Our conversation made me think about the Greek word that is often used in the Gospels to describe Jesus. In most English Bibles, this word is usually translated “Savior,” which makes us think it is a spiritual term. But the word, soter, could just as easily be translated “Healer.” Similarly, whenever the Bible reports Jesus telling someone, “Your faith has saved you,” it could read, “Your faith has healed you.” Salvation and healing are one and the same, or at least so intimately related to one another that the language didn’t distinguish between the two.

Now, I am not in any way saying that I want to send preachers to Haiti to tell people about Jesus as their medical and physical needs go unaddressed. And yet I would love for people in Haiti to be treated as whole persons, with physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. I would love for them to experience healing-salvation, a restoration to health for the whole person and the whole community.

As to the question of where we’ll send our money? I brought it up with a group of friends from church last night. Some recommended Partners in Health (and I also recommend the book, Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder, for anyone who wants to learn more). Others World Vision. One friend said, “All things being equal, that is, assuming that a specifically Christian organization is doing an equally effective and excellent job as a non-religious one, I’d give my money to the Christian organization.” He recommended Cross World and World Relief. I tend to agree, again, not with hopes for proselytizing in the streets, but with hopes that a Christian doctor would not only perform an amputation, but also pray for her patient. So, the check is going in the mail, and I will continue to pray for the healing-salvation of individuals, families, and the nation of Haiti.