This Blog is dedicated to our efforts toward Haiti. We will keep updates of donations needed, meetings, and any information that you may need on our work to help Haiti.
February 15, 2010
2/15/2010 2:52:38 PM
February 15, 2010
Dear Summit Heights Family and Friends,
This Thursday, February 18, 2010, it begins!That’s right, the first load for the container will be arriving at 1:00 PM to Summit Heights Fellowship Missions Warehouse!If you would like to come and witness this or help us or just help us spread the word, we will be unloading the 53 ft flatbed trailer and placing the items in the warehouse.
If you cannot make it, please pray for safety both traveling and unloading.Our hope is to load the new container at the end of the month so we can get the container to Haiti by April 7, 2010.
April 7-17, 2010, we have 20 men traveling to Haiti from several Texas Churches to help build and equip the Haitian people in rebuilding their country.If you are interested in going on this trip the cost is $1,500.00 per person and this trip is for men only.
Please email me at ec3245@yahoo.com to let me know you can make it.
Today I want to update you on our Haiti adventures and ask you to continue to pray for the people of Haiti and Jean Alix Paul specifically.The Lord has been good to us in the last few weeks, through packed worship services, over abundant giving both at home and internationally and through our Wednesday Fasting and prayer.
I read a great statement this morning, "Between whatever is said to you or done to you and your response there is space. In that space there is freedom and power to choose your response. And in your response is growth and joy." Adapted From Steven Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families.
In my younger days as a leader and even today at times, I have had a tendency to rush in and make emotional responses.Many times I was right, but many times I was destructive in my zeal to help, be a leader and make suggestions.There were times that my response was spot on, it was not the truth that was lacking, but the grace to present it.If I have had any criticism as a pastor at Summit (BTW, I have had more than my share of criticism, this is just one area of criticism, it comes with the position), it is that I move to slow and do not put things into action as fast as some, through the years, think I should.
Many around the world have rushed to Haiti to help over the last few weeks and days.I have had many ask me why we are not in a hurry to make a trip to Haiti and make a difference now.Well, the answer is simple and yet to some still not understandable. We have already made a difference in the last three years and will continue to work with our Pastor in Haiti and his team to impact the nation of Haiti for many years to come.
This response we are about to make is just a continuation of what we were already doing.We sent our first container in October 2009 and on that container there was 2 tons of food, the Lord was in complete control of the timing, the food has helped sustain the church and surrounding city, PTL.Since the earthquake, we chose to slow down and pray and wait on the Lord.We postponed the trip we were going to do in March and waited to see where and when we would be most needed.We started to collect the resources and funds to build and buy the necessary materials for the container along with collecting the money needed to ship the containier we will send in the next few weeks.
The international and US media coverage has already dropped off almost 75% since the day of the earthquake.The news was flashy and the tragedy was over the top, unimaginable.Emotions ran high and people reacted and rightfully so.Now is the time for us to take the next step of many in the coming months and years.
Container/Shipment…
Our commitment has not changed.We continue to work, plan and pray.In the next three weeks we will receive a 53’ flatbed semi trailer full of metal, wood, and doors in our warehouse here at Summit Heights.We have raised $6,400.00 of the $10,000.00 needed to send the container.Pastor Jean Alix said this week there is only one container ship allowed each day until they are able to repair the docks.He has said in the next week or so they will be able to receive the full allotment of ships they were receiving prior to the earthquake.
We want to be ready to send the next container in mid March 2010.That means we need to get on the ball and get the supplies needed here so we can build the manifest and start packing for the day of loading.We also need the additional $3600.00 to send the container. In addition, we need a heavy forklift that can lift bundles of lumber. If you know someone who has one and wants to loan it to us or give it to the mission warehouse, please contact me ASAP.
Two Trips…
We want the container to be on the ground by April 7, 2010. The first of two trips will be April 7-17, 2010, a 10 day endeavor.The trip will be for adult men only and the cost is $1,500.00. Ladies, due to the conditions and the unknown sleeping arrangements this trip will be limited to 20 men.These men will be teaching the Haitians to build metal roofing for homes.In addition the team will be building 16X30 structures at a cost of $11/square foot, with metal roofs for families to live in.
It will be discipleship building.The team will be teaching the Haitians to build and they will in turn be teaching other Haitians to build.The team will reproduce themselves as builders. Mike Brister is raising the funds to build 5 of these homes while we are there.
The second trip is June 8-15, 2010, cost $1,500.00. This trip will has not been designated Coed and will not be designated either way till the April trip gets closer.Please be patient as we do not want to be a burden on Jean Alix or his church family.We want to be a blessing and not a burden.
If you are interested in either trip, please email me, ec3245@yahoo.com or Mike Brister at Step Stones Missions, mikeb_hfth@yahoo.com. If you have not applied for your passport, what are you waiting on? Go get it, this week, go on, go get it! These trips may not be for you, but who's to say the next one won't be? Go on, get your passport and at least be ready if the Lord leads!
Home Front...
I am overwhelmed at the response financially from you Summit!You gave two times the amount needed for our budget in January.Much of the giving was designated to different areas of need according to events and mission endeavors we have going on right now.
During January we saw more people attending worship at Summit than any time in our history.
Our Children’s area is packed every week.
I get emails almost weekly of what God is doing in people’s lives through small groups and in our body.
Life change is everywhere!
It is such a blessing to see what God is doing with our body and as we pray for His direction and will, we will see so much more than we could ever dream or imagine. Stay the course!The Lord is doing great things and getting ready to do some really awesome things in our midst and I can’t wait.I’m pumped!
The last few days have been filled with great excitement and preparation. Haiti is still in need and there is much to do.Summit Heights is a busy place these days, and there are so many things you can do to get involved.Last week we looked at the first 6 verses of Matthew 6 in our Sunday Morning Worship.One of the most convicting passages I have read and taught through in many years and one of the most personal as a pastor.
We looked at three things, three illustrations of the Christian life.
1.Giving
2.Praying
3.Fasting
Before we looked at these three illustrations, we addressed the basics of the Christian life according to Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount.In this passage we saw three things:
1.The Nature of the Christian Life.
“The problem and the confusion is that throughout the ages men tend to gravitate to the extremes.
He is either completely ostentatious or a monk and hermit in their walk with Christ.” D. Matryn Lloyd Jones
2.The choice between pleasing God or man.
a.In our giving…
b.In our praying…
c.Concerning Rewards…
3.The realization of our relationship with God.
Our next step will be to unpack the prayer on Matthew 6.What happens when we pray and pray and pray and God is silent? In any given week I hear the same stories you do: a loved one dies, a job is lost and another not found, bills go unpaid, relationships are shattered, dreams fail to materialize.A teenager is loved and cared for, yet rebels and abandons God.What makes such incidents especially disturbing is that they all occur while we are crying out to God for answers and intervention!But heaven is silent, or so it seems.We will be looking at this perceived silence and what it means to fast and the role fasting has in the church today.Stay the Course!
I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us as we pray and fast for His presence and work in our daily lives!Hawkins, Harmony, Big Sandy and the surrounding area has no idea how much God loves them.As we fast and pray, He will move, according to His Word, 2 Chronicles 7:14.
On the home front, we are almost out of room in the Children’s ministry area and need to start thinking on how to get creative in expanding our ministry areas.For that to happen we must be in prayer and continue to give so we can continue to grow.Remember we were able to renovate this existing area for $100,000.00 cash last year and we are headed towards another year of building.What a great problem to solve!
There is so much happening right now at Summit.Both local and internationally, we are striving to reach the World with the Love of Christ.
Just take a look at these events:
January 31, 2010 – Community Group Kick-off Lunch and celebration
January 31, 2010 – 1st Impressions Ministry Kick-off
February 6, 2010 – Freedom Saturday Conference (Based on Neil T. Anderson’s book “Restored”) $10.00 per person includes lunch, book, and childcare.RSVP required, 903-769-5052
February 13, 2010 – Married Life Live a night for couples, movie, childcare, great meal, great date!Cost $30.00 per couple
February 21, 2010 – Baptism and Lord’s Supper
February 27, 2010 – Sweet Life Café Women’s One day retreat
February 28, 2010 – Student Ministry Fellowship
If you are looking for a way to plug in, there is something for everyone this coming month at Summit.We will have all of our community groups listed the first week of February, so if you are looking for a community group. Check it this week or on the web.
Update on HAITI…
A couple of weeks ago I challenged our church to give in three ways.
1.One, we need $10,000.00 to send the next container to Haiti.A family came up to me after the service and said it would only take 10 families to give a $1000.00 a piece and the container would be paid for and they went on to say they would be the first of 10!Yesterday I shared that story and had another family approach me saying they would be next.We also had $2,358.50 given towards the container in offerings.We have a total of $4,358.50 towards our $10,000.00 goal.
2.The second way you can give is to give towards the Step Stones fund for Pastor Jean Alix Paul.At this time through our offerings and one time gifts we have committed and given $5,800.00 towards the feeding and provision of the 7 churches, 3 schools, and 2 orphanages.At this time we are not able to transfer the funds due to the banking issues in Haiti.We are waiting on the green light and working closely with Mike Brister of Step Stones to make sure this money get used for Jean Alix Paul’s ministry in Haiti.We will keep you updated.
3.The third way is to donate towards the container.There is along list of needs that we will need to send.Already there is three goose neck trailers of metal roofing, doors, and lumber coming.We are still in need of more and you can see the list on our Blog January 14, 2010 or call the church office.
The elders are still fasting and praying every Wednesday for Haiti and wisdom as to how to proceed at Summit and abroad.Join us in prayer and let’s go before the Lord for an outpouring of His Spirit.We are committed to the long haul in Haiti.We will be sending teams to Haiti for many years the Lord willing.Pray pray pray, the enemy hates the light.
That last 48 hours have been such a blessing hearing the stories of God’s protection and abundance and at the same time distressing hearing of the massive loss of life and destruction.Our God reigns and He is on His throne and He is moving.
I just received a word from Mike Brister of Steps Stones Ministries.Mike has been our missionary to Haiti we have supported for the last two years.Haiti is not able to sustain trips of missionaries at this time, so we are postponing our trip in March until further notice.I will be sending the Haiti Team members an email to explain the process, so check your email today for more details.
How can you help?
I have received no less than 30-40 emails or posts of various groups offering aid to Haiti that we can give to.All of these organizations seem to be above board and making an impact and we are grateful for such an outpouring.After spending a time in prayer with out elders last night and hearing first hand the devastation in Haiti from our on the filed Pastor Jean Alix Paul, we have determined that Summit Heights Fellowship will be accepting and funneling all donations to Step Stones Ministries who will in turn be transferring those funds to Jean Alix Paul in Haiti for relief efforts.Haiti is not able to receive any wire transfers at this time, but Jean Alix said that in the next 3-4 days they will be able to receive transfers.
The school we were to visit in Drouin is intact and doing well.The container we sent in October of 2009 has been rerouted from Drouin to Guibert where there is another orphanage and school we support and have visited.The school and orphanage survived the quake, but the homes surrounding are flat, completely gone.The resources on the container will be used to rebuild shelters for the Haitians in Guibert.
Mike Brister will be making a trip in the next 48 hours to Haiti with the Texas Baptist Men to distribute water filters and disaster relief.He was asked to go with them to help them navigate the culture and environment having 11 years experience in Haiti.He is renting a satellite phone that Summit Heights will pay for so he can communicate with his family and churches, as he will be there for at least two weeks.We anticipate the expenses will run over $1,000.00.
We are also preparing a container for an October 2010 ship date.The cost to send this container will be $10,000.00.We will be accepting donations for this mission along with donations to fill the container.All donations will need to be on hand by August 2010.If you know of any contractors or hardware or lumber yards that you have connections with, please pray about approaching them for the following donations.You can also purchase them and have them delivered to our missions warehouse
Items needed:
Wood (treated or untreated)
500 – 2X6X12
200 – 2X4X12
Metal (aluminum or steel)
100 – 3X12 metal sheets or 3.5X12 metal sheets (roofing)
125 foot of ridge cap for roof (vented or non-vented)
Supplies
Nails – Passload type 2” and 3”
Screws – Metal to Metal screws 1”
Screws – Metal to Wood screws 1.5”
Hammers (framing, roofing, sledge)
Wheel Barrows (one wheel or two wheeled)
Leather Gloves (all Sizes)
Shovels – Commercial grade only (spaded or flat)
Hoes – Commercial grade only
Metal Rakes – commercial grade only (any shape)
(All of these items can be brought to our missions warehouse located in the North East Corner of our facility.)
Financial Gifts…
If you would like to donate you can do it in two ways:
1.Container expense, please send any donations to Summit Heights Fellowship and note Haiti Disaster Container.
2.Relief (including satellite phone expenses for Mike Brister) please note Step Stones Relief Project on the memo.
(Make all Checks payable to Summit Heights Fellowship and make the appropriate memo note.Thanks.)
Continue to pray as you seek the Lord today.Pray for Mike Brister as he prepares and travels to Haiti.If you fasted yesterday, thank you and may the Lord bless you for sacrificing.The Lord is Good and His love endures forever, may He reign in Haiti and over all the earth!
Dear Haiti Missions Team members and Summit Heights family,
Many of you know by now the devastation in Haiti due to the massive earthquake that shook the country yesterday evening.At this time we are unable to contact Jean Alix Paul our pastor we support and will be partnering with, God willing, in March of this year.I will address the trip in a moment, but first I want to ask you to do something.
The Bible is filled with references to prayer and fasting by God’s people.By his own example and teaching Jesus revealed that prayer and fasting are important, integral ingredients of His followers.While I do not have the space or the time to explain all the spiritual aspects of fasting and prayer, what I am asking you to do is join with Danyelle and me today in fasting and praying for Haiti.
I am reminded of what I read over our staff yesterday at staff meeting.In 2 Chronicles 20:3-6, 12-13,
3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 12 For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." 13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.
Would you stand before the Lord today as this vast destruction has come upon Haiti?Even though we do not know what we can do or what to do, we can fast and pray.Would you start your fast right now and ask God to intervene in Haiti?
To bring peace in the chaos.
To bring healing to the wounded.
Comfort to those who have lost loved ones.
Salvation to the lost and those who will die due to life threatening injuries.Salvation to the survivors.
That Jesus would be lifted up so He may draw all men and women in Haiti to Himself.
Maybe you have already eaten breakfast, then start it now and end it this time tomorrow.If you cannot fast from meals, fast from sodas, coffee, dessert, TV, some sort of media, the object of our fast is not the issue, the motive is.The motive is that today…
We will focus on God and honor Him.
Focus on the spiritual aspect of our lives.
That we will humble ourselves and submit to God’s authority and His Word.
To acknowledge and repent of sin.
Focus on our ability to call on the Lord of hosts to rescue the wounded and hurting.
As for the trip in March, it is still on as of this writing.It will change I am sure of that, most likely day by day.I have no other details at this time, but know this we will do what is best for Haiti.If that means moving ahead and preaching, teaching and building, we will go.If it means we wait and go at a later date, we will wait.Either way, stand with me today before the Lord of Hosts and pray and fast.
