On January 12, 2010, massive devastation struck the people of Haiti. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook the impoverished Haitian countryside. Buildings collapsed, rubble filled the streets, thousands of people were trapped helpless under debris, and countless others lay dead or injured in the streets. At 4:50 p.m., Haiti cried out to the world for help.
Coy Webb, Kentucky Baptist State Disaster Relief Director, and four men, Jim Brown, Bruce Poss, Ralph Shealy, and Don Gann, answered the cries of Haiti.
The Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief is an organization that works with other Baptist Disaster Relief programs under the coordination of the North American Mission Board. Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief has over 7,000 trained volunteers and 40 disaster relief units, according to Webb.
Webb and the team left Kentucky on January 17, just five days after the earthquake. Due to all commercial flights being cancelled in and out of Haiti, the group was forced to travel to the Dominican Republic. Once they were in the Dominican Republic, Webb and the team traveled by vehicle for eight hours and crossed into the Haitian border.
When Webb and the team reached the hardest hit city, Port-au-Prince, the damage and devastation was overwhelming.
“We witnessed tremendous devastation. We saw people shackled by fear and hopelessness,” said Webb.
Webb’s goal, for the trip to Haiti, was to assess the damage so he could begin sending other teams to help this devastated country.
“Our task as the assessment team for Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief was to assess damage and needs in the devastated area, determine where disaster relief ministry could provide a positive impact, and to lay logistical plans for deployment of disaster relief volunteers,” said Webb.
While in Port-au-Prince, Webb and the team were responsible for coordinating relief efforts. The group met with other relief leaders and discussed plans for the ongoing relief effort to the people of Haiti, and planned strategies for disaster relief teams that would follow them.
Along with planning, Webb and the group also got an opportunity to directly assist an orphanage and two hospitals.
“We [Webb and the team] did deliver a truck load of food to an orphanage that was without supplies, and we delivered food, water and medical supplies to two make-shift hospitals that were ministering to victims,” said Webb.
Not only did Webb travel to Haiti to help the physical needs of the people, he also wanted to help their spiritual needs as well. Webb wanted to help spread Christianity to the hurting Haitian people. He strongly believes that Haiti is a mission field.
“Haiti remains a significant mission field and the earthquake has opened doors for believers [Christians] to share help, healing, and the hope of Jesus Christ,” said Webb.
Haiti is predominantly a country that practices Voodoo. The Haitian people mix Voodoo with Catholicism.
“Roman Catholicism is the official religion of Haiti, but voodoo may be considered the country's national religion. The majority of Haitians believe in and practice at least some aspects of voodoo. Most voodooists believe that their religion can coexist with Catholicism,” according to Traveling Haiti.
Two men that traveled to Haiti with Webb, Jim Brown and Bruce Poss, believed that Webb’s contribution to the team and Haiti was invaluable.
“Coy was an asset to our assessment team. He brought insight and ideas on how Southern Baptist could help bring the light of Christ to these people,” said Poss.
“Coy is a real friend and colleague. His advice and insight was invaluable,” said Brown.
Since their trip, Webb has assisted in sending many more volunteers and teams to help the country of Haiti. Two hundred volunteers from 16 state Baptist Conventions including Florida, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, California, Louisiana, New York, Arkansas, Indiana, Wyoming, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board have traveled to Haiti.
Coy Webb, Kentucky Baptist State Disaster Relief Director, and four men, Jim Brown, Bruce Poss, Ralph Shealy, and Don Gann, answered the cries of Haiti.
The Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief is an organization that works with other Baptist Disaster Relief programs under the coordination of the North American Mission Board. Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief has over 7,000 trained volunteers and 40 disaster relief units, according to Webb.
Webb and the team left Kentucky on January 17, just five days after the earthquake. Due to all commercial flights being cancelled in and out of Haiti, the group was forced to travel to the Dominican Republic. Once they were in the Dominican Republic, Webb and the team traveled by vehicle for eight hours and crossed into the Haitian border.
When Webb and the team reached the hardest hit city, Port-au-Prince, the damage and devastation was overwhelming.
“We witnessed tremendous devastation. We saw people shackled by fear and hopelessness,” said Webb.
Webb’s goal, for the trip to Haiti, was to assess the damage so he could begin sending other teams to help this devastated country.
“Our task as the assessment team for Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief was to assess damage and needs in the devastated area, determine where disaster relief ministry could provide a positive impact, and to lay logistical plans for deployment of disaster relief volunteers,” said Webb.
While in Port-au-Prince, Webb and the team were responsible for coordinating relief efforts. The group met with other relief leaders and discussed plans for the ongoing relief effort to the people of Haiti, and planned strategies for disaster relief teams that would follow them.
Along with planning, Webb and the group also got an opportunity to directly assist an orphanage and two hospitals.
“We [Webb and the team] did deliver a truck load of food to an orphanage that was without supplies, and we delivered food, water and medical supplies to two make-shift hospitals that were ministering to victims,” said Webb.
Not only did Webb travel to Haiti to help the physical needs of the people, he also wanted to help their spiritual needs as well. Webb wanted to help spread Christianity to the hurting Haitian people. He strongly believes that Haiti is a mission field.
“Haiti remains a significant mission field and the earthquake has opened doors for believers [Christians] to share help, healing, and the hope of Jesus Christ,” said Webb.
Haiti is predominantly a country that practices Voodoo. The Haitian people mix Voodoo with Catholicism.
“Roman Catholicism is the official religion of Haiti, but voodoo may be considered the country's national religion. The majority of Haitians believe in and practice at least some aspects of voodoo. Most voodooists believe that their religion can coexist with Catholicism,” according to Traveling Haiti.
Two men that traveled to Haiti with Webb, Jim Brown and Bruce Poss, believed that Webb’s contribution to the team and Haiti was invaluable.
“Coy was an asset to our assessment team. He brought insight and ideas on how Southern Baptist could help bring the light of Christ to these people,” said Poss.
“Coy is a real friend and colleague. His advice and insight was invaluable,” said Brown.
Since their trip, Webb has assisted in sending many more volunteers and teams to help the country of Haiti. Two hundred volunteers from 16 state Baptist Conventions including Florida, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, California, Louisiana, New York, Arkansas, Indiana, Wyoming, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board have traveled to Haiti.
(Coy Webb)
Loved the hook found in the first two paragraphs. Good job!
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