Haiti Information and Updates
Haiti Updates

Haiti Relief Fund
You can submit your monetary gift for the Haiti Relief effort at either North Church. 100% of your giving will go to the Haiti Relief effort.

First Relief Trip to Haiti

Posted 3/15/2010

Friends:

I would like to ask for your help in organizing one of COTRI's trips to Haiti. The trip's purpose is to assist Dr. Jay Threadgill in his rebuilding and relief efforts. We will be leaving Miami International Airport for Port-au-Prince on May 15 at 9:40 AM and returning May 21 at 3:10 PM. The cost of the roundtrip fare is approximately $320 and the cost of lodging, food and other expenses while in Haiti is $300, bringing the initial cost of the trip to $620. Transportation to/from Miami is not included in this price and will be covered by each traveler. I have attached the record locator and American Airlines contact number where our reserved tickets can be purchased. Please tell your friends, colleagues and parishioners about this effort. Only 15 seats are available, so act quickly!

Hope to have you come along,

Lance Kennedy

Record Locator: EORPZZ
American Airlines Group & Meeting Travel: 1-800-221-2255 (open 8a-7pm, Monday – Friday CST)

For more information, contact Lance Kennedy at lk@lancekennedy.com.

Haiti Updates

Haiti Update 01/23/2010
Haiti Update 01/17/2010
Haiti Update 01/15/2010
Haiti Update 01/14/2010

01/23/2010

Dear Beloved,

In the midst of great tragedy we see the mighty hand of God moving in great and powerful ways. So much has happened since my last update, I'll do my best to bring you up to speed. Needless to say it's been almost impossible to find the time to sit and write this email. I'm averaging 150 emails a day. Most are for coordinating logistics. We are getting 5 hours a sleep now so I almost feel normal.

First, We've found a source of purified water and two 400 gallon water tanks. They are loaded in my dump truck and we're making 2-3 runs a day and distributing around 2,000 gal. of water in buckets to the tent city of 1500 along with the neighborhood. It's drinkable and they can cook with it. WE STILL NEED A LARGE PURIFICATION SYSTEM FOR OUR WELL. We have many irons in the fire ....but I have to get this now.

Our first wave of support team has been on the ground several days. We have a pharmacy and makeshift clinic set up now. We've prioritized infants first and are doing our best. We have to find Pedialyte and antibiotics. (Not oral). Hopefully in a few days we'll receive a couple of 40 ft. clinic trailers totally complete with all that we need including x-rays and blood testing ability. We still are waiting for onsite doctors, but my man Ray Jones who is a corpsman is overseeing the clinic as we speak.

We've received our first food shipments over and above what I had in my warehouse. We've been putting out 10,000 meals a day and will continue to put out food out as long as we have provision.

We've had a church group take ownership of purchasing a 150'x150' tent to replace our church. It will be in the first week of February(God willing) and my contractor/engineer is coming in on the next wave of flights to help with the tent, along with an analysis of my buildings to see what repairs are necessary before they are safe. The tent is 14,000 lbs. and will be flown in. God has touched the hearts to pay for this and I am really praising God now.

I've heard that American airlines is going to try to start flights the first week of February. Thank you Jesus.

We happened to make friends with some helicopter people that are flying at least 4 choppers and every time they make a run they help us find what we need. I forget their names but God bless them.

Here is a good one. We're receiving food from the Arab Emirates, with Moslems on my property and doing daily prayers. I used yesterday Mormon doctors. We have Jewish doctors coming. I've contacted the Catholics to help them with food, and they're all working with a bunch of Holy Ghost Christians. Only God could bring those walls down. Kind of funny if you ask me.

Haiti is trying to pull itself together. It will be a while. There are three phases. 1st. Survival...that's where we are. Second phase will be clean up. It will mesh in with the survival phase. 3rd. will be to rebuild. So many of you want to come in and help. We want you to come in and help but remember, we have to be able to logistically handle you. As we sort through your requests to come we have to find a place of rotation in the phases you fit best. No need to bring in workers when we are needing medical, etc. Please be patient and don't lose heart.

In addition fund raising is a priority. For my staff and property to be used to stage so much relief, my monthly need is $70,000. I am praying a believing for $250,000 in the bank to carry us for the next 4 months. All offerings small or large are necessary. Please, use all your influence to encourage your sphere of influence to get involved. All offerings are to be sent to our stateside office in Melbourne. Now there was some confusion because we diverted a couple of offerings to go to Dominion ministries simply because we were working and paying for the first wave of support staff and their flights along with other expenses. That has been finished and we've made the decision to centralize all offerings to come to Melbourne and money will now be dispersed from there. Thank you for your patience and assistance. We appreciate your sacrifice and are praying God's blessing on you.

We are all working so hard. My Haitian staff are moving even into the night trying to get things accomplished. Please continue to pray for our strength. This will be a marathon not a sprint and we need all of you to be a part. God bless you.

Be sure and check our new web page www.fomrelief.com and updates should be posted on our web page. We're trying to get pics out and posted. Internet is still up and down.

God bless you.
Pastor Jay Threadgill, Linda Threadgill and Staff

See our web page at: www.fomhaiti.org.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE

 

01/17/2010

Beloved, 

It the midst of trial, I can still say, God is awesome! We know he's moving off of your and our prayers, and we see his hand on the situation.

Let me first give you the testimonies. We were out of fuel. We went to our distributor and told him what we're doing and wanting to do and simply explained we are out of fuel. He sat there scratched his chin and then said, he'll have us 1,000 gal. of diesel delivered in the night. He had to deliver in the night so that no one would see the truck in the day. Hallelujah. This should hold us about two weeks. Hopefully by then regular deliveries will be up and going.

Second, we had our first church service since the catastrophe in our open field where eventually we'll be building our new church. Numbers were limited but the word is out. Next week we'll be packed.  God was so gracious and His presence so sweet. I gave a word from John 11, the story of Lazarus. I likened Haiti to Lazarus. Was sick, has died, but now Jesus is at the door of the tomb telling them to roll away the stone! With all my heart I believe God will raise up Haiti as a living witness to what He can and is willing to do for a people who will humble themselves and pray!

We started feeding the people in the tent city on the property. We've already distributed 10,000 meals and will continue. Thanks to God, we received a container of food earmarked for our feeding program the Friday before the catastrophe. We have enough food to last these next two weeks until the committed aid gets to us. Drinking water is still an issue. We're putting the word out that we need a large purification system that can be connected to our well. If we can find such a thing, we'll be able to provide water to all in the area along with our own needs.

We're still desperately trying to repair our water system Pipes broke everywhere. The problem is because stores are not open we are finding it very difficult to find the materials to do the repairs. We're flushing toilets and bathing with buckets. Tomorrow I'll send drivers to towns outside PAP to purchase the materials. Pray that all this works for the good.

Third, as you know we are being contacted and trying our best to work with many groups that want to bring in aid. I spent two hours on the phone last night with representatives of TBN, Smile of a Child.  They want to bring in ships of aid and partner with us to distribute to the hurting. It's in the pipeline and hopefully not to long will be realized. We are also working with a large ONG called ‘2 Life 18 Foundation’ that wants to fly in much aid. Again they are looking to partner with us to move this aid to the people who need it. We've been contacted by unlimited amount of churches and groups wanting to do something and we are planning and scheduling as we speak to get this aid into those who are hurting.

Many of you are assisting us with love offerings. What most of you don't understand is that we created half our budget from revenues, offerings etc. here in Haiti. Well, needless to say this revenue no longer exists. We will do all we can to maintain our staff and use them as a support group to all that we're doing. However that's about a $70,000 a month budget. This is why it's imperative that those who are willing to give continue to give.

After we get through this first phase of survival, we already have set up accounts for "Rebuilding Haiti". These funds will go to building a new church, repairing existing facilities and then we want to rebuild the small houses of our staff members that have lost everything. We're pricing a large tent that will hold around 6,000 people in a service to put on the land. This will be a temporary shelter until we're able to construct the new sanctuary. We have the transport to get it in. We have the people to put it up. We just need the money to purchase it. This is about $60,000.

Last but not least, we've been working diligently to bring in a small support staff. Well as we speak they should be able to fly out on Tuesday and begin working with us. I got to have those guys here... I'm really tired.

I do want everyone to know that we basically have two point people on the ground in the U.S. who are coordinating all these efforts. A good friend for 25 years and a board member of Fishers of Men Ministries, Dr. Jerry Wolcson, along with a Networking guru mighty women of God, Dr. Deborah Hamilton These two  have worked almost around the clock helping to coordinate. Their emails are: dr.j@integrity.com and tks2u@aol.com, respectively.  For logistic coordination, pledges, donations, aid, containers, shipments, teams etc. The best way to do this is to contact these two who are working on my behalf. They will set you up, put you in the loop, find you shipping info, and even find an airplane and pilots if you need.  WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET!  None is too small or too great. You’re more than welcome to email me and I love to respond but for emails needing coordinating I will forward to these two blessings of God to help with all particulars. All love offerings are to be directed to our stateside office.

Again I want to thank all of you for your hearts, prayers and sacrificial giving. Don't stop!   Use your sphere of influence to touch and use others. We've got a long way to go and we've just began the process to witness the resurrection of Haiti.

Much love and Blessings,

Pastor Jay Threadgill

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE

 

01/15/2010

Beloved,

Yesterday was extremely stressed as we began to uncover debris and get reports of those who died. We have incurred great loss and my heart is heavy with grief. The father of my godchild has died. Pastor Estin’s youngest son has died. Pastor Kenold's wife has died. Long time teacher Mr. Mark died...on and on.  Staff and friends are all burying their dead.

I have a way to send out American staff today and will do so. I will stay until..... Please keep us in prayer.

At present we are coordinating with organizations to get relief on the ground. Very busy; very overwhelming.  The busy-ness is intense but It does keep you from thinking on the negative and pushing to what God wants to do. We're now coming into the time where we will have no fuel, no water, no food, no electricity. People are starting to get restless. Pray we can find these essentials.  If any one has a handle on fuel from government recourses let me know.

I'm receiving many of your emails, be patient and will try to respond; 187 emails yesterday. For immediate help from the average person: send a love offering to the office. We have massive rebuilding to do.  This will all take time. I'm thankful for the response we're getting but remember when the story goes cold on Fox and CNN, we'll still be here rebuilding.

Love you all,

Pastor Jay

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE

January 14, 2010

Dear Beloved,

The internet just came up. I'm not sure how long it will last, but thank you Jesus!

First, Taina and I are ok. Most of our staff is ok, but there has been loss. Haiti is devastated. Markets, banks, houses, hotels are all collapsed. Death is everywhere. On the day of the earthquake, Ty and I were going to go to our favorite market. I complained of fatigue and opted out of going to Ty's chagrin. She wanted snacks. If we had gone, we would have died. That market collapsed and we would have been there. Our church roof collapsed on a Bible school class and we lost 30, some of whom I was very close to. I spent the better part of yesterday trying to dig out a few buried alive. We had not yet reached them when I just gave out. I had been working on about 2 hours of sleep, so I had to go as we were waiting on a crane. The school sustained damage, but is repairable. Mostly security walls are down, broken glass, computers broken, etc. The church will need to rebuild. We're working at the possibility of doing open air services on our land. Hopefully, we'll be able to gather the faithful, pray, and encourage one another.

Our soccer field is a tent city. We will begin feeding today. I pray it doesn't create a riot and is orderly. Food shipments will be a priority in the near future. At the moment I'm pretty sure the customs and port are closed. We have heard of reports that a hospital ship and an aircraft carrier may be in today. Medical attention is a great need. Many have sent emails asking what you can do. Our immediate need is of course finance. As the airport and other infrastructures open and we know we can buy food, we'll begin to bring in those who want to come.

Our greatest concern is fuel, food, water, and medical assistance for those in need. We have a  limited amount of all. We do not know when any of those items will be available. I'll do my best to stay in touch with all of you, but realize, we're pretty busy. Phones are trying to come up, but I've tried to call Linda and still can't get out. Linda is state side.

We have taken pics, but will have to send them another time.

We love you all.... I think I want to start saying and telling you that a lot now. Please pray for Haiti.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE