News

Haitians in America

Haitians in America await word of their families and friends and do what they can.

Christianity Today January 18, 2010

Michigan Church collects relief supplies

Many members of West Church of the Nazarene, a predominantly Haitian American church in Grand Rapids, Mich., have not yet heard from relatives in Haiti. While they wait, they’re collecting goods to ship to their homeland.

“Many of the people that attend the church here from Haiti, either come from Port-au-Prince or they have very close relatives in Port-au-Prince,” says Pastor Mathieu Pierre. “Almost every one of them has lost some loved ones in this tragedy.”

Gratitude in Brooklyn

New York is home to more than 100,000 Haitian-Americans. Kemberly Richardson, ABC, reported from Haitian churches in Brooklyn:

All they have left is their faith in God. There’s also a sense among parishioners that from the ashes in Haiti, a new country will rise – one that is built on the blood, sweat, and tears of people from around the world.

Evangelical Crusade of Fishers of Men church in Brooklyn, with 2,500 worshipers, is one of the largest Haitian churches in the city. Almost every member has family in Haiti either dead or missing.

Reverend Samuel Nicolas still offered hope.

God has given us a new start, an opportunity to rebuild our country, a new vision to eventually have tourism back in our country, new airports, couple new ports, hospitals, new roads.

The congregation is donating to Haiti’s tomorrow.

Dartmouth pastor expresses need for compassion and understanding

South Coast Today wrote of Pastor Yves Montinard of the Evangelical Church of Jesus Christ in Dartmouth, Mass., who has family in Haiti and started a school there.

Pastor Montinard expressed concern about news coverage that lacked compassion. “What we have to do first is pray,” he told his church. “And second, we’re going to act, move – everyone, every organization, every newspaper, to make sure that people are more sensitive to the Haitian situation.”

New Jersey pastor begins planning of first of many funerals. Others wait.

Pastor Therman Evans of the Morningstar Community Christian Center Church in Linden, N. J., is preparing a memorial service for a Haitian-American family that lost loved ones.

“We can collect the pictures and we can gather and do the same ceremony that would have been done had they made it back home,” he said. Evans predicts many more services as families find out who did not survive.

Not everyone is sure they want to hear.

“Is it better to know they are dead or not to know?” asked Valencia Herold, whose grandparents are missing. “Every time the phone rings we’re on edge because we don’t know.”

Our Latest

Wicked or Misunderstood?

A conversation with Beth Moore about UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect Luigi Mangione and the nature of sin.

Review

The Virgin Birth Is More Than an Incredible Occurrence

We’re eager to ask whether it could have happened. We shouldn’t forget to ask what it means.

The Nine Days of Filipino Christmas

Some Protestants observe the Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi, predawn services in the days leading up to Christmas.

Why Armenian Christians Recall Noah’s Ark in December

The biblical account of the Flood resonates with a persecuted church born near Mount Ararat.

The Bulletin

Neighborhood Threat

The Bulletin talks about Christians in Syria, Bible education, and the “bad guys” of NYC.

Join CT for a Live Book Awards Event

A conversation with Russell Moore, Book of the Year winner Gavin Ortlund, and Award of Merit winner Brad East.

Excerpt

There’s No Such Thing as a ‘Proper’ Christmas Carol

As we learn from the surprising journeys of several holiday classics, the term defies easy definition.

Advent Calls Us Out of Our Despair

Sitting in the dark helps us truly appreciate the light.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube