Haiti

The ten American Baptists who tried to take 33 Haitian children across the border to the Dominican Republic were charged Thursday with abduction and criminal association.

Haitian Deputy Prosecutor Jean Ferge Joseph announced the charges and said that the case was being sent to an investigative judge. The charges carry prison terms of up to 15 years. After the announcement, the U.S. missionaries were led back to their prison cells.

 Last Friday, the ten-member team, made up mostly of members from an Idaho Baptist church, was arrested while trying to take a bus full of Haitian children across the border. The leader of the Baptist team, Laura Silsby, 40, said the group was bringing the children to a 45-room hotel in the Dominican Republic, where they would stay until a permanent orphanage could be constructed. more >>

International Christian aid agency World Vision is encouraging Americans this month to especially pray for the critical needs of children in Haiti.

The agency proclaimed February to be the month of prayer for Haiti’s children, who are susceptible to diseases, infection and exploitation in addition to homelessness and hunger in the aftermath of last month’s devastating earthquake.

“We are especially concerned about children’s needs and vulnerabilities in this disaster,” said Steve Haas, World Vision’s vice president for church relations. “We know it is going to be a marathon – and not a sprint – to help them and their families recover and rebuild their lives.” more >>

Five of the ten U.S. missionaries who were detained for taking children out of Haiti were questioned by a judge Tuesday.

The Baptists had traveled to the earthquake ravaged country to rescue orphans and bring them to the Dominican Republic but now find themselves in a Haitian jail, accused of child trafficking.

Judge Ezaie Pierre-Louis questioned five women missionaries for several hours and is scheduled to interview the men on Wednesday. more >>

A Baptist church in Idaho whose members were detained in Haiti for attempting to move children to the Dominican Republic said Sunday that its team was “falsely arrested” and it is working to “clear up the misunderstanding.”

A ten-member team from several Baptist churches in the United States was arrested by Haitian officials Saturday after trying to take 33 children across the border to the Dominican Republic. The church members say they are bringing the children to an orphanage where they will be given medical and emotional care.

But authorities are concerned about child trafficking, a serious problem in quake-devastated Port-au-Prince where thousands of children are without parents or guardians. more >>

Some of the Christian music industry’s brightest stars have auctioned off a priceless guitar, produced an all-star recording and donated their own money and urged fans to do the same to help Haiti’s quake victims.

Singer/songwriter Bebo Norman, known for his hit song “Great Light of the World” among others, decided with his wife Roshare to auction off a cherished guitar he has had for ten years and donate all the money to Compassion International for Haiti relief.

The hand-made Everett Laurel guitar was a gift to Norman by the builder himself, Kent Everett. It is the first production (Number 00-01) in the Laurel Series. more >>

Wall Street leaders are being called to donate a tenth of their expected bonuses this year to help rebuild Haiti.

Church World Service, which consists of 36 Christian denominations and communions, announced Wednesday its new campaign, “Bonus4Haiti.” The global humanitarian agency is urging Americans to call on Wall Street to commit 10 percent of its bonuses to Haiti.

Americans can put pressure on Wall Street by signing CWS’ Facebook Cause page, tweeting about the campaign and using the Internet to spread the message, “Tell corporate CEOs that to whom much is given, much is expected. Please tithe your bonuses to Haiti!” more >>