Haiti: Pray and Do

Two weeks ago we were finishing our teaching series on prayer. The final message was all about how our conversations with God need to be applied with action. There's a time to pray, and there's a time to do. In the wake of the Haiti disaster I have been reading a few blogs and articles and the comments people are making about them. Many Christians are being criticized for making the comment "I'm praying for Haiti." Why are they being criticized? Is it because prayer is not a good thing to do? No, it's because prayer is not the only thing we should do. Haiti needs more than prayer.

In Matthew 10:2 Jesus says "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Here Jesus is giving his disciples a prayer request. There was a great need and so God's people were called to pray for that need to be fulfilled. But what are Jesus' next words? v. 3 "Go! I am sending you..." Jesus gave his disciples the opportunity to be the answer to their own prayer! What does Haiti need? Prayer. Haiti also needs money, people, resources, and help of all kinds. How can we be the answer to our own prayers? There's a time to pray and a time to do. I think Jesus might say "Pray for Haiti...now open your hearts and your wallets and give."

Here's one option among many: ERDO (Emergency Relief and Development Overseas). Every dollar donated before February 12, 2010 will be matched by the Canadian government. Click this link and follow the instructions to direct your money to relief efforts in Haiti. Let's pray and do.