+ EMERGENCY RESPONSE +

Haiti: On The Verge Of Famine

“Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11:28–30)

We continue to pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This unseen foe, at the time of this writing, has killed over 62,000 Americans and 226,000 people worldwide. We pray for each grieving mother, father, husband, wife, child, family member and friend. There have been many lost, but when you know them personally, by name, that changes everything. We stand with you at your time of grief, praying for the great Comforter to “be close to the broken hearted.”

A Famine of Biblical Proportions

As difficult as this pandemic and its consequences have been, there is another tragedy that is unfolding in tandem that is predicted to kill exponentially more people – a world wide famine. The World Food Program currently estimates that 265 million people will be on the brink of starvation by the end of the year. Meaning, there will be more global deaths due to the secondary impacts of COVID-19, namely famine, than the virus itself. Haiti is already feeling its effects. While hunger and needs are not new to the Haitian population, the desperateness of hunger and the daily situation has taken this crisis to a new level.

HAITI MINISTRIES

2020 Famine Relief

As you may be aware, Haiti suffered a horrendous year riddled with internal violence and uprisings that kept many people from being able to get out to prepare their fields and ready their crops. As a result, there may be no harvest of summer crops. This has severely complicated the existing hardship of food supply throughout the country. As the Covid-19 lockdown/pandemic came to Haiti, along with the rest of the world, a bad situation quickly worsened. And while the real numbers concerning the virus are still unknown, the country is completely unprepared for any medical crisis of this magnitude. Haiti is said to have only 20 working ventilators and few, if any, medical personnel possessing the skill and knowledge to operate them. Weighing out the gravity of the two situations, the greater concern may very well be the famine. It has the grim potential to eradicate lives in genocidal proportions.

But you can help! As the Scripture above indicated, the early church saw a famine coming and mobilized quickly prior to the famine actually occurring. Once the famine was seen to be coming the Bible says, “the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”

Moved by this Scripture and the immediate actions of Barnabas and Saul, we can assure you that any funds you send to Hand to the Plow Ministries will go directly to those in need. Phyllis Newby, whose heart is broken over what she sees coming, stands ready to get help to those in greatest need.

You may have asked yourself how you can help during these most unusual and difficult days. May I suggest you send “relief” to the brethren in Haiti? The last sentence of this passage reads, “This they also did, and sent it…” Would you consider being a part of the company of people who are prepared to respond to this added crisis and need that was just as unexpected as the virus itself? Thank you for loving and caring for the people of Haiti!

A fellow pilgrim,
Steve Coder, President
April 2020