Lead singer Aaron Morgan shared his thoughts from the Christian band’s recent trip to Haiti, and in particular how the Miriam Center touched his family.

The band Seabird has quickly made its presence known on the national Christian music scene since its first album debuted in 2008. Since then, the Cincinnati-based group’s music has been featured on radio stations across the country and on television outlets including MTV, CBS and ABC (their songs have been used as themes in hit television series including Grey’s Anatomy, Pushing Daisies and Numb3rs). Seabird has toured solo and with groups including NeedToBreathe, David Crowder Band and Jars of Clay.

Morgan poses with children at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. Photo courtesy Aaron Morgan.

In June, Seabird visited Northwest Haiti Christian Mission as part of a trip with Help Heal Haiti, a division of Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. The group visited NWHCM’s multi-faceted ministries and has been an advocate for the mission’s work at concerts and other venues. Seabird’s lead vocalist Aaron Morgan recently answered a few questions for Northwest Haiti Christian Mission’s media director Andy Olsen about their experience.

NWHCM: Why did Seabird decide to visit Haiti?
AM: My dad is a missionary and inspired me to go to Youth With A Mission right out of high school. YWAM is where I really fell in love with world missions and traveling abroad. When I started the band I had always hoped to use our music to get us into countries that might otherwise be closing their doors to Christianity. This is something I’m still very passionate about, so when the opportunity to go with HelpHealHaiti was presented I immediately wanted to make it work.

NWHCM: Was what you found in Haiti different than what you expected?
AM: I expected Haiti to be more island-ish, if you will. And it was in parts, but it reminded me a lot of Ghana, Africa. Not just because of the people but because of the way people live and work. The buildings and homes also reminded me of my time in Ghana. I also expected to see more of the Voodoo and spiritual oppression than we did. I can remember being in Malaysia and feeling a spiritual heaviness, but I didn’t experience that as much in Haiti. Even while visiting the Voodoo temple it seemed like more of a scam than anything real or powerful. Men were talking on their cell phones while accepting money from villagers waiting to pray to the voodoo doll they believe fell from the sky.

NWHCM: Tell about a moment of experience that you had in Haiti that was powerful for you or that made a lasting impression.
AM: When my wife Celeste and I visited the Miriam Center (special needs orphanage) for the first time it was difficult for me to hold back the tears. I was introduced to a little 4 year old girl who couldn’t walk or talk mostly because of malnourishment. My daughter London just turned 4 and my heart was broken thinking about what it must be like to have a disabled child because you don’t have enough food to keep them healthy. That was something I’ll never forget. The kids in the Miriam Center are so well taken care of, but the need there is still so great.

NWHCM: What, if any, plans does Seabird have for increased involvement in Haiti?
AM: We have been speaking about our trip to Haiti at our performances and have been selling HelpHealHaiti shirts to help support what the NWHCM is doing there. We’ll also be coordinating with HelpHealHaiti director Brent Bramer to organize a benefit concert later this year.

NWHCM: In what ways did the trip affect your faith or walk with God?
AM: This trip was an excellent reminder for me to be thankful to God for all the little things in life. It’s so incredibly easy to be ungrateful when things don’t go our way. But to see the way the Christians in Haiti give thanks to God for all things really puts things into perspective.

NWHCM: Bands and celebrities visit Haiti and other distressed countries all the time. Why do you think such visits are important? Does being a Christian band change the role that such a visit plays?
AM: I think if a band has a platform to share about the needs of a place like Haiti it can be very important. We obviously recognize that people in America already know Haiti needs help, but if we can show them how simply some of these needs can be met it might inspire more people to go for themselves and give. Being Christians in a band certainly does change the role or responsibility we have on a trip like this. We’re not there simply to give out food or to purify water, we’re there to save souls and to quench an everlasting thirst.