January 20, 2010

Dear United Methodists of the New York Annual Conference:

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Prince of Shalom, Healer of our brokenness, and Hope of the world!

Every day brings news, some good, some bad, as members of the world community race against time seeking to aid our brothers and sisters in Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck on January 12.  Many United Methodists from throughout the United States were in Haiti participating as volunteers in mission.  We are most grateful that Revs. Tom and Wendy Vencuss of the Wethersfield United Methodist Church, who have organized many teams of Volunteers in Mission to Haiti from the New York Conference, were not injured and have returned home. 

We are deeply saddened, however, by the loss of two of the leaders of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) who were in Port-au-Prince to participate with persons from other agencies towards the improvement of health services in this the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.  The Rev. Dr. Samuel Wesley Dixon, Jr., top executive officer of UMCOR, died amidst the ruins of the Hotel Montana before he could be rescued; and the Rev. Clinton Rabb, Director of the Volunteers in Mission office, died in a Florida hospital after having been airlifted there.  Both men were based in UMCOR's New York office and thus part of our New York Annual Conference family. 

Our sympathy and our prayers are extended to Sam and Clint's family members:  Sam's wife, Cindy, their four grown children, two grand children and his mother; and Clint's wife, the Rev. Suzanne Field Rabb, eight children and three grandchildren.  Both men gave the ultimate sacrifice doing what they loved: caring for the "least of these" in Jesus' words from Matthew 25.  We praise God for their witness and for their leadership in our church.  Our church will faithfully continue to advance the mission that our two brothers lived for and died for.

We in the United Methodist Church are justly proud of UMCOR.  For 70 years, UMCOR has been at the other end of our prayers and our dollars extending the love of Jesus Christ to the nation's and world's neediest peoples.  Whether it is in response to earthquakes, hurricanes, famines, domestic tornadoes or floods, UMCOR provides on the spot help and training so that UMCOR's efforts can be continued long after the initial crisis has passed.

Please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers as well as the good people from around the world who have arrived there to help.  Please also respond to the dire need in Haiti as generously as you can.  Our God is not finished with the world yet.  Let us keep making a difference one life at a time and one community at a time.

Keep the Faith,