My Dear Friends and Neighbors:
By now you have heard of the devastation and tragedy that has befallen our neighbors in Haiti. My heart is grieved to see human beings experiencing such suffering and misery. I have been moved to declare this Sunday, January 24, 2010 – Bless Haiti Day. Our local assembly will not only offer special prayers for the victims (as we have been for the past several days), but we will also collect a sacrificial offering to forward to the non-profit organization, Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) Charities.
The Presiding Bishop of the Church Of God In Christ, Bishop Charles Edward Blake, Sr., as well as Bishop Ted Thomas, Prelate of Virginia’s First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, has called upon our denomination to make a special sacrifice during this most crucial time. Because of the urgency, we have been asked to forward all monies to COGIC Charities no later than January 29, 2010.
The Scriptures are laden with messages that admonish us to take quick and decisive action. Romans 15:1 states, we that are strong must bear the infirmities of the weak. When Cain was asked by the Lord where his brother Abel was, Cain responded by asking was he his brother’s keeper. Years later Jesus answered this question when he told the parable of the Good Samaritan. The Apostle James, also the brother of Jesus, tells us that pure religion is visiting orphans and widows when they are in need (James 1:27).
The Church Of God In Christ has a long and rich history in the ministry of Missions. Not only is there an established “Home and Foreign Missions” auxiliary, but our founding father, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, traveled the globe preaching Holiness and witnessing to the down-trodden and impoverished. Our present Presiding Bishop Blake has made Missions and Education a focal point of his administration. Just this past September, Bishop Thomas and Virginia’s First Jurisdiction raised more than $50,000 for the Save Africa’s Children organization.
Our local church has a mind for Missions as well. From the 2004 Tsunami, to Hurricane Katrina of 2005, to distributing food baskets to 
families in need, to our first annual Turkey-Give-Away, Holiness Tabernacle has been an active participant in reaching out to those in need – and we will do the same in this crisis.
I want to invite you to join us in supporting our brothers and sisters in Haiti. If you cannot join us on this Sunday, January 24th for our Bless Haiti Day, you can send your contribution to our post office box, or select the “Donate Now” icon. Please note EVERY DOLLAR WE RECEIVE WILL GO TO COGIC Charities. In fact, if you select the “Donate Now” icon, you will be redirected to the Church Of God In Christ official web site, www.cogic.com.
Please join us as we do what the Lord requires of us – we are laborers together.
I bless you in the name of the Lord.
I remain,
Your servant in Christ
Pastor E. B Pruitte, Jr.