The City of Port-au-Prince, the capital and largest city in the country of Haiti, was almost destroyed on January 12, by a massive earthquake. As many as 200,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands more were injured and left homeless. Since Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with a corrupt and ineffective government, emergency relief efforts have been complicated by inadequate or nonexistent infrastructure.
The Free Methodist Church has a strong presence in Haiti through almost 100 congregations and 16,000 members. In addition, the Free Methodist Church in Haiti operates 20 schools with almost 3,000 students. About 80% of the church and school buildings were destroyed by the earthquake, leaving a major rebuilding project.
A special Haiti Relief Fund was established by the Official Board of Kingsview Church. In the first two Sundays, $5,560.00 was collected and immediately sent through the Canadian Bishops Relief Fund. Donations for the Haiti Relief Fund will continue to be received and distributed through Free Methodist ministries and programs where they are needed most. The Children’s Sunday School class is holding a bake sale during the Chili Cook-off on February 7, to raise money for the Haiti Relief Fund.