Turning From Disaster to God
Although folk medicine and Voodoo practices play a big role in Haitian culture, the persevering faith of the Haitian people was evident soon after the disaster as singing rang out in the middle of the night and outdoor church services included almost 3,000 displaced quake victims.
Rene Joseph, head of Haitiâ’s Loving Hands Ministries, orchestrated three days of fasting and prayer in conjunction with a massive faith gathering in downtown Port-au-Prince one month after the quake. According to reports, thousands gave their lives to Christ and were baptized, including 100 Voodoo priests.
Last Easter, Joan Hunter Ministries (JHM) partnered with several ministries for a three-day healing crusade in Port-au-Prince. Haiti’s future relies on the coming together of many people who get the big picture, says Eric Cummings, outreach and missions director for JHM. More than 800 Haitian pastors attended the crusade, which also drew a televised audience of 1.1 million.
“We taught them about fear and trauma because we knew they would be no good to their own people when they were suffering also,” Cummings says.
Jack Munday, director of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association’s Rapid Response Team, expressed hope for Haiti’s future: “The people of Haiti are some of the most resilient I have ever seen.”
