September 29, 2021 | Port-au-Prince, Haiti | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Weeks after an earthquake killed more than 2,000 people, shattered homes and buildings in Haiti’s southern peninsula, the Seventh-day Adventist Church continues to assist thousands of members and their families while planning to rebuild two dozen churches and schools that were destroyed.

Among the church membership in Haiti, the earthquake claimed the lives of 16 and injured 117. All of the injured were treated by medical team from Haiti Adventist Hospital or at the hospital, said Pastor Pierre Caporal, president of the church in Haiti. About 3,000 church members experienced property damage, including the destruction of their homes, he said.

What was left of the Morija de Mathurin Adventist Church in Les Cayes, South Haiti, after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit on Aug. 14, 2021. Twenty-two Adventists churches and schools were destroyed and will have to be rebuilt from the ground up. [Photo: Jean Evens Estimphil]
“The church has been able to assist 1,000 of the most needy members with its special plan to assist members affected by disasters,” said Caporal. Members have received food, clothes, money and basic supplies to help them survive their new reality, said Caporal. “We are so thankful to the Adventist world church and the Inter-American Division for sending us funds to care for our affected membership in the south.”

The church is continuing to assess the needs of church members through coordinated efforts with the leadership in the South Haiti Mission there, he added. The church also assisted with burial costs for their loved ones who were members of the church.

In addition, 50 pastoral families and church employees have received assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Outer part of the Béreau Adventist Church in South Haiti, that sustained structural damages by the earthquake last month.[Photo: Jean Evens Estimphil]
While the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Haiti and the Adventist hospital have been catering to the needs of the community, the church is focused on members and ministering to their physical and spiritual needs, said Caporal. “We will continue to help alleviate the pressing needs to move forward with rebuilding.”

The latest focus this month has been assisting 500 church families in getting their children ready for school. School is scheduled to start on Oct. 6, but has been delayed indefinitely in the region, said Caporal. “This assistance is just an extra push to help with school uniforms and supplies and provide some normalcy for students.”

Four Adventist schools were destroyed by the earthquake and will have to be rebuilt from the ground up, he said. Church leaders are coordinating efforts to begin planning reconstruction in the coming weeks. Reconstruction will have to start for 22 churches which sustained extensive damage.

Church members and visitors fill an evangelistic campaign led by leaders of the South Haiti Mission in Jérémie in the southern peninsula two weeks after the Aug. 14 earthquake destroyed homes and structures. [Photo: Jean Evens Estimphil]
It’s an undertaking that will take time and careful coordination since access to the southern peninsula is difficult with the unsafe passage through Martissant, a community at the southern exit of Port-au-Prince with a national road that connects to the southern peninsula.

“The project of rebuilding is very big, but we will continue to move ahead as long as funds are available to do so,” said Caporal.

Church members have not stopped from meeting close to the churches and locations every Sabbath, according to Caporal. Just two weeks after the earthquake, the church in Jérémie, one of the areas most affected, held an evangelistic meeting at a public location that drew more than 100 people every night for two weeks, he said. There is always hope to give in times of challenges, he added.

One of the structures damaged of the Golgotha Adventist School in Camp-Perrin, Les Cayes, South Haiti. [Photo: Jean Evens Estimphil]
“We are always facing challenges, because that is part of life, “said Caporal. “But in the midst of those challenges we see the miraculous ways God intervenes to protect and help His people. We see how we are part of a great family. We are not alone for we have brothers and sisters all around the world church praying and sending their financial support to help in the rebuilding.”

Church leaders are working on maximizing those funds to continue ministering and growing the membership. Members continue to meet outside in groups, either near their churches or on designated locations to worship every week, according to Caporal

“We continue to pray for one another as we continue to stay strong, ready for Jesus Soon Coming,” Caporal said.