KEYSER — Feeling led to make a difference, several area churches are working together to hold a community prayer vigil this weekend for the victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.
Purpose of the event will be two-fold, as the organizers hope to raise the earthquake victims in prayer and also to accept donations for a mission to the ravaged island country.
“Primarily, we want to pray, but we also want to help by receiving donations,” Pastor John Johnson of Keyser Assembly of God explained.
Although no formal program is scheduled for the event, scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in the Keyser High School auditorium, several area pastors — including Gwen Wolford, Gordon Brubaker, Ernie Poland and Randy Crowe — have offered to help lead the crowd in prayer.
“There are other churches and other sponsors that are talking about coming,” Pastor Jody Bean of First Assembly of God in Keyser said. “We'll have different people lead different sections of prayer.”
In addition, Youth Alive, the student Christian group at Keyser High School, will be receiving donations to help fund the shipment of much-needed supplies to Haiti.
“We already have a truck ready to go,” Youth Alive leader Jason Whitloch said, explaining that the truck will be loaded with six tons of rice and beans, 100 gallons of cooking oil, 20 hospital mattresses, and two pallets of medical supplies, in addition to a small pre-fab building.
“The donations have come from all over the United States,” he said.
Youth Alive estimates that it will take $14,100 to get the supplies to Haiti, and that is where the donations received Saturday will be applied.
They hope to be able to send another load of supplies — including more pre-fabricated shelters and tents.
“They are actually doing surgeries out in the street, with no pain medication and no anesthesia,” Bean said. “The patients are laying on concrete.”
All those involved promise that 100 percent of the money collected Saturday will to straight to where it is needed.
A monetary donation, however, is not a requirement for participating in Saturday's prayer event.
“You can make a difference by coming out, even if you don't have any money to give,” said Donna Johnson, wife of Pastor Johnson.
“This is another opportunity for our churches and community to come together in the name of Jesus Christ,” Bean said.
“Haiti will be blessed and I'm sure we will be, too.”
For more information on the community prayer event, call 304-788-4021 or 304-209-9300.
Keyser, W.Va. —
