Comments on: Christian Group Gives Aid to Haitians, but Leader Wants Something in Return

By: RJ

RJ — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:53:00 +0000

Are you implying that the only people who can think for themselves are athiests? if so, you are more narrow minded then you would likely wish to consider…

By: Keshet

Keshet — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:50:00 +0000

You are right–but I will add one more thing–it MISquotes this particular Pastor, and it does so intentionally in order to spin the story. Gd bless!

By: Keshet

Keshet — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:48:00 +0000

I traveled with Pastor Frank to Haiti and fed 1 million orphans, hungry children, single mothers, and families in need-regardless of their faith or religious practices last summer. I am a Jewish woman and accompanied him, not to fulfill a religious purpose, but to help those who were in need. May I ask, what have you done to help people in need recently? Why are you so quick to judge others who you do not even know while you sit masked behind a computer? Religion aside, actions speak louder than words, and from where I am standing you seem like a coward. Why don’t you get up, get going, and DO something for someone else today–someone who you don’t know who has less than you do? Sacrifice your own comforts and your own direct needs and then come back and talk to me. Tell me how easy it was to judge the incentives of others who go out into the world and serve those in need. Who use their own dollar to transport relief supplies, food, and other essentials across great distances–not to mention, sacrifice their time, welfare, safety and comforts. Pastor Frank could have just as easily sat at home with his family, watching news of the destruction in Haiti on the TV. Instead, he went out there and did something about it. By the way, the specific article that you are basing your entire (invalid and untrue) argument on was GROSSLY misquoted. Pastor Frank was interviewed by an AP reporter, who was relaxing poolside at a luxury hotel, while he slept on the floor in a shack with the rest of the majority of Haitians who had just lost everything they had ever known (which wasn’t much to start off with). This particular reporter warped the truth to use what she needed to get a story out that she knew would sell. She took Pastor Frank’s kindness and trust, his willingness to speak with her, for granted and made a mockery out of his servitude. If I had been in his shoes, I would never have offered to speak with an American reporter enjoying a “holiday” in the midst of chaos. But that’s just cynical me. As an experienced reporter, I can say that it is people like this who are the ones to condemn–those willing to lie and directly hurt others for the sole purpose of making a buck. By doing so, this particular reporter not only did the public the great disservice of lying to them and misreporting what was actually happening on the ground in Haiti, but she also committed the atrocity of viciously, and knowingly, incriminating a man who she had witnessed doing good for others. In going to Haiti, on, not one, but many, continuous trips to serve the needy (despite their proclaimed faith or religious ties) sacrificed, and continues to sacrifice, his own interests and resources for the purpose of serving others, despite certain trials and hardships. Even though this AP reporter scorned him, he turned around and brought meals to the hungry, to feed many children baptized voodoo, many struggling families, the elderly and much more. Not once did he ask them their beliefs before granting them supplies. Now that you know the facts, I truly hope you reconsider the validity of your sources before further incriminating people that you A) Do not know and B) Seek to make a general example out of. Just because you are writing on a blog doesn’t protect you from the scrutiny of others who actually know the facts and personally know the people who you are slandering…and we will hold you accountable in the future! Have a wonderful day!

By: ckottyboy

ckottyboy — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 23:13:53 +0000

The article quotes only ONE little-known leader who ministers to the needy in Haiti. MOST Christian organizations do NOT support this view, assisting anyone in need, Christian or otherwise. Unlike atheists, Christians do believe that there is life after death, and a God to answer to, so an eternal, spiritual dimension is essential for us; people can choose to accept it or reject our message. Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach him to fish and he can feed himself for a lifetime, but, sooner or later, that person will die. If they are not prepared “to meet their Maker”, there will be “hell to pay”, literally. We don’t do this for brownie points, but because of our love for our fellow man and God. While some say they don’t support Christian organizations for fear of them sending “Bibles and ministers”, I only support organizations that do.

By: JJR

JJR — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:46:48 +0000

Hemant, your suggestion is in line with what contemporary Catholic missionaries do; they are sometimes less straightforwardly obnoxious than their Protestant counterparts; On the other hand, the whole anti-condom thing facilitating the spread of AIDS in Africa is unforgivable, so I suppose I should say that they find a different, more round about way to be obnoxious dicks than their Protestant counterparts.

By: ckitching

ckitching — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:45:00 +0000

At least they're not burning alive those they believe are practising witchcraft. I guess it's a small improvement. Can it really be considered charity if there are strings and conditions attached?

By: AxeGrrl

AxeGrrl — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:59:28 +0000

Ron in Houston wrote:

“Christian charity” is a big oxymoron. I mean seriously, are you truly being charitable if you’re trying to score points with some “God” or hoping that you’re winning your way into some glorious afterlife?

“True charity” is in my mind a lot like “unconditional love.” Both are wonderful concepts and goals that people should strive to attain. However, truly achieving them is quite difficult in practice

Exactly.

Can’t people leave their ideology at the door for ONCE when something horrific like this happens and just HELP people….simply because it’s the right thing to do?

It’s like John Travolta flying his plane down there with supplies, etc (that’s wonderful John, it really is) ~ but why did he have to taint the whole thing by bringing Scientology ‘minsters’ with him?

(sigh)

By: Ron in Houston

Ron in Houston — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:12:54 +0000

“Christian charity” is a big oxymoron. I mean seriously, are you truly being charitable if you’re trying to score points with some “God” or hoping that you’re winning your way into some glorious afterlife?

“True charity” is in my mind a lot like “unconditional love.” Both are wonderful concepts and goals that people should strive to attain. However, truly achieving them is quite difficult in practice.

By: Angie

Angie — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:12:17 +0000

This phenomenon is why I refuse to support Samaritan’s Purse. While Samaritan’s Purse does a LOT of positive aid work for disaster victims, refugees, and people living in poverty, they do use charity as an opportunity to proselytize. For example, one of SP’s most popular programs is “Operation Christmas Child”, in which donors can put together shoe boxes filled with toys and toilletries for disadvanted children worldwide. Sounds noble, right? The problem is that SP distributes Christian gospel booklets to the young recipients when they give out the boxes. I think proselytizing to children is unethical to begin with, but proselytizing to emotionally vulnerable children who have been traumatized by war, natural disasters, or poverty is repugnant.

To see what I’m talking about, visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/OCC_Impact/

If you want to help people in need, there are plenty of non-religious charities to whom you can send donations. That’s what I do to make sure that my funds are not going toward unethical proselytizing efforts.

TIM D — Great Bible quote!

MUGGLE — I’m sorry to hear that you had bad experiences with Christian “charity”. No one should be expected to submit to indoctrination just because they accepted help during a difficult time. Kudos for standing your ground.

By: Mags

Mags — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:09:53 +0000

Thanks for pointing this out, but it’s their money, and they can do whatever they want with it.