One million people existing in a tent city...life giving water tainted by disease...violence being perpetrated on innocent women and children under cover of darkness...orphans wandering alone...aid, in the form of the very resources needed, inaccessible because of the corruption of authority...and hope.

This is the present situation in Haiti. It's what you see with earthly eyes. The poorest nation in the western hemisphere, Haiti has a history of bondage from its very beginnings: bondage from slavery, bondage from economic debt, bondage to hunger and helplessness in the wake of nature's fury. It's REALITY. And yet, there is a relatively small group of people who somehow have the ability to dream, who have hope and the courage to act. What do they see that others don't or can't?

Today, our Ballantyne staff read Matthew 8 and contemplated what Jesus' disciples experienced in that boat on the lake near Capernaum. They rocked and sloshed through the waves of a pounding storm, and they were assaulted by fear. As their boat was being swamped, they called out to Jesus for rescue. Chaos reigned in their situation and the reality of the moment had overtaken them. Yet Jesus, with one action, rebuked the chaos and ushered in calm.

It struck me this afternoon driving down Park Road, that Haiti is a microcosm of all of human history. We are living in a temporary home. The disease of sin infected our life. We were all orphans. And the healing aid of the Gospel is attacked by the ruler of this fallen world as he fights to keep us from receiving its transforming power. Simply put, we were in bondage...and there is Hope. Hope in the person of Jesus who lives in the ultimate reality that He is reigning, restoring, and redeeming us from the chaos we experience. Jesus came to Earth to inaugurate His kingdom of light and hope. And He left us to continue the work as His body. We are to bring Hope into the darkest parts of the world as his ambassadors armed with His power.

And so Forest Hill Ballantyne is going to Haiti and bringing with us this Hope that the same God who restored peace in a tempest 2000 years ago, wants to do it again. My desire is that whether you are getting on the plane with us, supporting us through prayer or donations, or just watching to see what happens, we'll all be changed. I am so excited about what God is up to in our faith community and I'm thrilled to be on this journey with you.

Jason