Reflections on Our Trip to Haiti
18/08/09 19:29 Filed in: Results
Village Outreach and Church Planting
When our Haitian friend and national leader, Pastor Revenal Benoit, was with us in February 2009 to observe our Philippine outreaches and emerging pastor’s networks, he asked the question, “Could targeted village crusades work effectively in Haiti?” This week we got a clear resounding “yes” to that enquiry.
When our Haitian friend and national leader, Pastor Revenal Benoit, was with us in February 2009 to observe our Philippine outreaches and emerging pastor’s networks, he asked the question, “Could targeted village crusades work effectively in Haiti?” This week we got a clear resounding “yes” to that enquiry.
Three well-organized crusades were held in partnership with a local pastor’s group, resulting in many professions of faith and the founding of two new churches with responsible leaders ready to shepherd the young believers. Pastor Saazi Godfrey from Uganda and Pastor Jill Boyonas from the Philippines joined myself, Paul Klenner, Eugene Masuda, Tom Watson and Helen Roenfeld for the week in Haiti, where we based our operations in the second largest city in the country, Gonaives.
An Unusual Miracle
On the second night of outreach we experienced an unusual miracle with two young men who are brothers. The first young man asked for prayer for his knees and then after prayer, moved aside to reveal his brother’s more serious crippled condition. He had been walking on one leg with his other leg unusable and misshapen since birth. , his arm in a metal crutch to support his weight and act as the second “leg” for walking. When Pastor Godfrey laid his hands in prayer on him, the bones in the malformed leg popped loudly, and moved under his hand. The leg straightened, lengthened and then appeared to be the same as his other good leg. After some initial hesitance, the young man began to walk normally, and praised God for this “creative miracle”. Later, the local pastors looked for him, but someone said that he had run home - he ran!
CMC Pastors Networks
In addition to the three powerful evening outreaches and “day-after” follow-up/church planting Bible study groups, we met with pastor’s fellowships in four different towns to present the CMC pastor’s network vision. Overall response was good, and we also met with a “temporary” leadership team to develop these pastor’s networks ongoing.
A Nation of Contrasts
All around us we saw the effects of devastating poverty and debris from two major floods in the last three years. But we also witnessed the dignity and resilience of Haitian people, some of the fervor and dedication of the believers, and hauntingly beautiful music and worship. The mountainous areas around San Michel are scenic with wandering streams and exotic foliage.
We’ll keep you posted on ongoing developments in Haiti.
- Jonathan Morris
An Unusual Miracle
On the second night of outreach we experienced an unusual miracle with two young men who are brothers. The first young man asked for prayer for his knees and then after prayer, moved aside to reveal his brother’s more serious crippled condition. He had been walking on one leg with his other leg unusable and misshapen since birth. , his arm in a metal crutch to support his weight and act as the second “leg” for walking. When Pastor Godfrey laid his hands in prayer on him, the bones in the malformed leg popped loudly, and moved under his hand. The leg straightened, lengthened and then appeared to be the same as his other good leg. After some initial hesitance, the young man began to walk normally, and praised God for this “creative miracle”. Later, the local pastors looked for him, but someone said that he had run home - he ran!
CMC Pastors Networks
In addition to the three powerful evening outreaches and “day-after” follow-up/church planting Bible study groups, we met with pastor’s fellowships in four different towns to present the CMC pastor’s network vision. Overall response was good, and we also met with a “temporary” leadership team to develop these pastor’s networks ongoing.
A Nation of Contrasts
All around us we saw the effects of devastating poverty and debris from two major floods in the last three years. But we also witnessed the dignity and resilience of Haitian people, some of the fervor and dedication of the believers, and hauntingly beautiful music and worship. The mountainous areas around San Michel are scenic with wandering streams and exotic foliage.
We’ll keep you posted on ongoing developments in Haiti.
- Jonathan Morris
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