I'm headed back to Haiti with a group of eight leaders on May 26. Since the earthquake hit, we've found that the best way to help is by working in partnership with loca

l churches in Haiti. The time for emergency aid is over; now it's time to help Haitians help themselves. And the only credible delivery mechanism for this kind of help is the local Haitian church.

So we're asking churches in the U.S. to help by pairing them up with Haitian churches. More than anything, we want to help them disciple their members through a holistic effort we're calling "The Isaiah 58 Project."

So far, 23 U.S. churches have said that they'd help. And it just occurred to me that, sometimes this blog community is like a church. We could partner with a Haitian church to help their community. You could give and then I'd report back to you through the blog about the difference that your gifts have made.

If you've ever felt a sense of community with other people on this blog, I'd like to invite you to join with us. One of the privileges of running a mission like AIM is that I have
access to an abundance of opportunities to make a difference.

If there's poverty in our lives, it's probably not a lack of resources, it's probably a lack of opportunities to reach out and make a difference and a connection with people who are truly needy. So I asked our staff, "Who do we really trust in Haiti?" Of course there are many wonderful people

we trust. But, of the nearly 300 Haitian pastors with whom we partner, the one who our staff has found particularly trustworthy is Pastor Jean Claude Sylvain.

Pastor Sylvain leads Tabernacle Chretienne, a church of about 2500 people. He says, "We have 25 families at the Church who have lost everything during the earthquake. Their needs are food, water, tents, and medical care. Our vision is to rebuild the houses that were collapsed, build a school, an orphanage and clinic for the area. We also want to rebuild the church. In addition, we have an orphanage with 65 children but the house is collapsed. Now we lodge them at Fond Blanc in Cabaret."

What we especially appreciate about Pastor Sylvain is that his highest concern is the spiritual well-being of his flock.

Here's how you can help. Click here to let me know if you'd like to be a part of our group by praying, going, or giving. And if you want to it independent of us, click here to give.