I woke up to a beautiful Arizona morning and an email from a client. The client informed me that the video presentation that I had just completed on the Haiti earthquake and his organization’s disaster relief efforts, made him teary. His final comment was “We’re blessed in the USA! Still…”

Less than an hour later, a business friend sends me a text to inform me that U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords had just been shot and killed. As I tuned in the local news and internet news, I reflected on what my client had just said. My heart was saddened.

How is it that an elected person who had provided a venue where you could sit across the table and talk to her, is shot by one of the very people she is trying to serve? How is it that the people in Haiti are struggling to find substance for survival and today in the USA, people went to the grocery store and will never make it home again?

As I drove past Giffords’ office while running errands this afternoon, a vigil had started with some of the participants hold signs that said to pray. I continued to do so.

Yesterday, these people were not there. I was reminded of the scripture that says:

1 Timothy 2:1

“The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.”

The Message Bible

I would admonish us as a nation to pray for those whose lives will never be the same because of the tragedy that happened today. Also continue to pray for all the people who have committed their lives and resources in service to us. Let’s not let prayer be a response to tragedy or blessings, but a lifestyle of thanksgiving.

January 16th is National Religious Freedom Day, and the National Day of Prayer is fast approaching. Let us acknowledge the importance of these days put in place by our government to unite us as a people, and as a nation. God Bless the USA!

National Religious Freedom Day Public Service Announcement with Jesse Kelly

The Faith on Fire Global Ministries celebrated the New Year by hosting the “Cry for Freedom” Haiti Relief Benefit at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Phoenix.

The event, the brain-child of Sunday Isom, a member of the Faith on Fire Church in Goodyear, was a deviation from the traditional New Year’s Eve service or party. Isom felt the need to address the Haiti devastation as the result of the earthquake almost a year ago.

The purpose of the event was to remind the public that not all is well in Haiti and to reach out to those still hurting there. “Although Haiti is not in the media and news anymore, the people there still need our help,” said Isom.

The funds raised will go to the Tyler Perry Foundation to be distributed for the relief efforts in Haiti.

The benefit had a variety of artists and entertainment. This included music, dance and the spoken word. New-age music, Rap, rock was all represented throughout the evening.

The pastor of the Faith on Fire Church, Dr. Rodney Pearson, prayed for the people of Haiti, the benefit and those in attendance that 2011 will bring a change and the needs of the people would be met.

Those that attended the benefit celebrated making it to the New Year, but understood that they were reaching out so that Haiti could celebrate soon as well.

For more information contact: Faith on Fire Global Ministries at :

Phone:  602-690-1442
Address: 13770 W. Van Buren St. Goodyear,  AZ   85338

Haiti Cry for Freedom Souvenir Book and Photo Album

Video