Methodist Church in Ireland Haiti Appeal
Added: 14th January 2010
Thousands struck by devastating earthquake
The Methodist Church in Ireland has launched an emergency appeal after a catastrophic earthquake rocked the Caribbean nation of Haiti. Donations from the appeal will be channeled through our Methodist Missionary Society (Ireland) to the Methodist Church in Haiti which is the largest District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas with 12,000 members.
For how to donate through the MCI Appeal, please see below .
Our Irish Methodist World Development and Relief Committee will also be responding with an immediate £5,000 / €5,500 donation.
Reports revealed that the 7.0-magnitude quake, the worst to hit the country in two centuries, tore down the HQ of the UN Mission, the presidential palace and thousands of homes in the space of a minute on January 12th. Survivors used the micro-blogging site Twitter to report on the unfolding tragedy.
Revd Marcus Torchon, a Haitian Methodist minister serving in the Liverpool District on an exchange programme, said: "I am still waiting for news from family members who are missing. I managed to speak to my nephew after the quake happened, but since that phone call there were more than 10 after-shocks. Now the line is dead because the major phone networks are down.
"It is really destabilising emotionally. Practically, I would like to be of service to them. I feel that at some point I may have to go there when the airport is open. At the end of the day, we have nothing but our faith in God."
Tom Osbeck from aviation ministry Air Calvary said: "The buildings, homes, businesses and hospitals of Port-au-Prince are flattened. We stand outside and weep as we hear thousands of crying people. Thousands have died - many, many around our house."
Donations can be made:
1. Making cheques payable to ‘Methodist Missionary Society (Ireland)' and sending to Mrs Audrey Dickson (Treasurer), 15a Mullaghboy Road, Islandmagee, Co. Antrim, BT40 3TT. An accompanying note should specify that the sum is for the Haiti Appeal.
2. Online at the Just Giving webpage through our partner the Methodist Church in Britain
