Pea Ridge Baptist Church

Dr. Tony Campolo speaks from the heart about Haitian relief and American Baptists – 2:45 min. video

by Jim Wiegner

Tony Campolo sat down with Jim Wiegner, International Ministries, for informal reflections on the Haitian tragedy at a break at a recent convention. Tony tells a poignant story of his encounter with a Haitian woman who wanted a better life for her dying child. Don’t miss this personal video message from Tony to American Baptists.

Tony Campolo is professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University. For ten years he was on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. He is the founder and president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education. Dr. Campolo is married to Peggy. They have two children, and four grandchildren.

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Downloadable Version (.mov 61mb’s)

Full text of the video clip:
Dr. Tony Campolo
January 2010
Long-term Support for Haiti

Well right now there is a crisis in Haiti. I don’t have to tell you that. It’s all over the news. And that crisis is going to illicit immediate response. People are pouring in money through the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Relief efforts are massive. But it’s not going to last. After about two or three months it’s all gonna be gone. People will go home and move on to other things. But our American Baptist missionaries will stay there. So I’m going to ask you to do this.

If you responded in the short-term by giving to Salvation Army or American Red Cross or some other great big organization like World Vision. Wonderful. But what about the on-going work? The work that needs to be done not immediately but the work that needs to be done 3 months, 6 months, a year from now, two years from now.

When the relief workers go home the American Baptist missionaries will still be there. You can give in the short-term but give in the long-term. American Baptists are long-term people. We are there to stay as long as the need of Haiti presents itself and that need will be there for a great time.

So please join the effort. Give to American Baptist. They will not only take care of short-term emergencies but long-term needs.

One thing more. I was down in Haiti. I held a child in my arms that was dying. The mother said, “take my baby, take my baby.” I didn’t do it. And on the way home I realized, I realized who I left behind. It was Jesus. What do you mean Jesus? Jesus said, I was hungry did you feed me, naked did you cloth me, sick did you care for me, prison did you visit me, I was a stranger did you take me in?

That baby was a stranger. That baby needed a home. I didn’t give it. I didn’t take her with me. I didn’t provide for her mother in any way, and that lives with me right now. And I’m asking you to do all that you can for Haiti. It’s a prayer. It’s a hope and Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these you do to me

American Baptist International Ministries, organized in 1814, is the oldest Baptist mission agency formed in North America. We serve more than 2,500 short-term and long-term missionaries annually, bringing U.S. and Puerto Rico churches together with partners in 76 countries in cutting-edge ministries that tell the good news of Jesus Christ while meeting human needs.

1.800.222.3872
www.internationalministries.org
1-800-222-3872
P.O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482