Hope Lutheran Church is donating a total of 28 pews to a church in Thomassique, Haiti. The church was recently rebuilt after being destroyed by an earthquake that struck the region 10 years ago. Josias Marion and his father, Pastor Michel Jean Claude Marion run the church and the Forde Christian Academy there.
The pews were made available as part of the sanctuary renovation project. The Wisconsin branch of Orphan Grain Train, based in Westfield, Wis., is coordinating their shipment to Haiti.
Orphan Grain Train is a 501c3 Nonprofit Christian volunteer network that shares personal and material resources with needy people around the world. Since its founding in 1992, Orphan Grain Train’s 29 regional locations have delivered more than 36 million meals and 3,973 shipments of humanitarian aid to needy people in several states and 69 countries on 5 continents. It is a recognized service organization (RSO) of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS). Many shipments have been in cooperation with Lutheran Hour Ministries, LCMS World Mission, LCMS World Relief, and other Christian ministries.
“Thank you again for the blessing of this wonderful gift!! The congregation will enjoy sitting on the pews over the benches they are replacing,” said Cathy Robinson, Branch Manager – Orphan Train Wisconsin Branch.
Pastor Enderle said, “My heart abounds in thankfulness to be able to gift our pews and for Orphan Grain Train giving us the contact to make it happen. Also, I should mention the 20 or so members and friends of Hope who showed up on Thursday to load them into the semi. God is good!”