Pierre Caporal, President of the Haitian Union of the Adventist Church, speaking to members of the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Division (IAD) during the biannual meetings of the IAD held earlier this month in Miami, Florida, drew up a grim assessment of the situation in Haiti

"55 churches have been closed due to the increase in the number of gangs taking over different communities and regions, and this number continues to increase every day

[...] More than 2,000 Adventist families have been displaced, including 18 families of pastors and conference and mission administrators.

The homes of 305 Adventist families were burned by the gangs, meaning they lost all their belongings," Corporal added.

"[...] Some churches are not able to meet in person, but members try to watch online to follow other churches or follow the church service on Radio Voice of Hope," he said. Voice of Hope is the radio station operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church nationwide.

Port-au-Prince and the northwest of the country operate with 40 to 60% of their members, said Mr. Caporal. Some churches meet in tents or rent space, and most churches meet for worship in the afternoon because it is not safe to meet in the evening, he said.

IH/ iciHaiti