13 > Haiti
Haiti is a nation of nine million people. It is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, has a long history of unstable and dysfunctional government, and was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2010. The greatest physical problems include lack of jobs, vast illiteracy, egregiously inadequate housing, widespread hunger, and minimal infrastructure for medical treatment, education, utilities, sanitation, transportation, communication, agriculture, and business. The dominant spiritual condition is nominal Catholic with voodoo and superstitious influence. However, there are numerous evangelical churches and ministries where true faith and worship flourish. These points of light bring hope to their people, but they face an uphill battle against a survival mentality within and around them brought on by the poverty and illiteracy.
Strategies
Pray
- Pray for discernment from the Lord in the roles He wants Bethel to take in Haiti.
- Pray for the leaders of Haitian Christian Mission and the HCM churches.
- Pray for the Lord to give Haitian Christians His vision for fulfillment of their needs, building of their churches, meeting the needs of others around them, and changing the culture of their country.
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FAQ
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- [Q] What is Haitian Christian Mission?
- [A] Haitian Christian Mission was established in the 1970’s by Etienne Prophete, a Haitian man who was converted from Voodoo and superstitious Catholicism, received theological and linquistic training in the US, and returned to Haiti with God’s call to plant churches and build up His people. Etienne has been succeeded by his son, Edwens, as the executive director of HCM, but still has great spiritual influence and an active role. HCM now consists of ~50 associated churches, ~50 schools, a medical clinic, an orphanage, a housing development, feeding programs, youth programs, small business initiatives, and a mission community that serves as the hub for a network of Christ-centered, life-giving relationships and outreaches throughout much of Haiti.
- [Q] What has Bethel already done?
- [A] Bethel’s partnership with HCM began in 2010. We have given $150,000 to build houses and additional money for projects to provide water, aid construction, support kids, provide training and books to the pastors, and develop the mission complex. We are currently sending seven mission teams per year for things such as construction, medical assistance, VBS, and pastor/leader training. Through these efforts, scores of Bethel people have gotten a taste of what God wants Bethel to do in Haiti.
- [Q] What gifts and abilities are needed?
- [A] Caring, relating, and equipping are the most essential qualities for ministry in Haiti. Short-term mission teams all need people with gifts in leadership, administration, discernment, helps, teaching, and mercy. People with skills in construction, medicine, leadership, mechanics, agriculture, business, and other areas, have used their gifts and abilities in Bethel short-term mission trips. Medical personnel are especially needed. For longer-term roles, people with experience and ability in micro-business, long-range planning, training, and communication (writing, graphics, video, etc.) are needed.
