Haiti Relief

Special Message from Senior Pastor Mike Chapman

Hello, City Church Family,This morning I awoke to a beautiful sunrise in Chattanooga. I walked outside and smelled the crisp cool air, watched the birds eating from one of our feeders, and felt the stillness that only early morning brings.What a contrast to what millions in Haiti woke up to this morning. I watched the early morning news…saw more sights that are beyond imagination…heard that the death toll is now 200,000! This boggles the mind.Once again, God calls his people to respond, and we will obey. Here is how City Church will respond…

WE WILL PRAY…

James 5:13, 15, Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Here is how I am praying and I ask you to join me…

For the people of Haiti to experience hope and supernatural faith in the middle of their grief and sorrow.
For strength and wise strategy for the thousands of aid and rescue workers who are serving and on their way to Haiti.
For billions of dollars to be donated from around the world to help rebuild the infrastructure of Haiti and that the funds will be distributed with compassion and integrity and be free from fraud, corruption and misuse
.For miracles of healing and health to occur in the name of Jesus and for his glory.
For the church in Haiti to be a strong beacon of the Gospel bringing hope, help, healing and salvation.
For the rapid rebuilding of the worship centers, hospitals, clinics, orphanages and schools from which the church in Haiti ministers.
For the pastors and Christian leaders of Haiti not to grow weary in well-doing, but to be confident that they will reap a harvest in due season from the seeds that are being planted in the time of this disaster.

WE WILL GIVE…

Matthew 25:35-36, 40, The King will say…’For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

These words of Jesus compel us as Christians to respond. We can do nothing less than give sacrificially. Because City Church is a community of love, faith and change…because we believe Jesus calls us to be disciples who make a difference, we will give. On this coming Sunday, January 24, we will receive a special offering to send food, water, medical supplies, clothing, tents, sleeping bags, and many other life-sustaining necessities to Haiti.

We will be donating through Operation Compassion, which is the aid and benevolence arm of our denominational family, the Church of God. I have full confidence in this organization. Forbes Magazine recently named Operation Compassion as the third most efficiently run relief organization in the United States (out of 1.4 million charities). They are sending over 600 tractor-trailer sized containers to Haiti. The cost of shipment is about $3000 each. What a great thing it would be if City Church could cover the cost of ten of these shipments ($30,000)! I believe we can do that.

To be honest, this is a real stretch for our church right now. Our budget shortfall is over $75,000 since September, and our reserve funds are extremely low. However, we cannot pull away from what Jesus commands us. We will take this step of faith.

Please understand the offering for Haiti is a second-mile, sacrificial gift. This means it is an offering and not your tithe; it is a gift beyond your tithe that supports the on-going ministry budget of our church.

Pray for Haiti and pray for God to guide you as you give this coming Sunday. I have enclosed an envelope for your convenience.

May God continue to bless us so that we can bless others.

Sincerely, Mike Chapman

PS: If you would like more information on Operation Compassion, their web address is www.operationcompassion.org.