African-American Baptists Donate $500,000 to Habitat for Humanity for Housing in Haiti

ATLANTA, June 10 -- The African-American Baptist Mission  Collaboration (AABMC) presented a check for $500,000 to Habitat for  Humanity International in Atlanta, GA., as a part of their commitment to  help Haitians rebuild their lives and communities. This contribution is  the largest single donation given to Habitat by a faith community for  its Haiti earthquake-recovery efforts.

Presidents from Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention;  National Baptist Convention, USA; National Baptist Convention of  America; National Missionary Baptist Convention of America; and the  Progressive National Baptist Convention were on hand for the  presentation. The Baptist communities came together in January of this  year and formed the African-American Baptist Mission Collaboration to  create an opportunity to more effectively respond to the devastation in  Haiti after the earthquake. The partnership with Habitat is one of the  first to fulfill that mission.

"We are inspired to invest in this ministry for housing solutions,  because we are following the teachings of Jesus who said that when we  feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give shelter to those without  shelter that we do this for him. We do this for Jesus, and we do this  for those who suffer in Haiti," said Dr. Stephen John Thurston,  president, National Baptist Convention of America.

"Habitat is currently providing housing solutions for families in  Haiti recovering from January's earthquake," said Mike Carscaddon,  executive vice president, Habitat for Humanity International. "Our  overall goal is to serve approximately 50,000 families in Haiti,  including approximately 3,000 in the town of Cabaret. This significant  gift from the AABMC will be used for our work in Cabaret to help 630  families have shelter."

The African-American Baptist Mission Collaboration represents more  than 10 million Christians in the United States, most of whom are of  African-American heritage. For more information on AABMC, contact Dr.  David Emmanuel Goatley regarding the group effort at (202) 543-3200 or degoatley@aol.com.

About Habitat for Humanity InternationalHabitat  for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that  welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating  poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built,  rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide,  providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75  million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.