September 21, 2012

ELGIN, IL – The Church of the Brethren's Haiti Medical Project has issued an update on efforts to raise an endowment fund to support mobile medical clinics in Haiti, as the project approaches the one-year mark.

The effort is supported by the denomination's Global Mission and Service program. Leading the project are Brethren physicians including Paul Ullom-Minnich of central Kansas and other church members and congregations concerned to provide basic healthcare to Haitian Brethren communities, such as former Mission and Ministry Board chair Dale Minnich.

Ullom-Minnich, who was part of a Brethren medical delegation to Haiti shortly after the devastating 2010 earthquake, traveled to the Caribbean nation again Sept. 18 to meet with Haitian church leaders and physicians who are helping to provide mobile clinics. The clinics are being held in neighborhoods around congregations of L'Eglise des Freres Haitiens (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti).

In a recent e-mail to friends of the project, Ullom-Minnich reported that "a total of $20,591 has been raised for endowment." The short-term goal for the endowment is to raise $300,000 in five years. Separately, $32,250 has been received in 2012 for the current year's need. The project aims to raise an additional $30,000 per year to meet current operating expenses for the mobile clinics.

So far, about $12,000 has been spent to provide 10 clinics. Several more clinics are planned for coming months, with an overall goal to hold about 16 clinics a year in Haiti.

"All of this is fantastic, considering we are just nine months into this project," Ullom-Minnich commented. "I am thrilled with the participation of so many individuals and groups. A special committee in Pennsylvania, dedicated to building the endowment, recently hosted an event with participation of 64 individuals from 6 different congregations! This group aims to raise $150,000 for the endowment in their region.

"A recent gift of almost $10,000 came from the Chiques Church of the Brethren, through Brethren World Mission. This foundation has set a goal of $100,000 (for operating expenses) over the next five years. Several churches across the nation are in the process of discerning whether they might also set five-year goals. The McPherson Church of the Brethren youth group has started planning a fundraising dinner for this fall, and I know many other efforts and plans are forming. Thank you all for the work and prayer you have contributed."

Newsline: Church of the Brethren New Service