American Bible Society & Haitian Counterpart Lead Coalition of Agencies Providing Earthquake Relief

“Words can not express what I’ve seen. It was a terrible nightmare.” - Magda Victor, Director, Haitian Bible Society

NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2010—Clean water, counseling services and portions of Scripture to provide hope and peace are en route to those affected by Tuesday's devastating earthquake.  Working through the Haitian Bible Society, a 32-year-old service organization, American Bible Society and its partners around the world have come together to provide tangible and spiritual support during this crisis. 

"As I was running out of my home, the house was literally running after me.  The devastation is great and we are ready to open the doors of our building and provide hope and healing to the people of Haiti," said Magda Victor, director of the Haitian Bible Society. "Though individually we have suffered loss, we are grateful to be alive.  Our staff is committed to our mission and we are organizing volunteers and working through partners to deliver the most needed resources but also preparing ourselves to be a distribution point for water and the hope and encouragement the Bible can provide."

Supporting the ongoing work of the Haitian Bible Society with on the ground teams and resources, the American Bible Society, alongside Operation Compassion, Water Missions International and a network of 600 local churches, are mounting a two-phase response:

1. Immediate Relief:
• 50,000 Haitians will each receive a gallon of clean drinking water
• 10 permanent, self-sustaining water treatment systems will be built to give 50,000 Haitians clean drinking water, waste management and storm water control everyday
• 200,000 copies of God is my Shelter will be distributed to provide comfort, hope, peace and encouragement on how to live after surviving horrific events
• Counseling services and prayer will be offered by local church leaders and Haitian Bible Society staff for Haitians dealing with the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual challenges in the aftermath of the earthquake
2. Encouragement:
• For Christians who lost everything-including their Bibles-American Bible Society is prepared to give some 50,000 Bibles to Haitian families

"Thousands are without homes, hospitals and hope-we are working quickly with Bible agencies from around the world to get Haiti critically needed aid where needed most," said R. Lamar Vest, president of American Bible Society.  "Even though her own home was destroyed, Magda Victor reports that her facilities and teams have begun working in Port-au-Prince responding with needed resources-getting critical supplies and God's Word to Haiti's ground zero."

To help the American Bible Society in its efforts to assist the Haitian people, visit Haiti.AmericanBible.org. 

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Interview Opportunities 

• Magda Victor, director, Haitian Bible Society (connection may be difficult given unreliable cell phone coverage)
• Marco Herrera, director, International Ministries of American Bible Society
• R. Lamar Vest, president, American Bible Society
  

 

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Quotes

Magda Victor, director, Haitian Bible Society

• "Words can not express what I've seen. It was a terrible nightmare."
• "As I was running out of my home the house was literally running after me. The devastation is great and we are ready to open the doors of our building and provide hope and healing to the people of Haiti."
• "Though individually we have suffered lost we are grateful to be alive.  Our staff is committed to our mission and we are organizing volunteers and working through partners to deliver the most needed resources but also preparing ourselves to be a distribution point for water and the hope and encouragement the Bible can provide."

R. Lamar Vest, president, American Bible Society

• "Thousands are without homes, hospitals and hope - we are working quickly to get critically needed aid where needed most for Haiti."
• "Even though her own home was destroyed, Magda Victor reports that her facilities and teams have begun working in Port-au-Prince responding with needed resources - getting critical supplies and God's Word to Haiti's ground zero."

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About The American Bible Society  

Headquartered in New York City, the 193-year-old American Bible Society exists to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so that all people may experience its life changing message.  To view press kit click here.

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