VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABP) -- American Baptist Churches USA organizations have given more than $1.2 million for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, the American Baptist News Service reported March 12.

Two months after the Jan. 12 earthquake that jolted the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, gifts from American Baptist congregations and individuals totaled $1,280,324, the news release said. That includes $325,093 given to earthquake relief through International Ministries, the denomination's global-missions arm.

In addition to the Haiti response, International Ministries released $20,000 for aid following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake Feb. 27 in Chile. Barbara and Dwight Bolick, American Baptist missionaries assigned to Chile, were in the United States when the quake occurred. Now that flights have been reopened to Chile, they planned to return March 15.

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