By Lea KAhn
One year after an earthquake leveled the Haitian capital city of Port-au-Prince and nearby Leogane and the church, school buildings and medical clinic of Pastor Luc Deratus’ Harmony Ministries the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville is more determined than ever to help the minister rebuild.
The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville on Main Street has supported Pastor Deratus for more than 20 years.
February has always been Haiti Mission Month at the church. However, the fundraising effort has taken on a new sense of urgency as the congregation which is part of a consortium of churches nationwide seeks to help raise money to tackle Pastor Deratus’ priority list, according to Robyn Park Campbell, the director of children’s ministries.
At the top of the list is the reconstruction of Harmony Ministries’ church in Port-au-Prince, which is estimated to cost $340,000. The new building will be earthquake- and hurricane-proof. The foundation is being laid for the church building now.
The second priority is to rebuild the school in Port-au-Prince, which carries a price tag of about $160,000. Lesser priorities include rebuilding the medical clinic in Port-au-Prince, which could also cost about $160,000, and rebuilding the church and school buildings in Leogane at an estimated combined cost of $310,000.
Despite the devastation, Harmony Ministries was able to clear the rubble within weeks, Ms. Campbell said. Tents were set up and worship services were held. A medical clinic was set up almost immediately, and has been in operation four days a week. The medical clinic and schools are open to all, regardless of a patient’s or student’s affiliation with Harmony Ministries.
”We are working with the Haitians as a team,” Ms. Campbell said.
The congregation in Haiti is supporting the reconstruction efforts, she said. They are working and financing it as well, she said, adding that the construction projects will provide work for unemployed Haitians.
Ms. Campbell said that over the past two decades, the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville has donated about $200,000 to Harmony Ministries. After the earthquake, it raised about $60,000 to help Pastor Deratus’ church. Now, the consortium of churches is sending $4,000 a month to Harmony Ministries $3,000 for food and $1,000 for medicine.
Although prospective donors may be reluctant to give money, Ms. Campbell said, the money that the churches send to Harmony Ministries goes directly to the intended recipients.
Ms. Campbell said progress has been slow for other organizations, but Pastor Deratus has been able to provide a medical clinic and medicine, as well as food and supplies, for his congregants and others in need.
”The earthquake has strengthened our commitment to Harmony Ministries,” Ms. Campbell said. “You may not see a lot of progress (in Haiti) on CNN, but Pastor Luc is making things happen because of the support of the consortium of churches.”

