Dear NOBTS Family,
On Thursday, January 21, we will do what we rarely do. We will receive an offering in chapel for the relief efforts in Haiti. All of us are aware of the devastating effects the recent earthquakes have had. As others came to our side and helped us through the Hurricane Katrina disaster, we want to participate in helping the people of Haiti recover. This is especially important to us because we have students of NOBTS who are studying in the Haitian certificate program as well as Haitian students in our South Florida extension center who have family and friends on the island.
One of our partners, the Florida Baptist Convention, has negotiated an excellent price for rice, the staple of the Haitian diet. Twenty dollars ($20.00) will buy a 100 pound bag of rice that can feed a family of four for some time. They also have a distribution process already in place. The money we collect will be used to buy rice, and that rice will be distributed through the Baptist distribution process already in operation. Every penny given will buy rice. I hope each of us will consider giving enough to buy at least one bag of rice, or perhaps working with some other families to buy one or more bags of rice. What we give is always between our souls and God. Let's all do the best we can. If you know others outside the NOBTS family who would like to buy rice to feed the Haitian people, we will receive their offerings and add their gifts to ours. We will collect money for at least ten days. It can be sent or delivered to the NOBTS Development Office (Frost Building, 1st floor), and should be marked Haitian Relief.
Mailing Address:
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Office of Institutional Advancement
3939 Gentilly Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70126
Attn: Haitian Relief
We rejoice in early reports that all of our students appear to have survived. We know that in addition to addressing their own needs, they will have overwhelming needs and opportunities for ministry among their people. Let us all pray for those who are working for Jesus in the midst of the chaos and heartache of this precious nation.
Please pray about what God would have you do.
Yours & His,
Chuck Kelley
President, NOBTS