Two UMCOR mission personnel die of earthquake-related injuries
1/17/2010
By Linda Bloom, United Methodist News Service
 |
| The Rev. Dr. Sam Dixon |
The Rev. Dr. Sam Dixon, head of the humanitarian relief agency of The United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Clinton Rabb, 60, who organized mission volunteers for the church, have died as a result of injuries sustained during the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.
Earlier, both men had been reported rescued from the rubble of the Montana Hotel in Port-au-Prince after having been trapped for some 55 hours. On Jan. 16, officials at the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries confirmed that Dixon had died before he could be rescued.
Rabb had finally been freed by French rescue workers and airlifted to Florida later on Jan. 15, where he had remained in critical condition. Family members, including his wife, the Rev. Suzanne Field-Rabb, arrived there on the afternoon of Jan. 16. He died Sunday morning, Jan. 17.
Rabb and Dixon were part of a group of six church-related aid workers who were meeting at the Montana Hotel when the earthquake occurred on Jan. 12. Four others – the Rev. James Gulley, an UMCOR consultant; Sarla Chand, a United Methodist with IMA World Health; and two of her co-workers, Rick Santos and Ann Varghese -- returned home on Jan. 15.
Rabb, a clergy member of the Southwest Texas Conference, has served with the board’s Mission Volunteer unit since July 2006 and has been on the agency staff since 1995. During a span of almost 20 years as a pastor and chaplain in Texas, Rabb was engaged in domestic and international Volunteers in Missions teams.
 |
| Rev. Clinton Rabb |
As deputy general secretary of Global Ministries assigned to UMCOR, Dixon, a native of North Carolina, oversaw programs of emergency relief, long-term disaster recovery, economic development, health services, and peace-building.
"Sam Dixon was a tireless servant of the church of Jesus Christ on behalf of all of us," said Bishop Joel N. Martinez, interim general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries."His death is an incalculable loss to Global Ministries, UMCOR and our worldwide ministry of relief to God's most vulnerable children. Our directors and staff extend their condolences to Sam's wife, Cindy, their children, and their wider circle of friends and colleagues."
Bishop Janice Huie of Texas, president of UMCOR, said that Dixon "was an extremely gifted minister of the Gospel. He lived his life following the commandments of Jesus to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and love the least of these - all over the world. Jesus is holding him dear, and we are in prayer for his family."
A bio, more information and updates will be available at the General Board of Global Ministries web site.
Bishop Janice Huie of Texas, president of UMCOR, said that Dixon "was an extremely gifted minister of the Gospel. He lived his life following the commandments of Jesus to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and love the least of these - all over the world. Jesus is holding him dear, and we are in prayer for his family."
A bio, more information and updates will be available at the General Board of Global Ministries web site.