From the General Re Haiti

Dear Colleagues in Christ,

The whole world is by now fully aware of the devastating earthquake which hit Haiti on Friday, 12 January 2010. This was just six weeks after my wife and I made an official visit to Haiti to conduct the Caribbean Territory Congress. During our visit we drove often through the very streets and past the very landmarks (such as the Presidential Palace), that are now in ruins.

We thank God for the swift and pragmatic lead being given by the territorial leaders, Colonels Onal and Edmane Castor, who originate from Haiti.

During our visit we met Majors Lucien and Marie Lamartinière, the divisional leaders for the Haiti Division, together with all the officers in Haiti. We were impressed by their devotion to their callings and to their delight at being in Army service. The local officers and soldiers, and the junior soldiers, were full of enthusiasm. The impassioned singing still rings in our ears. The fervent prayers remain a powerful memory. Our numerical strength in Haiti represents fifty percent of the soldiers of the whole Caribbean Territory.

Therefore, my main purpose in writing to you is to ask that you once again call your territories / commands to prayer for Haiti on Sunday, 31 January and Sunday, 7 February 2010. Recent International News Releases have already requested prayer support. Please pray for:

the citizens of Haiti whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed;

the children of Haiti, many of whom lie injured;

the bereaved families, too many to number at the present time, and with corpses still lying untended in the streets as I write;

those in government and in public service in Haiti trying desperately to restore a semblance of structure and order;

members of the international community bringing medical and other relief;

our own Salvation Army personnel from territorial headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, and from overseas territories and International Headquarters, ministering to the needs of both body and soul in the Name of Christ;

Please refer to the International Headquarters website and that of the Caribbean Territory, as well as other territorial websites, for moving and graphic pictures which can support your call to your comrades for fervent prayers, over and above the encouragement you have already given to that end.

I am most deeply grateful to you all and to Salvationists everywhere for your godly and compassionate responses to this major tragedy.

As we pray for Haiti and for those bringing merciful relief and help, let us exercise strong faith that the hand of Almighty God will somehow bring good out of tragedy and chaos. We cling tenaciously to our belief that God can and will do this.

With my deep thanks.

Yours in Christ,


Shaw Clifton
GENERAL