How are Colorado Baptists Responding to Haiti?
Many of you have asked, “What are Colorado Baptists doing in response to the tragedy in Haiti?” Colorado Baptist Disaster Relief is working with our national and international partners in planning response in the near future you can check for those updates here.
But we as Colorado Baptists do have at least one of our own on the ground in Haiti. Aaron Dramann, the son of Larry Dramann, Pastor of East Boulder Baptist Church is working with the International Mission Board-FUSION team. The FUSION program blends rigorous personal and spiritual disciplines with challenging opportunities for ministry leadership and practice.
Here is an excerpt from a letter Aaron has written for his response:
Dear friends and family,
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
As we all know, on January 12, 2010 an estimated 100,000 people died from a horrific earthquake in Haiti with thousands more estimated to die from subsequent disease, violence, hunger, and thirst. In one day thousands of people died, perhaps never having heard the sweet name of our Immanuel, Jesus Christ.
Haiti is a place where an estimated 80% of the people are Roman Catholic and only 16% are Protestant. There is also an estimated 50% of the population that practices Haitian Voodoo.
On January 18, 2010, the day before I was supposed to start my classes at Front Range Community College, I received a call from the leader of the Fusion program with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. It was through this same program that I went to India. Because Fusion students received unique disaster relief training, he asked if I was able to pack up my bags and help in Haiti. “’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:17-18. I quickly accepted.
We will be going [currently in country] down there to help with disaster relief efforts. I asked him what we would be doing, and he said that we would be doing anything from manning relief tents to searching for people in the rubble. Our team has been assigned to an area where twenty thousand bodies are lying in the streets. Meeting the physical needs of the Haitians through our disaster relief efforts is a great privilege and opportunity but please pray with me that God will open doors for us to also share God’s greatest love story with those staring death in the face.
God is in control. Prayer is really what will be needed most, and with this I ask for all you can give, not only for me but for the Haitian people facing this disaster.
Your Servant in Christ, Aaron Dramann
We will update this article as we receive information about Aaron. If you would like to send notes of encouragement to Aaron or his parents please mail those to:
East Boulder Baptist Church, 7690 Baseline Rd., Boulder, CO 80303-4706 Attn: Pastor Larry Dramann
For more information on the Fusion Program click here.
Addition links for Haiti response updates, and how to give:
