Pocono News Section

Pastor Organizes Mission Trip to Haiti

Pastor Organizes Mission Trip to Haiti - Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 5:35PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010 @ 05:35pm EST
SNYDERSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY - Pastor John Laurent established two churches in Haiti. He doesn't know if they're still standing. He doesn't know if his fellow pastors survived the quake. He said, "I have four pastors - I didn't hear from them yet and this is why I cannot sleep."

Pastor Laurent runs the Christian Life Healing Center in Snydersville. He was leading a prayer service when he heard about the disaster. He instantly thought of his 12 year old son Davidson. It was several days before he learned the boy survived. He explained, "Homeless but he is alive. And most of my people are alive. I thank God."

To show his thanks and help victims, the pastor organized a mission trip. He said, "I feel it is very important to go and touch souls." He's inviting others to join him. He said, "People who are nurses, doctors, first aid responders."

Minister Cooper Marotta hpes to go. He said, "I wasn't sure what to do it's such a big tragedy. It's hard to know at first."

Donors have dropped off dozens of bags of clothes - the church says it has plenty of that now - what it really needs is cash. Pastor Nidia Gonzalez said, "Money is what is going to buy the food - water - medical supplies."

Church leaders said if you can't join the mission trip you can still help change lives. Pastor Laurent said, "When you help someone to go - it's you going."

Contact Pastor Laurent at 973-518-0557. The church website is .