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Bryan assists in Haitian relief efforts
January 26, 2010

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Bryan College is partnering with AMG International to assist in relief efforts for victims of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, according to Ben Norquist.

Justin Smith with Haitian children during
spring 2009 Break for Change
Mr. Norquist, assistant director of spiritual formation, said that Bryan already has a partnership with a ministry in Grand Bassin, Haiti, through a Break for Change outreach, and the relief effort will build on that link.

“We had a Break for Change team in Grand Bassin last spring,” he said. “That is in north Haiti, so it was minimally affected by the earthquake. The ministry there is ideally set to help, but the need is urgent for food and medical supplies.”

Bryan alumnus Pat Ragan, who works with AMG in Chattanooga, Tenn., forwarded a message to Mr. Norquist from Rev. Rodne Romeus in Grand Bassin describing the situation. The message says, in part:

The situation in Haiti is very complicated. Almost everything is destroyed in Port-au-Prince - schools, hospitals, universities, stores, markets. In Haiti, many things were available only in Port-au-Prince, or entered the country there. So now, nothing is available or coming from Port-au-Prince.

The houses in Grand-Bassin are very small, but they have to receive many people from Port-au-Prince. What they had for foods must be shared. Most arriving from Port-au-Prince have nothing. Yesterday, we had more than 1,000 people in the church and I was very sad to see that there are so many in the church who do not know what they are going to eat.


Dr. Bill Ketchersid led a medical mission team
to Grand Bassin, Haiti, in May 2009.  Dr. Ketchersid
is pictured here with the child he sponsors.


 
Bryan students have responded already, mainly by selling blood plasma in Chattanooga and using the money to donate to the AMG relief effort. “AMG is the custodian for that project,” Mr. Norquist said. “They will use donations from Bryan students, faculty, staff, and alums to provide food and medical supplies.”

Alumni and friends of the college who wish to contribute through this Bryan initiative may do so through the secure links above. Contributions should be designated for “disaster.”