Compassionate choir continues to give to Haiti

By Stephanie Guerilus

Compassion in Action New Jersey, a community choir of more than
50, will be singing at a March 3 benefit for the children of Haiti
and Africa. It will take place at the Enterprise Center, 3331 Route
38, Mt. Laurel, N.J.

The Rev. M.K. Baxter, pastor of the Cathedral of Love Community
Church and the Rev. Jonathan M. Leath, pastor of Destiny Family
Worship Center, formed CNANJ, both located in Willingboro. The two
made acquaintances at a wedding and the idea evolved from
there.

The non-profit organization was created to care for children in
vulnerable countries such as Haiti and Africa.

“When the news reporters left Haiti, just because the camera
lights were turned off, it doesn’t mean that the people of Haiti
were OK. And so we wanted to put more spotlight on the situation in
Haiti and let people know that Haiti still needs help,” Leath
said.

“One thing we really wanted to do was to kind of bring focus
back on Haiti because we realized that a lot of the money that was
promised to Haiti didn’t make it and a lot of Haitians are still in
the same, or worse, conditions than they were after the
earthquake,” Baxter said.

Bishop Charles E. Blake, presiding Bishop of the Church of God
In Christ, Inc., will be the keynote speaker, and gospel artist
Lonnie Hunter will serve as the guest emcee. Baxter relayed that
they hoped to raise at least $30,000, but wanted those in
attendance to find another benchmark of success.

“They can take out of Friday a method or way to help your
brother because we believe that we are our brother’s keepers. And
when we do things right, God will bless us in every way — in every
way that we expect him to bless us if we do the right thing.”

Baxter continued, “Our country is a blessed country … I think
it’s incumbent upon Afro Americans to really take the forefront in
really giving to our brothers and sisters,” he said.