthier than I have felt in years. But, good physical shape is not a requirement. As a matter of fact, it is written within our DNA for us to lose that battle… eventually! In the other hand, there is a requirements that we all grow spiritually. I think that an exasperated Paul had that in mind when he said: 

• How about ensuring that in 2010 we are not spiritually malnourished or anemic. A New Year's resolution: good spiritual health in 2010.
  
  
• Lets become Bible Smart. (Think Street smart)

As we move forward with our calling to missions at Point Harbor, these are the principles that will guide our decisions:

1.To worship and glorify God. "May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you". Psalm 67:3.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16  "Mission is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is." (John Piper).  Any mission initiative, program or activities must, at its core, reflect glory to God. Every participant should know, directly or indirectly, that our actions are not just a result of good citizenship or enlightened social responsibility, but are an expression of worship to God.


2.To maximize PHCC involvement. "… these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.…" (Eph. 4:11-12)  We will select programs and activities, to fulfill each initiative, only from those which will get the most members from our PHCC family involved. The more we serve the more we are blessed; therefore, we will seek the most involvement for our fellowship to grow and to be blessed. Our task will be to educate, equip and provide opportunities for mission involvement.

3.To leverage partnering efforts. "…striving together for the faith of the gospel…" Phil 1:27. We will execute programs in a partnering cooperative effort with inspired leaders. We will provide support to ministry partners only when it is reciprocated with an equivalent investment from them.  Our aim is to be ministering working partner and not just a funding entity.

4.To have a focused lasting change."… Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."  Phil 3:13. We will concentrate our efforts and resources in fewer opportunities with maximum impact. Our mission work will be concentrated rather than diffused and diluted.

5.To promote spiritual and emotional maturity.  "… these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.  14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church." Ephesians 4:11-15 (NLT). Life Mission will seek to promote healthy spiritual and emotional maturity. This means Christians who, among other characteristics, demonstrate love for the right reasons, practice humility without manipulation and who do not see vulnerability and transparency as signs of weakness.

6.To achieve measurable and reportable results.  "… When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name! " Luke 10:17. That which is measured improves; that which is measured and reported improves dramatically and produces joy.

7.To pursue lifetime relationships. "… But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.  We will seek relationships, not just points of contacts. We seek lasting covenants, not just temporary agreements.