With profound sadness, Free Methodist World Missions reports Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, Merle West, and Gene Dufour, the three missionaries who have been unaccounted for, have not been located and are now presumed to not be alive. Today, Bishop David Roller conducted a funeral service at the site of the building they were in which collapsed when Tuesday’s earthquake hit. These three individuals gave their lives in service to the Haitian people whom they loved deeply.
Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, and her husband, Jack, were appointed as career missionaries to Haiti in March 2004. Together they worked alongside the national church to develop and strengthen the conference, pastors, church leaders and members. Jeanne’s deepest desire was that Haiti, the Pearl of the Antilles, would shine again with “Haiti for Christ” becoming a reality.
Merle West had been ministering in Haiti since 1978. He served as president of FOHO (Friends of Haiti Organization) and supervised construction of the new FOHO building. Merle was active in Craftsman for Christ and worked construction in the Miami Haitian churches. He also took three trips to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Gene Dufour had been on three trips to Haiti and one to Africa. Gene, along with Merle, was active in Craftsman for Christ and worked construction in the Miami Haitian churches. Gene and Merle were good friends, enjoying each other’s company and sharing a heart and love for Haiti.
Here is a short excerpt from a memorial service remembering those who were lost in the Friends of Haiti Organization Building Collapse.
On January 12, a major earthquake struck just off the coast of Haiti. According to reports, the 7.0 quake has caused major damage in the capital city, Port-au-Prince. Thousands have lost their homes, possessions and even their lives. Bishop Roller address the Free Methodist Church and talks about this tragedy and what we as a church can do to help and what the church as a whole is doing currently to help our brothers and sister in Haiti.
The footage in this video was shot by Andy Yardy from the field, where refugees are being sheltered at an International Child Care School, where medical supplies, water filtration equipment and other much needed resources are delivered.
Akron’s Channel 3 WKYC reports on the safe arrival of members of the Clear Blue Water project. The group, from Cornerstone Free Methodist Church, including Bruce Oberlin, Chris Browne, Dave Hornish and Melanie Brooks was in Haiti digging wells for the poor inhabitants that otherwise would not have fresh water when the Earthquake hit. The group was airlifted out of Haiti after completing repairs on 2 pumps and completing 2 new wells. Pastor Arron Swenson, lead driller, remains in Haiti, and will likely be returning to the States in a few days.
Short tour through the city of Port Au Prince stops at United Nations search and rescue locations and a shelter at an International Child Care School where medical supplies, water filtration equipment and other much needed resources were delivered.
This is the first video from the Free Methodist World Mission Haiti Relief Team. The video shows the backlog of vehicles with relief supplies waiting at the border to enter Haiti and a makeshift emergency clinic on the boarder. The Free Methodist World Mission Haiti Relief Team is moving to Port-au-Prince with medical supplies, water purification equipment and other much needed resources to set up a ‘Forward Operations and Logistical Center’ to manage the huge relief effort that is to come. Your help is requested. Find out what you can do.
We join with the whole world in grieving this tragic earthquake in Haiti. Our hearts and minds cannot imagine the level of devastation, and we fear the news of the next few days will compound our grief.
Reverse mission: "The poor have a mission to the rich, the handicapped to the ‘normal,’ the dying to the living." -- Henri Nouwen02:31:12 PM September 07, 2010from TweetDeck
"...Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that were broken will vibrate once more." -- Fanny J. Crosby04:53:29 PM August 20, 2010from TweetDeck
Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, and her husband, Jack, were appointed as career missionaries to Haiti in March 2004. Together they worked alongside the national church to develop and strengthen the conference, pastors, church leaders and members. Jeanne’s deepest desire was that Haiti, the Pearl of the Antilles, would shine again with “Haiti for Christ” becoming a reality.
Merle West had been ministering in Haiti since 1978. He served as president of FOHO (Friends of Haiti Organization) and supervised construction of the new FOHO building. Merle was active in Craftsman for Christ and worked construction in the Miami Haitian churches. He also took three trips to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Gene Dufour had been on three trips to Haiti and one to Africa. Gene, along with Merle, was active in Craftsman for Christ and worked construction in the Miami Haitian churches. Gene and Merle were good friends, enjoying each other’s company and sharing a heart and love for Haiti.
