The Free Methodist Church in Canada

The magnitude 7 quake in Haiti which killed a reported 230,000 people has left up to one million survivors in makeshift camps or sleeping rough. Probably some 5,000 Free Methodist members are in the impacted area, and providing food and shelter to many of them remains a critical objective of our FM relief program. Haitian pastor Jean Marc Zamor, our program Coordinator, is successfully networking with faith-based relief agencies active in Haiti, resulting this past week in tarpaulins for pastoral families living on the street, to protect against the imminent torrential rains and camp quagmires. As well, FM parishioners in over 20 churches joyfully received 1,200 free meal kits after services this past Sunday.

Dan Sheffield, Director of Intercultural and Global Ministries, shares great news about Free Methodist response to Haiti disaster:

I have just had a report from Laurie Cook, the director of World Relief Canada [WRC] regarding donations for Haiti. February 12 was the cut-off date given by CIDA for matching donations – that is, donations to WRC up until Feb 12 were matched by CIDA.

Free Methodist Churches gave $91,500 !! (matched by CIDA = $183,000!!!) By the way, this number was 13% higher than any other denomination.

All told WRC has received just over $1.3 million for Haiti, including matching funds. This aid is being distributed on the ground in Haiti by their US counter-part.

In late January, WR’s website stated: "We are providing urgent medical attention to hundreds of patients at Kings Hospital in PaP.  We have also set up a feeding center with a local church - we are providing hot meals to hundreds of people every day.  This will be scaled up in the coming days and we will be trying to coordinate our efforts with partner organizations.  We will be working with our local church partners to set up additional feeding centers and the provision of non-food items." In early Feb, hot meals are being provided to 9,500 people daily by World Relief.   Also clean water and psychological support. Tearfund, a UK agency, is working with World Relief; also Food for the Hungry and World Concern.

Thank you again to FM churches across Canada who have contributed to this need.

Since the matching cut-off date has been passed, we would encourage FM donations for Haiti to be directed to “The Free Methodist Church in Canada” clearly indicated in the memo line for “The Bishop’s Relief Fund – Haiti.”

Click here to donate online

Lent is a season of soul-searching, a time when we seek to open ourselves up before God, to hear his call, a time to recognize and respond to God’s presence in our lives and in our world, a time to place all that we are, all we can be, in God’s hands and to allow his transforming grace to work in us. Lent is a time when we are invited to spend time in special personal housecleaning - worship and prayer, a time to give more of ourselves and share more of the gifts that we have been given.   Lent is also a time that calls us to look back on the impact of baptism on our lives.  Through baptism we have a special relationship with the Creator of the universe.  Baptism makes ups a child of God - adopted, incorporated into God’s family; a member of Christ and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Lent is a time to recall the relationship we have with the Creator, to recall the responsibility and privilege that is ours through baptism, to live into that call to be Christ-followers, to be broken bread and poured out wine for Christ’s purposes in the world. Lent begins in ashes - it journeys through darkness and ends with triumph.  We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our Song!!!

written by Diane Clifford, pastor of Church of the Holy Spirit in Fort Frances, ON