Hello. This is Rob Thompson emailing you. This is clearly not about me, but yes, it’s me! Hello! You haven’t heard from me in 5+ years. I’m not officially serving with RMI, but RMI has given their blessing to this effort. I’m currently a pastor in NJ. Yet, I love my brothers and sisters in Haiti. I can’t stand by any longer. I have to do something. Something tangible. Something that moves the needle. I believe in a bright future for Haiti. I love what the team is doing. What I’m seeing from a distance burdens me deeply. I’m sure it does the same to you. This is my chance to make a difference. It’s our chance. Let’s do this together.
Problem: Our friends in Haiti are struggling financially. You’ve seen the news. Gangs control the country because they control Port au Prince. Inflation is out of control. The exchange rate is terrible. Security concerns and fuel shortages are commonplace. The cost of goods have skyrocketed. The RMI Office facilities are in disrepair from an earthquake. People, our people, my people are hurting. You may know them... Benjamin, Benson, Perguens, Frantz, Merry, Naga, and the list goes on and on. Basically no teams for more than 4 years! Yes, it’s beyond difficult. Benjamin shared with me that the financial crisis they are facing is like nothing they’ve ever experienced.
Solution: We’ve set the audacious goal of raising $200,000 to directly support the Haiti Team. Yes, that’s a lot of money. Why? We’re calling up an army of generous churches and people like you and me to come alongside our brothers and sisters in Haiti, standing in the gap between what currently exists, and what can be. These funds will go directly to staff (payroll adjustments and benefits) and infrastructure (buildings and equipment) in Cayes, Haiti. Together, we can help continue the work in Haiti. Can you help?
Rob Thompson, Associate Pastor, Beacon Church
RMI has asked Rob Thompson, our former Haiti Field Director, who continues to have a great heart for RMI and the Haiti field to champion RMI’s “Stand in the Gap” fundraising campaign. This campaign is to help RMI augment the Haiti field budget for this next year. Since 2019, churches have been unable to send teams to visit their Sister Churches in Haiti because of the political upheaval within the country. This has caused a major decrease in our income for the Haiti field needs because revenue from church teams normally covers about 50% of Haiti's operational expenses. On top of this, the costs for goods and services have skyrocketed in Haiti, elevating our costs often by 3 to 5 times what we used to pay a couple of years ago. This shortage has compelled RMI to subsidize the Haiti budget by thousands of dollars a month over these last 5 years from our very limited reserves. These reserves are just about exhausted now. We had hoped that Haiti would have opened up to free-flowing teams by now, but that has not happened. Thus we are asking you to “stand in the gap” with us to help us cover these needs.
Up to this moment, the Haiti field has been able, through our subsidies and being as conservative as they can in terms of expenses, to continue to fully meet their ministry goals. Hope For Kidz is fully staffed and continues to have a major impact on the schools and families of sponsored children. Our partnership facilitators continue to manage our C3 partnerships, enabling projects and ministries to continue to be completed. We are feeding just under 16,000 kids a day in our Hot Lunch Program. Thus far we have not had to lay off any employees. In reality, much of our cost increases are over and above our salaries, however, due to tremendously high inflation, we are having to augment salaries as well to properly care for our employees and their families. Hence, the need for this campaign.
We have noted that a number of folks have questioned the text messages they received from Rob concerning this campaign. Yes, they are legit! We have upgraded some of our software which now permits us to text you. Many of you have indicated that you would prefer to receive texts, and we are now able to do this. This gives you a quick, easy way to give. No, we aren’t going to inundate you with messages, but you will receive texts informing you of what is happening in RMI from time to time as well as urgent requests for prayer or urgent needs (like this) that RMI might have. Thanks for your understanding and prayers. Especially thanks to those of you who are standing in the gap with us.
By the way, since this campaign started 3 weeks ago, over $55,000 has been raised!! Praise God.
