Haiti Relief Updates

Summer Haiti Teams

We are excited to share that Celebration Church will be sending 4 teams to serve the people of Haiti this summer!  In partnership with 8 other churches through the ARC, we are sending over 20 teams this summer.  As you have heard, the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 has left the country devastated.  Tent cities have become neighborhoods, schools are unable to operate, and many are left in a state of grief and fear. 

Along with our partners, Healing Place Church, Life Church Memphis, Seacoast Church, and more, we are able to send teams to meet some immediate needs.  Our 4 teams will have the opportunity to serve the people of Haiti through rebuilding, evangelism, and medical care.  Below are some of the projects:

·         Rebuild the security walls and classrooms of local orphanages so they can safely function

·         Rebuild homes for people currently living in tent cities, such as  “Camp Hope”, which is a refugee camp on the property of Love a Child  (where we sent relief supplies in January)

·         Cash-for-work Program: we will help to fund local Haitians as workers for our projects to provide income and stimulate the economy.

·         Minister to the people through evangelism and kids’ ministry

·         Provide medical care

Here is some basic info regarding these trips:

Cost: $1750

Team members:   1) 12 maximum per each team

                                2)  Need to be ready for physical labor and to work hard!!          Construction background not necessary but VERY helpful

Dates:   1) June 26-July 3

                2) July 19-24 (medical)

                3 and 4) July 12-17 (2 teams to different locations)

If you are interested in joining one of these missions teams, please apply here  by May 19.  Due to the limited number of spaces and the nature of these trips, we will review each application and respond to you with information on the first meeting and $150 deposit deadline.

This is a time when the body of Christ has an opportunity to stand up and engage a need by shining the light of HOPE and the LOVE of Jesus in Haiti.  We are praying for you as you prayerfully consider this opportunity… please contact us if you have any questions, and we look forward to serving together!

Medical Team in Haiti

A team of 6 medical professionals from Celebration Church is currently serving the people of Haiti with Samaritan’s Purse.  They have been hosting medical clinics in Cite Soleil, one of the poorest and most dangerous areas in the Western Hemisphere.  Not only are they treating the physical needs of the people, but they are also praying for them and sharing the love of Christ.  They have seen over 20 decisions for Christ so far!!

Please pray for this team as they pour out to serve the people of Haiti and stay tuned for more updates!

Sending Teams to Haiti

As the media coverage and attention to Haiti has slowed down, the needs of the people affected by this tragedy remain as urgent as ever.  We are still in this for the long-haul with Haiti and have been working with our church partners to assess the BEST ways we can meet the very challenging needs.  There are many challenges to bringing the right aid to Haiti… one runway into Port-au-Prince, roads that are not made for major distribution of resources, and overwhelming numbers of people severely affected.  The World Vision U.S. Vice President, Steve Haas, says “this may be one of the more complex human disasters we’ve ever dealt with.”

Despite the ever-changing situation in Haiti, we have good news!  We have sent resources and prayer and now the doors have opened for us to start sending teams into Haiti!  Our first team, comprised of 6 medical professionals, is leaving April 11-18 to work with Samaritan’s Purse in “Titanye” (12 miles north of the airport).  Our following teams will be partnering with Healing Place Church, Life Church of Memphis, Bayside Community Church, and other ARC churches to be able to send teams into Haiti.  These teams will focus on debris removal, rebuilding, evangelism, a cash-for-work program for local Haitians, and medical care.  We will have more information soon on the next steps in joining a team.

In the meantime, please continue to PRAY for the people of Haiti and for the organizations’ and churches’ response to this disaster.  Many are grieving the loss of their loved ones, many are still in need of medical care, and the most available way we can help right now is through prayer.  Please continue to pray… we serve a God who is more than able to meet every need, and we can ALL stay engaged and involved by praying.  Stay tuned for more information to come…

Giving Generously, Sending Hope

Thank you to all who have generously donated supplies and financial support for Haiti relief! In addition to the physical supplies collected the past few weeks, Celebration has raised more than $50,000 total for Haiti.

The funds have been directed to our key partners: Samaritan’s Purse, Joyce Meyer Ministries (Hand of Hope), Love a Child, and OneHope. Through these partners, your generous giving has provided:

• food
• emergency shelter
• hygiene/medical supplies
• life-saving medical treatment
• 30,000 Creole-language Books of Hope (synposis of gospels)

The supplies bring real relief and rescue to Haiti; the Books of Hope bring the real hope of Jesus through God’s Word. What an honor to be be part of such a generous church and community!

Haiti Relief Supplies on Their Way!

We want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to all who have donated their time and treasure over the past couple of weeks.  Because of you, here is what we are able to send to Haiti:

• Medical Supplies: 6,631 units of medications, ointment, disinfectant, gauze, and bandages
• Baby Supplies: 3,821 units of diapers, formula, wipes, bottles and lotion
• Hygiene Supplies: 868 units of shampoo, conditioner, soap, toilet paper
• Water: 13,816 of water bottles and jugs
• 5 gallon buckets: over 200 
• Food Rations: 4,622 units of instantly edible food items

We have shipped the supplies to the “Love a Child” warehouse in Riverview, FL where they will be sorted for shipment to their Haiti orphanage.  This amazing orphanage, with whom we are privileged to work, has become a relief center to the community.  Check out their website for ongoing updates as well (www.loveachild.com).

We are so thankful to be able to meet some of the immediate needs in Haiti and continue to pray that we will be Jesus’ hands and feet.

More updates to come!!

How to Donate Financially

You can donate online or mail in your donations.

Donate Online

Click here if you’d like to donate online.

Donate via Mail

You can mail donations to:

Celebration Church
c/o Haiti Relief Fund
10302 Deerwood Park Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32256

Please note “Haiti Relief Fund” with your donation.

You are welcome to donate any amount. Below are a few items for guidance:

• $25 - provides food for a day
• $45 - provides a survival kit for a family
• $100 - provides temporary shelter
• $9000 - water filtration system provides water for 500 families

If mailing your donation, please remember to note “Haiti Relief Fund” with your donation.

You can also give directly to these reputable organizations:

• Samaritan’s Purse (led by Franklin Graham)
• Hand of Hope (Joyce Meyer Ministries)