It’s been almost nine months since the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing 230,000 people and leaving a million survivors homeless.

After the earthquake, Sovereign Grace Ministries opened our Disaster Relief Fund. In the weeks and months following, generous donors gave a total of $304,500 to be used for Haiti disaster relief.

On behalf of our friends in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, we want to update you on how these donations are being used.

Thanks to many generous donors, there are so many updates that we’ll be sharing them over the next three days. Check back on Monday for part 2.

Our mission: helping churches

The earthquake destroyed many churches’ buildings, killed church members and pastors, and destroyed some survivors’ livelihoods.

Our Disaster Relief Fund has a specific mission: to bring relief to these churches and their members so that they can more effectively proclaim the gospel in their communities.

We can’t duplicate what large aid organizations already do well, but we can serve local churches as they rebuild. Our goal is that, strengthened by this direct aid, these churches can bring the hope of the gospel to their neighbors in a way that foreign aid workers never could.

Overview: short-term and long-term relief

Of the $304,500 donated to the Disaster Relief Fund, $90,000 has already been distributed. It’s been used to provide immediate funding for things like food for orphans and amputees, orphanage repairs, and more.

$214,500 remains to be distributed. We’re working with a network of trusted pastors and ministry leaders in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as we decide where these funds can best be used. Check back next week for more details.

Most of all, thank you! If you gave to the Haiti Disaster Relief Fund, thank you for helping churches to preach the gospel amid tragedy. And whether or not you were able to give, thank you for your prayers for those who are suffering.