Haiti Update

Good day to all of you.

As I shared previously from the pulpit, CCM collected a little over $2,000 for the Haiti Relief. Perhaps a pittance to some. But not to me. It's a gift, heart-impromptu-impulse,motivated by love and compassion.

Our meager benevolence will translate into many, many tents in Port Au Prince, Haiti. CCM reminds me of the Philippian church, in the region of Macedonia. While not wealthy, they gave and gave for cause greater then their own interests:

Romans 15:26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.

Read below. There are Calvary Chapel Relief Teams in-country; footsoldiers, Christian doctors and medical personnel; a consortium of several Calvary Chapels working in conjunction and mutual endeavors.

We're wiring the financial-gift straight, directly in the very hands of those daring and caring souls mentioned below. Love you. And once again, my appreciation and gratefulness in allowing me to represent a beautiful flock. God bless you all.

TONIGHT'S STUDY:
If you're not attending tonight, please read Jeremiah 14-15. If Haiti was not on the forefront of our media and consciousness, these chapters would be very hard to accept morally, and digest intellectually and believe spiritually. Why would a loving God cause havoc upon His own people? Destroy His own heritage? His Temple? His beloved city, Jerusalem? The carnage...the method of destruction: Draught, Dearth, Sword, Famine and Pestilence (Diarrhea, hepatitis, typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria and uncontrolled leptospirosis!) WHAT ABOUT HIS PROMISES?!!!!

Why do bad things happen to good people? Were the people of God good...or bad? Read and hear from God Himself as He declares it to the weeping prophet.

His and Yours,

Pancho

An update on CCOB ministry in Haiti will follow later today. In the meantime, our teams in Haiti have been blessed to use a ministry home operated by CC Delta (PA) as their basecamp for the past two weeks. On Monday they were joined by Pastor Doug of CC Delta, whose church sent us the following report about yesterday's joint ministry with CCOB and other churches in Port-au-Prince:

This morning they left at 6 am to assess the situation to decide how they might best serve and how our fellowship in Delta and ministry in the DR can be involved in aiding the Haitian people. Their first stop was a visit the hospital in Jimani, Dominican Republic that we had heard about. It is on the border, and they talked with the medical personnel. They have a huge need for nurses right now.

After leaving there, they tried to contact Pastor Serge, the pastor of CC Port-au-Prince, who was to meet them at the border. The phone service was not working, even though they talked to him by phone the day before. They made their way into Haiti, having no problem crossing the border. They were never able to locate the pastor to help them, but the Lord miraculously led them, and they ended up at CC Port-au-Prince! The pastor was able to show them the church, their small orphanage, and then discuss the needs they had. It was so encouraging to hear that this group of Haitian believers who have personally lost so much were going into the tent cities and sharing their faith in Jesus Christ. They report that people have been very open to the gospel. Pastor Serge also took the team(which also included 3 of the leaders from CCOB, a doctor from Boston, to visit the site of a new tent city they are establishing 15 minutes outside of the downtown area. There is a great need for tents, so please pray that we can access some. The church there had already moved a group on handicapped women out of the main downtown area to the new tent city location.

After leaving the church, they travelled into the downtown areas of the city, including the area around the Presidential Palace, and saw the devastation first-hand. They had to travel with the windows up because of the smell. Traffic was quite heavy. Our pastor was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the destruction, commenting that the news can't do it justice. He said that large 3-4 story buildings were collapsed down to around 6' tall. He was surprised at how large a city it is and how crowded, with people too fearful to move indoors, and thankfully, many foreigners. However, even with all the aid workers, there is still way more need than supply. They only saw 2 food distributions and are wondering where the rest are. He said that there was no where you could turn to look away from the destruction. One of the other team members commented that it was the closest thing any of them would probably ever see to an apocalyptic scene.

They travelled back to Barahona, DR in late afternoon. The plan for tomorrow is to try to buy supplies in Barahona early in the morning, including tents. They aren't sure that there are tents in Barahona, so please pray that the Lord would direct them and provide the tents and supplies that are needed. Then they are intending to go back to Port-au-Prince to deliver the supplies and tents to the church. They are going to try to evangelize in the tent cities. Pray that they have an open door to sharing the gospel and that people wouldn't miss hearing the message because it comes from Americans who are seen as physical aid providers. They will be joined by other servants, including one who speaks Creole. They are also looking for a secure place to stay in Haiti, and if they can locate one, will be spending the night. The pastor has some connections to hospital personnel, and they will help our medical team to see where the areas are that have the greatest need.

Pastor Doug asked me to ask you all to pray for the things above, for safety(he said it wasn't scary at all today), and for Holy boldness to share the love of Christ with these hurting people. His heart is broken, and they need God's heart and empowerment as they go.

Blessings to you all, and thank you for your prayers and support for the lost in Haiti.

--
Patrick Farrell
Assistant Pastor
Calvary Chapel Old Bridge • www.ccob.org

Two Dollars A Day

“Hey, Panch, I have two dollars. It was for my daughter’s lunch tomorrow. But she wants to help out the Haitian people. She saw some pictures of their devastation.” With that, the modern day East L.A. widow and her daughter dropped their two last, meager mites and morphed away into the church crowd. I was very moved to say the least.

Last Wednesday I asked and challenged those in service if they were willing to donate at least two dollars towards the Red Cross.

What can two dollars do?

As I write, many of my peers are strategizing and marshaling plans to help out. But the reality is that the launch will lift off within ten to fifteen days, if that.

As I see the dreadful, shocking, unimaginable images of the Haitian people, my heart runs amok with helpless sensation. What can I do? Sure, I’ve prayed. Of course I would like to see our church mobilize and get in-country and help out…but I am powerless.

Driving to church Wednesday morning, my heart kept hearing incessantly that the average Haitian lives on less than two dollars a day. Two dollars a day. How can anyone live on two measly, miserable dollars a day?

On my way to church, a Red Cross spokesperson exhorted and pleaded the radio listening audience to consider donating just "two dollars.” Later that night, on a PBS channel, former President Clinton was being interviewed. Again, in the midst of his splendid elucidation, there, the catchphrase, "…even if you can just donate two dollars, it’ll go a long way…" rang out loudly. That was it for me.

Two dollars, man.

Lamentably, actually quite deplorable, there are numerous bogus, heartless, soulless sub-humans already trying to exploit the Haitian victims in scheming shamelessly the American goodwill. Be careful.

Powerless no more.

Pancho

He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given. Proverbs 19:17

Happy New Decade!!

Happy New Year.

Waaass happenin’!

Well, here we are: New Year and a brand-new, spankin’ decade.

What’s it all about? What’s God’s will for my life? Where am I going? We can’t not help it; these and a myriad of other inquisitive questions and thoughts overwhelm our hearts and minds as a year closes and ends, and with much more fierce intensity, as a decade ebbs away and another is introduced.
Many people freak out and are gripped by phobic apprehension during this time of the year. I don’t blame them! I don’t blame them, simply because they may not know Him, the One that holds the future in His hands.

1969—in a turbulent decade marked by a stupor of drugs, sex and rock n roll and an unpopular war in Southeast Asia was raging on, my last decade as a non-believer, I started the new era by enlisting in the Marine Corps desiring to enter the combat fray. In the next ten years, the Lord found me. I found a wife. My wife found her dream hunk.

1979—After four years of marriage, a very pregnant Millie and I closed the end-of-the-decade-year in our recently purchased home, awaiting the birth of a set of twins. Definitely a new, scary ten years were to be upon us: Parenthood. Our Alexandria joined the Juarez clan, exciting the hearts of her twin sisters, Jasmine and Bianca, 1984.

1989—What was I thinking? Me, Lord? Me?!!! After losing our house by volitional default and a very economically deprived decade, I was still committed and faithful to God in my servanthood. During this time a small home-fellowship was started in Montebello, off California Street, by the iconic Krazy Cone ice cream shop. Sebastian is introduced to the world on the very day the United States engaged war with Iraq. A boy!! Sunday morning services begin. I am now ordained. Calvary Chapel Montebello is inaugurated and it’s an official church. Taylor Ranch, Schurr High and Montebello Intermediate schools. CCM then moves into our current location, leasing. Two years later, the building is ours. Our Zoe makes a dramatic, miraculous entry and joins the Juarez clan. We’re now eyeing other next door properties to the church. No way! Too expensive. No money. No way, man. The ministry grows. A big surge in attendance. What’s it all about, Lord?

1999—Are you kidding me? I am going to be fifty years old? Dude…!
The World Trade Center towers in New York crumble to the ground. Millie is diagnosed with two types of cancers (lymphoma meningitis and orbital malt-lymphoma, eyes).
Chemo-therapy, radiation, oncologists, spinal taps, blood tests, MRI, PET-Scan, morphine, pick-line, etc., etc. Death becomes a friend and a house guest for over five years. He lost his grip on the Juarez spirit, gave up, left stomping mad! We were never to be the same. Cancer survivors to the bone, A! The church purchased two more buildings and a house with ten units across the street. One daughter married. Millie's mom and dad went to Glory! Family dog hit by car and died. Hair lost. Thanks to the Cal-Vet Program, we buy our house.

2009—I DHANT KNAOW!!!!!! But here is what God’s world whispers loudly to my heart, soul and mind: “Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5

Happy New Decade! Maranatha!