Michael W. Smith - Come Together Now, Music City Unites for Haiti (vid)

From Michael W. Smith's Website
(NASHVILLE, TENN.) January 28, 2010 - Yesterday at Belmont University's Ocean Way Studios, multi-platinum, GRAMMY and Dove Award winning artist, Michael W. Smith gathered a who's-who list from the music community to record "Come Together Now." The song, penned by Smith, David Mullen and Cindy Morgan - and produced by Bryan Lenox - was written to remind people of the need to help those in Haiti.

"The crisis in Haiti has left us all trying to figure out how we can help," shares Smith. "We wanted to create something that the community could support, for the greater good of those in Haiti. Everyone gave of their time: the studio was donated, the musicians donated their time and all proceeds from this song will go to designated charity/relief work through The American Red Cross and Samaritan's Purse. It's incredible to be part of something that is going to help so many people."

In addition to lending their voices in song, several artists also recorded PSA's for The American Red Cross and Samaritan's Purse for use in upcoming months.

Contributing artists include: Aaron Shust, Alathea, Amber Hezlep, Anthony Moreino, Anthony Skinner, Ashley Cleveland, Austins Bridge, B. Reith, Brady Toops, Brandon Heath, Britt Nicole, Byron Chambers, Calvin Nowell, Charmaine, Chris McClarney, Chris Sligh, Chuck Girard, Dana Jorgensen, Darwin Hobbs, David Mullen, Don Poythress, Donovan Tea, Dorothy Savage, Duane Allen, Echoing Angels, Everlife, Francesca Battistelli, Greg Jennings, Hillary McBride, Jaime Jamgochian, Jared Anderson, Jasmine Sagginario, Jason Baird, Jason Dunn, Jimmie Allen, Jody Davis, John Ford Coley, John Schlitt, Joseph Martino, Julia Ross, Justin Rivers, Kate Lazar, Kate Schettler, The Katinas, Kevin Max, Kirk Sullivan, Lara Landon, Lanae Hale, Lannie Anderson, Lee Greenwood, Mandisa, Manic Drive, Margaret Becker, Mark Hall and Megan Garrett of Casting Crowns, Matt Dowley, Matthew West, Matt Maher, Melinda Doolittle, Meredith Andrews, Michael Cavallo, Michael Olson, Michael Tait, Michael Tash, MIKESCHAIR, Mike Weaver, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen, The Oak Ridge Boys, Paige Armstrong, Phil Stacey, Point of Grace, PureNRG, Rachael Lampa, Rachel B. James, Reco Hight, Restless Heart, Ruben Mundo, Russ Mohr, Sarah Ross, Sarah Sadler, Selah, Shannon Cochran, Shawn Cavallo, Stephanie Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Terrence James, TobyMac, Tommy Coomes, Travis Cottrell, Trey Heffinger, Wynonna, and Yellow Cavalier. (Artist list subject to change.)

The song will be made available for sale soon, with all proceeds going to benefit relief efforts to Haiti. More details on the song's release date are forthcoming.

Haitian Orphans and Baptists

This is a messy confusing story, and the facts are at best muddy. Part of the problem is the Jurassic Press which has gone no farther with the story than some Baptists went to Haiti, kidnapped some orphans, and were trying to smuggle them out of the country.

Here are some details that have emerged. The Baptists are from Idaho, and came from two congregations as far as I can tell. From their website:

A ten member church team traveled to Haiti to help rescue children from one or more orphanages that had been devastated in the earthquake on January 12. The children were being taken to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic where they could be cared for and have their medical and emotional needs attended to. Our team was falsely arrested today and we are doing everything we can from this end to clear up the misunderstanding that has occurred in Port au Prince.

The Baptists had an existing program in place for orphans, and were using that agency, New Life Children’s Refuge, formed before the earthquake. The children, according to the Baptists, were being taken to a temporary refuge in the Dominican Republic, where arrangements for their care had been made, at a hotel. When they had reached the border, they were told they were missing a document, and went back to get it. That's when they were arrested for child trafficking and kidnapping. Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive: "We did not arrest Americans, we arrested kidnappers."

Apparently they were working with a Haitian pastor named Jean Sanbil of Sharing Jesus Ministries, according to the AP. Again, apparently, Sanbil had made the arrangements for the housing of the orphans in the Dominican Republic. So far the Jurassic Press has not interviewed Sanbil, Dominican Republic officials, or the staff of the hotel. Can I have a job Jurassic Press? I promise I'll do actual reporting. What a concept. Good grief.

The most information so far can be found at SBC Baptist Press site.

Right now the Baptists are being held with no charges, in dank concrete rooms. Here we have Americans that were most likely trying to help, with the aid of some Haitians, to protect some kids. I don't expect anything competent to come out of the Obama State Department or Justice Department, but allowing Americans to be treated like this is just short of criminal. $Billions have been poured into this corrupt country, and the personal generosity from Americans is stunning post earthquake, and our government doesn't walk up to their corrupt dictator that we've been supporting, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, and say we're taking custody of these people? Do not say a thing Bellerive, this is the way it is. Object and you're toast.

By the way, just showing an alternative perception, here's some comments from some Leftist anti-American anti-Christian hate site call The Raw Story.

"As I've already commented, these Kristian Krusaders were kidnapping children for the international sex trade. Apparently, there is more “justice” available in a decimated Haiti than in what's left of amerika. And if some old man sitting on a cloud convinced them their actions were appropriate, I suggest he should be shot down."

"They are firmly convinced that taking children away from their parents and raising them as crazed Jesus freaks is good for them. “Them” meaning the kidnappers themselves of course.
God damn these religious fucks all over the world. It really doesn't matter whether they're christian or moslem or jew or hindu or scientologist. They are all EVIL."

"Fanatical religious extremists from the USA going in to Haiti to steal children, have it easy because of the military invasion of Haiti which followed the earthquake. But there is much more to the Haiti story than the crimes of these pigs. The whole country is under occupation by our military, and virtually nobody is questioning that."

"The long standing open secret about oil in Haiti is not being covered by corporate American media. Online news sources known for their Obama propagandizing are not covering this Obma led invasion.
So neither the so called right or left is getting substantive news on Haiti.
The numerous complaints against the Obama 'rescue plan' being run by W Bush and Bill Clinton, are also not being reported."

Do any rational people believe that Baptists working with Orphans are doing so because they are really slavers selling kids into the international sex trade? Good grief. Sounds like the Prime Minister of Haiti agrees with these knuckleheads quoted above, and because of the lack of action by our president, he may think so to.

Who let the kooks out?

Pat Robertson, Please Shut Up

Pat Robertson made the following statement following the Haiti earthquake. [Hatians] "were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever.” “And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, ‘We will serve you if you will get us free from the French.’ True story. And so, the devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal.’"

The anti-Christian bigot Jurassic press just loves this stuff. Goes to show, don't ya know, what a bunch of idiots and buffoons Christians are. Robertson has done many good things, but his inane utterings are hurtful to the perception of Christians.

Here's a 'rest of the story' moment. What Robertson was referring to was a legend. The leader of the Haitian revolution against the French, Jean Jacques Dessalines, made a pact with the devil (disguised as a voodoo god) to run the French out.

It's nonsense of course. Robertson shouldn't have said it. He shouldn't be talking about making hurricanes change direction because of prayers, or any natural disaster. At this point in his career, he shouldn't be saying much about anything. He should just be continuing his good works, which are huge and effective, and preach the Word. Other than that...