What Martin Luther King Would Say About Haiti on His Birthday

Casey Gane-McCalla is a writer, editor, rapper, producer and actor. He is a Columbia University Graduate and previously worked in the non-profit sector.

January 15, 2010

Today is Martin Luther King's birthday. Today a horrific tragedy is going on in Haiti. While some men of the cloth are using the incident to spread their twisted world views, Martin surely would've used the occasion to spread wisdom and good will and encourage his fellow man to help out our Haitian brothers and sisters in need. But still what happened in Haiti is deeper than that.
For King, giving money to Haiti would not be enough. In order to be good citizens of the world, it is not good enough to just to give money, we must make sure to end the economic and social climate that led to the disaster. Here's an excerpt from his speech "Beyond Vietnam.

"A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand we are called to play the good Samaritan on life's roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring. A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth. "

King goes on, addressing America's foreign policy and how it is destructive to the Third World.

"With righteous indignation, it will look across the seas and see individual capitalists of the West investing huge sums of money in Asia, Africa and South America, only to take the profits out with no concern for the social betterment of the countries, and say: "This is not just." It will look at our alliance with the landed gentry of Latin America and say: "This is not just." The Western arrogance of feeling that it has everything to teach others and nothing to learn from them is not just."

King also condemns countries that spend more money on wars than social program. The USA has pledged $100 million in aid to Haiti, while pledging upwards of $30 billion to add 30,000 troops in Afghanistan.

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. America, the richest and most powerful nation in the world, can well lead the way in this revolution of values. There is nothing, except a tragic death wish, to prevent us from reordering our priorities, so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war. There is nothing to keep us from molding a recalcitrant status quo with bruised hands until we have fashioned it into a brotherhood."

So on Martin Luther King's birthday, let us reflect on our fellow human beings in Haiti. Let us help them out with our donations, but also let's fight so third world people do not have to suffer through the poverty that has inflamed this natural disaster. Let us be reminded of how what goes on in our own country affects the rest of the world.

[reprinted with out permission. If anyone has the author's contact information please pass it on to http://www.newurbanministry.blogspot.com/.]

Huge Interfaith Crowd Gathers for Baltimore Vigil against Violence

A crowd of over a thousand at Cathederal of Mary Our Queen. Photo by Elizabeth Suman

By FERN SHEN and ELIZABETH SUMAN, in Baltimore Brew

January 25, 2010

What can religion do to fight violence in Baltimore?

An interfaith group of well over a thousand people came together last night to answer that question — an array of religious leaders and citizens of all ages and races, wearing saris and sweatshirts, blowing the shofar and chanting Vedic calls, reading from the Bible and from the Koran.

The size and diversity of the crowd assembled in the cavernous Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for the Baltimore Interfaith Coalition’s “Vigil Against Violence” — among them mayor-to-be- Stephanie Rawlings-Blake — made the moment feel as historic as speakers said it was.

“We have not seen the likes of this size of interfaith gathering since the civil rights movement,” said Eugene Taylor Sutton, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

Crowd gathered at the interfaith "Vigil Against Violence" (Photo by Elizabeth Suman.)
The event was organized by the Baltimore Interfaith Coalition, a group of religious and civic leaders who joined forces in 2009, the program said, “to bring hope to a hurting city.” The latest homicide statistics bear witness to that pain.

Baltimore City reported 238 murders in 2009, upping the number of homicides by four since 2008. These numbers are below those reached regularly in the 1980s, when the death toll topped 300. Still, Baltimore’s current murder rate is the second-highest in the United States in a city with a population over 500,000, second only to Detroit.

Several of last night’s speakers said combatting violence must start with a change in attitudes. Rabbi Stephen Fink chastised Baltimoreans who live close to each other but don’t interact or feel a connection to each other. “Residents of crime-ridden neighborhoods are looked upon as statistics,” said Fink, Rabbi of Temple Oheb Shalom.

Sutton said complacency or resignation about Baltimore’s street violence has to end: “This is the year where Baltimore says ‘enough.’” “Anyone who has been killed is my brother,” Sutton said.
Other speakers stressed that people need to take action to stop violence, not just talk about it. As Heber M. Brown III, pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church, put it: “Be a thermostat not a thermometer.”

We’re at a crossroads, we have two choices, Brown said, “you can pat yourself on the back for a nice quaint prayer vigil . . . or we can be headlights. . . and choose a better way.” Brown urged his audience to adopt a school or mentor a young person.

The call-to-action comes at a potent political juncture for Baltimore, as the new administration of City Council President Rawlings-Blake takes charge of the violence-plagued city. Rawlings-Blake, standing with police department brass, bowed her head as the crowd prayed for her and other civic leaders.

Among the civic and religious groups represented in the Coalition are: Johns Hopkins University, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Baltimore Board of Rabbis, the Muslim Community Cultural Center of Baltimore and the Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence.
Everyone left on a rousing note, with the whole crowd holding hands and singing “We Shall Overcome.”

Meanwhile, outside, all their obstacles remained, including deep skepticism and cynicism from a crime-weary city.

EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY

The weekend of ROCK is one many of us look toward each year. For our youth and those of us who are older, this is always a wonderful time of celebration, connecting and sharing in the joy of Christ. With ROCK, it is easy to sense the hope that is the church, and the possibilities that we share.

As we gather each year in Ocean City at the end of January - among the many highlights of the weekend – the proclamation of the word, joyful praise, young people rushing to the front of the Convention Center, persons committing (and recommitting) their lives to Christ, sharing in communion – one that is always special is the offering that is taken at the final worship celebration. This year’s offering had particular significance as it is to go toward support the relief efforts of the United Methodist Committee on Relief in Haiti.

Over the past three weeks, people of faith have joined in prayer and support for the people of Haiti as they have dealt with the catastrophic earthquake that struck the country on January 12th. In this, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the loss, grief and distress caused by this disaster adds to the tremendous forces of poverty with which the people already struggle.

This year, the offering received at ROCK totaled over $28,000, a sign of extravagant generosity. Acts of extravagant generosity continue as many of our churches continue to make contributions to UMCOR and other relief organizations, and prepare health kits to aid our sisters and brothers in need in Haiti. In these days of tremendous need for many among us, we continue to see signs of extravagant generosity in our midst.

The apostle Paul wrote to encourage the church at Corinth, “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity.” (2 Cor. 9:11) Bishop Robert Schnase, his the book The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, shares that “extravagant generosity describes practices of sharing and giving that exceed all expectations and extend to unexpected measures. It describes lavish sharing, sacrifice, and giving in service to God and neighbor. “

Thanks be to God for our shared ministry, and the ways that we continue to engage in extravagant generosity both locally and globally

May the Lord, in whom we live and move and have our being, bless you in the days ahead, and may heaven’s face continue to shine upon us.

A Prayer for Haiti

by Taylor Burton-Edwards

The seas roar, the earth shakes,

buildings crumble, roofs toppleand walls turn to dust.

Have mercy on the people of Haiti, O God.
Nations watch, alarms sound,traffic halts,

utilities stop,and news is hard to verify.

Give us compassion to weep with those who weep, O God.
People die, families mourn,mountains split,

infrastructure and superstructure alike are gone.

Make us swift to help and persistent to rebuild,

not just things and structures, but lives, O God:
Through Christ, the solid Rock. Amen.

Health Kits for Haiti

Greetings Colleagues,

As we continue to pray and collect donations for the people of Haiti, here is yet another way that our churches and ministries can help. Visit http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/health-kit/ to see complete instructions for assembling and shipping health kits for Haiti through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). These kits cost just $12 each to construct, and will be passed out to individuals who have been affected by the disaster.

Please follow the assembly and delivery instructions carefully. This is a great project for youth groups and other ministries to get involved with providing relief to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Blessings,

C. Anthony Hunt


Health Kit Items Value: $12 per kit
Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.
1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels)
1 washcloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
$1.00 to purchase toothpaste (NOTE: UMCOR Sager Brown is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)

Important Kit Assembly Information
All items included in kits must be NEW items.
All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.
Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

Packing Kits
Box Weight. Each packed box cannot exceed 66 pounds.

Shipping Kits
1. Complete 2 packing lists-one for your records and one to put on the shipping box.
2. Paste the shipping label / packing list on the outside of each box you send. The shipping list helps the depot to quickly process kits.
3. Processing & Shipping Costs: Please enclose an envelope containing at least $1 for each kit you send. This donation enables kits to be sent without delay to areas in need. For Cleaning Buckets: $1.50.
Print Shipping Label & Packing List HTML PDF
Print ORM-D mark (JPG)Small Large

How to Turn Crisis into Opportunity in Haiti

How to turn a Crisis into an Opportunity in Haiti:
http://michael-christensen.blogspot.com/


Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D.National Director, Shalom Initiative

Help for Haiti

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I ask that you kindly join me in prayer for the people of Haiti as they deal with the catastrophic earthquake that struck the country on January 12th. In this, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the loss, grief and distress caused by this disaster adds to the tremendous forces of poverty with which the people already struggle. I also ask that we join in prayer for our sisters and brothers in the Baltimore area who are concerned for loved ones in Haiti, as well as for those who will be traveling to provide direct support in Haiti in the coming days and weeks. Bishop John Schol has released a statement that can found on the Conference website at http://www.bwcumc.org/.

As we gather for worship on Sunday, I encourage you to lift prayers for the people of Haiti and also consider lifting a special offering in support of rescue and recovery efforts. Financial support can be made online through UMCOR. Checks can also be mailed the "Conference Treasurer" at 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046. On the check, please note: Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance # 418325.

Below, please find additional web-links that can be helpful to your congregation:

A Prayer for the People of Haiti http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=48375

Haiti Cries… and We Cry with Them http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=48380 (Spanish translation available)

Prayers, Hymns, Sermons, and Resources for Times of Natural Disaster http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?loc_id=739,1112&act=nav_loc

Haiti Earthquake Response Resources http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?loc_id=739,1112,1198&act=nav_loc


Many Blessings and Thanks for Your Ministry,

Rev. Dr . C. Anthony Hunt
Superintendent
Baltimore Metropolitan District