Immediately upon hearing of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Pastor Holt was led to provide aid to the Haitian people. With the help of member, Stephen Anderson, a musician that volunteers at an annual summer music camp in Haiti, the decision to purchase a water purification system was made. The following Sunday, Pastor Holt made a pastoral appeal to the congregation to raise funds to purchase the system, but God did the rest. The Royal Missionary Baptist Church Congregation raised over $25,000 in donations in just two Sundays to purchase a water purification system from Water Missions International for the people of Haiti. A single water purification system purifies water at a rate of 10 gallons a minute, which is enough drinking water for 5,000 people daily.
"Local Church raises $25,000 for water purification system to send to Haiti."
- WCBD, Count on News 2
For the last few summers, I have had the privilege to teach at the North Haiti Music Camp in Limbe, Haiti. I thank God for his life-changing opportunity which has allowed me to experience Christ in a new way through sharing, learning, cultivating relationships, studying the Word, creating music, worshipping, working, learning Kreyol, and growing in the Lord. The friendships I have made with our Christian brothers and sisters there continue to develop as many return each year to the camp as teachers or students.
Specifically, God gave me the vision to begin a gospel choir at the camp, to put together sheet music and translate lyrics into Kreyol for the choir. During the camp, the choir rehearses twice a day, preparing for a final concert. After camp, they take the music with them to teach their churches, choirs, and groups in their hometowns, sharing the message of Christ through music across the nation of Haiti. There are also many other classes, activities, concerts, and workshops to be involved with at the camp. Through being a part of the music camp, God has allowed me to see what day-to-day life is like in Haiti.
The morning after the earthquake, I got a message from Pastor Holt expressing Royal's desire to respond to the disaster with aid to the Haitian people. On Friday, I received an email from a friend with Seacoast Church indicating Seacoast's decision to partner with Water Missions International in sending relief to Haiti. I forwarded the email to Pastor Holt - and to my surprise as I arrived to church on Sunday morning, Pastor Holt had been led by God to make an appeal to Royal to purchase a $25,000 water system for Haiti. That same day, at the 8AM and 11AM services, the body of Christ at Royal responded by donating more than half of the cost of the system. The following Sunday, at the 8AM and 11AM services, God moved once again on the hearts of the Royal congregation , and the rest of the $25,000 was collected to purchase a purification system for Haiti that will provide 5,000 people access to clean water.
Jesus performed a miracle by using 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to give life to 5,000 hungry people in one day. Behold, He's doing a new thing: using a water purification system to give life to 5,000 thirsty people in Haiti every day. God be praised!
