By Lebanon Daily Record
LEBANON—David Arnold has been the ordained pastor of Candock Baptist Church on Route AA in Lebanon for the past 25 years, and he has been ministering to the needs of Haiti for 32 years.
“I have been going to Haiti since 1978 on short-term mission trips,” he said. “Sometimes I go once a year, sometimes twice. But since the (recent) earthquake, the guide that we work with is Paul Harringan. We have, through him, a little over 30 churches and 30 schools. We have a hospital and an orphanage, too.”
Arnold also said Harringan is a respected Haitian who has been asked to run for president, but declined in order to better serve the Lord.
Arnold is president of Work Maranatha Mission, a Haitian ministry which is based in Lebanon and Oklahoma. He is actively involved in collecting basic medicine and hygiene supplies.
He said that people are fleeing the capital city of Port-Au-Prince to head toward the northwest part of the country to escape deplorable conditions. Unfortunately, the northwest does not have the resources to sustain the mass exodus out of the city due to a drought it has experienced over the last few years, he said.
Arnold has immediate plans to go into Haiti, depending on when he is allowed to go.
“We are looking to send more clothes and food in the future,” he said.
Arnold said for those Missourians who want to give for the relief of Haiti’s citizens, his ministry would be a good choice.
“With the government and other organizatians, there is so much overhead and expense,” he said. “Yet with Maranatha, it is in our bylaws that there is no paid staff. We spend all the money on supplies and transport. Right to the end, we know where it goes.”
Those wishing to give to Haiti through Maranatha can contact Arnold at (573) 588-1289.