Thanks for checking out this update on the recent teams that have served in Haiti. Also, thanks to your response to the last blog: every open week for the rest of 2011 is filled! We know of 852 people who have received Christ due to the ministry of the 34 teams who have gone to Haiti since January, 2010 earthquake. The Lord is blessing the Haitian people in many ways.
Most recently: (you can click on any picture to make it larger, then go "back")
A team of two agriculture experts from Arkansas made a trip to Haiti in early March. Ron Baker and Sean Milliken, along with our partner Roody Joseph, went into the mountains to work with some graduates from the November church planting/Bible Study training school.
These farmers were very open to the techniques that Ron taught them. Also, they will be able to use those in their evangelism efforts as they reach out to other farmers in the mountains. Ron, Sean, and two others from Arkansas will return in August. We anticipate offering training later this year for others interested in learning agriculture techniques that can be implemented world-wide in support of the gospel, while at the same time helping families greatly increase their crop and animal yields. This is a new branch of ministry for us in Haiti, and one that we believe will yield great fruit for the Kingdom. March 4-11, Central Baptist Church Jonesboro sent a construction team to continue work on the 50 homes we are building for the elderly, severely injured and amputees.
This team built six homes, and also led eight people to the Lord! One of these homes was built for Yliette M. and her family of five. Yliette’s left leg had to be reconstructed after her home collapsed on her during the quake. After several surgeries and skin grafts she is now able to walk on crutches. Yliette and her family are very grateful for their new home, and ask for prayers for her full recovery.Three former IMB journeyman (two of whom served in Africa and one in Peru), along with six Baptist Collegiate Ministry members and leaders, served March 18-25.
The former journeyman led our second training meeting for the 44 people we trained to plant churches and start Bible studies last November. The topic for this latest training was Oral Storying. Fifty percent of the Haitian people are illiterate, so hearing the gospel and being discipled orally is critical. These former journeymen are well trained in Oral Storying, and they did a great job teaching our Haitian friends how to implement this in their outreach. Our journeymen also taught this method to the collegiate team. The church planters led six people to Christ during their training, and the collegiate team led seven villagers to Christ while out and about sharing the gospel! Southside Baptist Church in Stuttgart and Faith Baptist Church in Dewitt partnered to field a team of eight, April 1-8.
They took school supplies and were heartily welcomed into three schools, sharing supplies with some 450 children. They were allowed to share the gospel in classrooms and answer questions about their lives, Arkansas, the Lord, etc. One day, students in a school were invited by the team to an outdoor meeting held after school. Over 100 students attended and 12 were saved. Pastor Greg Greenway went into a voodoo temple and led several adults to Christ, two of whom were sons of the voodoo priest! This team did door to door evangelism and held evening meetings, leading a total of 130 people to the Lord during their stay in Haiti!!
April 15-22, Central Baptist Church of Jonesboro sent in a medical team. This team treated some 550 patients and led 23 people to Christ! Please pray for a construction team going in this week, upcoming evangelism teams, pastor institute training teams, and future medical and dental teams. Thank you, Arkansas Baptists, for your prayers and support for the work in Haiti! Every available week for 2011 is filled. I anticipate that by the middle of this summer, we will be ready to start recruiting for 2012.
Bob Fielding
