United Methodist Relief Executive Dies Before Rescue from Hotel Ruins in Haiti
Posted under: NC Conference(released by the General Board of Global Ministries)
New York, NY, Jan. 16, 2010—The Rev. Dr. Sam Dixon, head of the humanitarian relief agency of The United Methodist Church, died before he could be rescued from the rubble of a hotel destroyed by the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12.
The executive officer of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) was part of a group of mission and relief specialists trapped by the collapse of the Hotel Montana. Other persons in the group of five, including two more from the General Board of Global Ministries, were rescued and were back in the US by the morning of January 16. The group was pinned down for more than 55 hours.
Dixon was reportedly alive in the hotel ruins on the morning of January 15. Confirmation of his death before rescue was conveyed to Global Ministries through several sources, including eyewitnesses from a Methodist guest house in Port-au-Prince, where Dixon and his colleagues had been staying. Frequent press reports throughout the day on January 15 asserting his safety were incorrect.
He and the Rev. Clint Rabb, head of the United Methodist office of mission volunteers, and the Rev. James Gulley, a former missionary and now consultant to UMCOR, were at the hotel for meetings with representatives of other organizations, making plans to improve medical services in Haiti.
“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.”
Bishop Al Gwinn, bishop of the United Methodist Church’s North Carolina Conference, said “This news deeply saddens us. And, our hearts reach out to Cindy, their daughters and the host of friends who have loved and admired Sam. Sam died doing the very thing he loved and was called to do. His work and witness have profoundly influenced our lives and made our world a better place.
Dixon was a native of North Carolina where he served for 24 years as a pastor. He came to the General Board of Global Ministries in 1998 to serve as director of field operations of the non-governmental agency (NGO) section of UMCOR. He then became head of the United Methodist Development Fund and moved up to head the unit on Evangelization and Church Growth. Dixon was tapped to head UMCOR in 2007.
He was officially a deputy general secretary of Global Ministries assigned to UMCOR, where he oversaw programs of emergency relief, long-term disaster recovery, economic development, health services, and peace-building.
Dixon was educated at the University of North Carolina and the Chicago Theological Seminary. He was a member of the North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference of his church. He and his wife have four children and two grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother and three sisters and a host of loving friends.
Additional details, a profile, and tribute to Dixon will follow.
Such tragedy and loss has overwhelmed us. Jeannine and I have and will continue to be in prayer for all those so greatly impacted by this earthquake. The world grieves, the United Methodist Church greives upon hearing of the death of our friend and collegue Sam Dixon.
My condolences to Sam’s family, friends, colleagues, and those he served while in the NC Conference and most recently on behalf of UMCOR. Sam was one of the “good guys” and he was in Haiti as an UMCOR representative because the “least, the last, and the lost” were there, too. In a world where movies are often filled with fictional comic book heroes and cynics disparage every good impulse, Sam reminds us that real heroism sometimes looks deceptively ordinary but is no less amazing and inspiring. Sam’s untimely death is one of many in Haiti being mourned right now and reminds us that UMCOR’s work is more urgent and more important than ever in that devastated and impoverished country. Faith in Action–It’s what Sam exemplified through his ministry and his work with UMCOR and why he was in Haiti. In our grief, we also know that for the many left behind and homeless in Haiti right now, Life goes on. In recognition of their suffering and in memory of Sam, I respectfully invite you to consider a gift to UMCOR as a meaningful way to remember Sam and also demonstrate the power of Hope in the midst of sorrow to a world so in need of heroes like Sam. I plan to do so and invite you to do so, too. Here’s the UMCOR link:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/Umcor/give/manyways/
I am so sadden to hear of the death of Sam Dixon! From the time I learned he was in Haiti, I prayed for his rescue and news of his rescue was so hopeful. In my opinion, he died serving God, his Faith, the United Methodist Church, and humankind. — Eddie Jo Jarrett
For those who want to give a meaningful gift in memory of Sam and also help carry on UMCOR’s vital mission of support and relief in Haiti, here’s the UMCOR webpage dedicated to UMCOR Haiti relief efforts and where you can make your donation in memory of Sam, too. I know. I just did so. I invite you to do so, too. http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760
Sam was a much-loved and appreciated servant of God. The news of his death is crushing, for we have lost a good friend and a faithful leader. In conversation with friends today, I am aware that Sam’s ministry of compassion and generosity toward the poor and the most vulnerable in the world inspires our own loving response to the Haitian victims of the earthquake.
Thanks be to God for Sam Dixon who gave his life for others. He was a gentle giant of a man, loving the least of these everywhere, and a most capable leader who taught the rest of us how to reach out. Following in his steps as pastor of Calvary UMC, I am grateful for his many gifts left behind.
If ever the church and the world needed him, it is now. May God comfort those who mourn his passing, and bring us able leaders to carry forth Sam’s vital work in the world.
Sam was the salt of the NC Conference! Its truest servant. I was honored to serve as his pastor at First UMC Roanoke Rapids. Our prayers and thoughts are with Cindy and family.
RIP Rev. Dixon. Big loss to the Methodist community.
What hope we all had at first! Now, with great grief, we mourn the passing of our brother in the Lord. God blessed all of us with Sam Dixon. May the Lord now bring comfort to Sam’s family as Sam sought to bring comfort to so many others and was doing so when God called him home. Let the church respond in love as Sam always did so that grace, peace, healing, and restoration will prevail.
Sam Dixon led an evangelism workshop at Wake Forest UMC circa 1992 and said that Methodists are basically shy people when it comes to sharing Christ. By his life and death, Sam has shown us what a bold witness to Christ looks like in today’s world. His death asserts the reality and relevance of a purpose driven life for our times. We who knew Sam realize now that we were working along side true greatness. By emptying his life in serving our Savior through the Methodist connection Sam reaffirmed the truism that “The blood of the martyrs is the seedbed of the Church.” -CM
We join the entire people called Methodists in mourning the tragic death of Sam Dixon. Indeed, as a Filipino who witnessed countless life-and-death situation, Sam’s death and many other whose lives are offered in defense of “the lost, the last, and the least” will not be in vain. Spring will come and will bring forth hope and transformation in the midst of a hopeless and broken world.
Sam Dixon showed by outstanding example how we United Methodists (actually all Christians) are called to be the hands and feet of Christ to the world. O, that we answer the call! Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
I was very fortunate to have known Sam Dixon when he was assigned to his first church Carroll’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Sneads Ferry NC. He was a great with our youth and our older church members loved him. He visited the sick and stayed in touch with our church returning many times for our annual homecomings. When I lost my mother we asked him to come to be with us to be part of the service and he did not hesitate to come.
I knew Sam would accomplish great things with the conference. He told me back then his goal with the ministry was have a position in the Methodist conference. I am very sad Sam died and I know he inspired many people along the way and there will be many of those to carry on
his compassion for mankind.