Pitch-In, Missionary Visit

Mark Hare, PCUSA Missionary to Haiti, October 11, 2009

4:00-5:00 pm, Youth Groups

5:00-7:00 pm, Church-wide Dinner and Missions Presentation

Dinner of spaghetti or pizza, salad & desserts.

Mark Hare, Presbyterian Mission Worker in Haiti, will visit Southminster and speak to the youth and congregation on the Sunday afternoon and evening of October 11. The pitch-in dinner will be hosted for the congregation by the Missions and Fellowship committees. Contact Chris Myers or Pam Sapoff for more information.

Haiti has been much in the news of late because of the improving security situation, the removal of the U.S. travel advisory, and the quest for business development. Former President Bill Clinton recently traveled to Haiti (Voice of America, News, Clinton Trade Delegation, 1 October 2009; or the Miami Herald report of the Inter-American Development Bank survey) to highlight tourist opportunities, including the building of a new pier for the docking of cruise ships. The New York Times also ran a story just this week ("Still Fragile, Haiti Makes Sales Pitch") about a business conference designed to jump-start investment in Haiti. Nevertheless, Haiti remains the poorest country in this hemisphere and one with a very troubled past. Most stories about Haiti still include the comment that support for Haiti has come largely from missionary and aid efforts. If you do not know the story of Haiti's recent struggles, check out The Agronomist, a documentary about Jean Dominique, human rights activist and founder of "Radio Haiti Inter," for some perspective.

Missionary Mark Hare will share with us on Sunday what the Presbyterian Church (USA) is doing in Haiti and how we as a congregation may help in those efforts.

Read more about Mark and his mission.

Read Mark's blog.