Author: Elliott Tenpenny

“They returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, strengthening the hearts of the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by teaching “it is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God”

-Acts 14:21-22

Many of the men who have the responsibility of preaching and teaching in the local churches possess fervor for the Lord, but they do not have biblical resources or training opportunities. As a result, they are sometimes ill-equipped to serve the needs of the Body. To this end, we provide week long training sessions to these pastors. These training sessions are provided at no cost to our Haitian brothers (other than their own travel and time). If you have an interest in helping make these events possible, consider the following: For $15, you can pay for a Haitian pastor to be further trained in God’s word for one day, including two of his meals and creole printed study guides and bibles as well.  Would you join us in helping educate and equip some of the pastors and elders of Haitian churches? Please pray about how God could use you to help affect believers throughout Haiti. Please contact us if you or your church is interested in helping train these pastors in Haiti.

[button url=”https://www.aidforhaiti.org/donate-to-pastor-training”]Donate[/button] or [button url=”http://www.aidforhaiti.org/contact-us”]Join Us[/button]

Many times we can feel overwhelmed with all the needs we see around us in the world.  We look down at our meager resources and feel like such an inadequate gesture could not be of any significant value.  There is too much to do, too much ignorance, too much poverty, too much suffering.  However, the truth is that our efforts, no matter how seemingly small, do make a difference.

In the slums and streets of Haiti, thousands of homeless children make up a labor force of orphans referred to by the rest of the community as “enfants sans revs”.  In Creole, this means literally “children without dreams” and these truly are children without dreams and without a future.  The reasons why these children have found themselves in this situation are endless, but they all share a common destiny, hopelessness.  Many work as child slaves to pay for the one meal a day that will keep them alive and face innumerable perils and hardships. Very few are able to attend school and many die alone after months of near starvation and unattended illness.  There is now an estimated 300,000 of these children living in Haiti today, and three fourths of this number are believed to be girls.  These children are living proof that slavery is not just a thing of the past, but is instead the stark, nightmarish reality of their everyday lives.

Meet Shadrack.  Shadrack is a boy of about thirteen years old, even though his exact age cannot be determined.  A few years ago, his parents, which were storekeepers in Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince, were killed in a botched robbery.  Young Shadrack was turned out onto the street by the landlord of his parent’s house, and thus his struggle for survival began.  He managed for a time in the huge crime-ridden metropolis until he met a young man from a rural village, looking to find someone to help on his parents farm while he traveled to the Dominican Republic.  Shadrack agreed to come and work.  For the next two years, Shadrack worked hard and received little in return besides a place to sleep, scanty meals, and regular tongue lashings.

Shadrack was living in this rural area of Patmos when our AFH team met him.  He cheerfully hiked along beside the team as they brought out supplies for the clinic they were planning to have there.  Those on the team were struck by his shockingly thin frame and a face that bore the absence of childhood, a face that seemed to have lived far beyond his years.  After he shared his story, some of the team members began to discuss among themselves the possibility of bringing Shadrack back to Port-au-Prince.  Guyteau, a young Haitian man acting as a translator, shared how he once had been a boy on the streets of Port, but had been rescued and given a second chance at life thanks to a missionary and his family who took a dedicated interest in his life.  He now has a good job, plans to marry soon, and has a bright future.  Shadrack’s plight touched his heart because it was one that he could relate to so well.  If possible, he wanted to give Shadrack the same opportunities that he had been given.

After discussing it among themselves, the team made arrangements with the older couple that he worked for to release him.  After only a few days with a group of people that showed him genuine love and concern, the transformation was amazing.  Virginia Rudolph recalls that “The little guy was dumbstruck at the change of circumstances… and it was so neat to see him open up after being so shy and reserved”.   Shadrack is now living with a team member in Port-Au-Prince and plans to attend school.

Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 24 that if you show mercy to any child, you have showed it to Him.  While the task of bringing hope to the millions of children like Shadrack seems daunting, we cannot cease to make the changes that we can just because finishing the task seems impossible.  We will never finish if we do not start.  The vision of AFH is to touch lives like Shadrack’s with medical care and also with the gospel.  Shadrack is just one life touched, and it’s true that there are uncountable others to reach, but these kind of differences are the kind that are made bit by bit, and child by child.  Just as in the story of the loaves and fishes, gifts offered with a sincere heart can be multiplied beyond our wildest dreams if we place them in the supernatural hands of the Savior.

Travel with us into the mountains of HaitiAid for Haiti Remote medical ministry exists to reach out into the most untouched and needy areas in Haiti. We strive to bring high quality medical care into areas most other organizations refuse to go in an effort to share the name of Christ with those who would otherwise never see care in their lifetime. Would you, your group or church like to help us? Click Here to find out more information

Its been said that Haiti is 70% Catholic, 20% Protestant, and 100% Voodoo. While this may be true it only partially tells a riveting story. The story of God working throughout the history of Haiti to spread the life saving message of his son is an utterly fascinating one. The following is a non-experts attempt to tell part of this story.

During Haiti’s early history the Spanish and French both imported slaves from Africa to maximize productivity on the sugar plantations in the colony of Saint Dominique, modern day Haiti. As slaves arrived in the “new world”, they were exposed to new Catholic doctrine and belief. Many adopted aspects of the new catholic practice and combined it with their traditional African spiritualist beliefs, voodoo. Voodoo comes from the Fon language of Benin, West Africa, and means “spirit.” [1] Throughout the early history of Haiti, the slaves endured tremendous hardships at the hands of their captors. As time went on, the slaves african spiritualist beliefs became more a point of pride as Catholicism was increasingly viewed as the religion of the brutal slave holders. Voodoo became a means to communicate and organize to fight for their independence. This peaked during an infamous event in in 1791. According to Haiti’s official bicentennial website the Haitian revolution began on a night in 1791 when “A man named Boukman … organized a meeting with the slaves in the mountains of the North. This meeting took the form of a Voodoo ceremony in Bois Caiman in the northern mountains of the island. It was raining and the sky was raging with clouds; the slaves then started confessing their resentment of their condition. A woman started dancing languorously in the crowd, taken by the spirits of the loas. With a knife in her hand, she cut the throat of a pig and distributed the blood to all the participants of the meeting who swore to kill all the whites on the island.” The revolution that began on this night ended in 1804 with the formation of the world first free slave republic.

Soon after the revolution in Haiti, all foreign priests in the Haitian catholic church fled and Rome cut off all relations. This allowed the early Haitian catholic church to form and change without oversight from the outside church. This in addition to the ritualistic aspects of Catholicism has helped voodoo become pervasive throughout Haitian Catholicism and is why the two often appear to co-exist so easily in a system of religious pluralism. [2] For example, today, many Roman Catholic symbols and prayers have blended with voodoo rituals and traditions to make for a unique and typically Haitian religion. Pictures of Catholic saints are painted on the walls of temples to represent the voodoo spirits; at funerals, it is not uncommon that voodoo ceremonies and rituals be performed for family members first, followed by a more public traditional Roman Catholic ceremony presided over by a priest.” [3]

Soon after the revolution Haiti found itself very isolated politically, racially and religiously from the rest of the world. Early leaders feared that voodoo would further alienate them from the developed world. So, the Constitution of 1807 made Roman Catholicism Haiti’s official religion stating that no other religion (including Voodoo) could be practiced in public. Later, Haiti reestablished relations with the Vatican in 1860 and power over the church in Haiti transferred once again to Europe. All the while influential Haitian  voices like Louis Joseph Janvier, insisted Catholicism was an oppressive colonial power and a threat to Haiti’s autonomy. He advocated for the establishment of Protestantism on the grounds that it could be controlled internally rather than by Europe. [4] He did not see voodoo as a solution to Haiti’s problems, and rather saw Protestantism as a means to modernize Haiti, as it encouraged pragmatism and self reliance. [5]

During this time, a few of Haiti’s first protestant missionaries began to arrive. The first protestants missionaries were with the English Wesleyan Mission when a handful of british methodist pastors arrived in 1806. The first American missionary was a Baptist, Thomas Paul, the son of freed slaves from Exeter, New Hampshire. Paul sailed into Cape Hayti (later Cap Haitien) in 1823 with crates of Bibles and tracts, and for six months he preached, baptized, and laid the groundwork for the establishment of the First Baptist Church there. [7] The Episcopal church was introduced in Haiti in 1861 by a group of 110 African-Americans immigrants to Haiti. They established many churches and schools, including St. Vincent School, for many years, the only school for special needs children in Haiti. The adventists arrived later in 1879, Assemblies of God (1945), Nazarean Church (1948), Salvation Army (1950), Pentecostal church (1962), Mennonite Church (1966) [6} and Church of God in Borel, Haiti(1967). [9]  The work of the missionaries was initially focused in the larger cities where they found it tough to make any inroads because catholicism had been so deeply entrenched for many years. At the time, Catholicism thrived in urban areas because the majority of the education available was through Catholic schools and typically served the elite and wealthier populations. Protestants failed to gain much ground in urban areas, and thus focused their energies and attentions on poorer, rural areas with remarkable success.

One of the most significant events in in the Haitian church happened in the early 20th century. [10] For many years people from southern Haiti has been emigrating into Cuba and being hired on as farm labor in large sugar cane plantations. At the time, the evangelistic efforts of missionaries was far greater in cuba than in Haiti. Many Cubans had accepted Christ and were traveling the countryside forming churches and evangelizing the people there. In the process many Haitians came to hear of Christ for the first time. After a number of years the Cuban government began cracking down on the Haitian immigrants coming into Cuba. Thousands were deported back the their home in southern Haiti. After deportation these new Christians set to work sharing the gospel throughout the cities and countryside with great success. Evidence of this exists still with some of the highest concentrations of evangelical and protestant believers in Haiti being in the south of the country, where this outreach was initially done. Much of the initial indigenous effort in evangelism was born of this event, as Christianity spread from south to north over the ensuing years. Foreign protestant missionaries began to make significant inroads into Haiti during the same time periods which coincided with the US military occupation of Haiti from 1915-1934. During this time, the rural parts of Haiti began to have its first direct contact with the western world. Soon after the soldiers arrived, missionaries also began to settle in these areas also. Many of these protestant missionaries brought to the disadvantaged in these areas things some had never had, namely, a steady supply of food, clean water, medical care and education badly needed at the time. This helped the message spread rapidly throughout the rural areas.  Through both indigenous and foreign missionary means the message of Christ propagated rapidly through Haiti during the fist half for the 20th century.

As the 20th century moved on, protestant missions in Haiti, especially rural Haiti, found a strange supporter. It was in fact championed by the infamous dictator Francois Duvalier, the first pro-voodoo, pro-peasant, black nationalist president. During this time, new fears of cultural imperialism and racism began to foster a reaction against continued foreign influence. Catholicism embodied this fear with thier centralized foreign power structure. Duvalier viewed the rise of Protestantism as help to break the power of the foreign dominated Catholic Church. Duvalier also supported the influx of Protestants because Protestants did not pose any immediate threat to him. Protestants were seen not only as apolitical and unwilling to interfere in political affairs, but they were eager to bring development and aid into the country as well. [8] While using christianity for his own ends, Duvalier continued to encourage voodoo also. Throughout his reign, he used the houngans (voodoo priests) to control the rural communities his personal army (the tonton macoutes) could not police. This was done through fear and intimidation, encouraging threats of voodoo spells and enchantments. The effects and continued use of these fear tactics are a major driver in the lives of the people of the Haitian countryside still today.

Over the last 25 years, since the fall of the Duvalier regime, the religious landscape of Haiti has continued to change. A subversive grassroots group of Catholics called “Ti Legliz” developed to help oust the Duvaliers. This group among many others of the period (early 1990s) championed “Liberation Theology“ coming out of Central America and were far more political than religious. This movement drew widespread support from both the rural and urban poor and prepared the political landscape for the emergence of former Catholic priest, Jean Bertrand Aristide, and his political party, Lavalas (“The Flood”), who came to dominate the political landscape. During his reign, voodoo was for the first time given equal standing as official religion of the country. Some believe Aristide did this due to a personal belief in voodoo, while other believe this decision was purely political. It is clear spiritualism in the form of voodoo remains the dominant world view and lens through which Haitians view all aspects of life.

Through the disastrous hurricane seasons of 2004, 2008 and the earthquake of January 2010 the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been dramatically spread. It remains to see what the long term impact of these events is for the Gospel.

(Thanks goes to Casey Zachary from Real Hope for Haiti where much of this article came from. It has since been expanded over the years in an effort to chronicle the history of Christianity and Missions in Haiti for those who are considering visiting or serving in Haiti. Please email us at contact@aidforhaiti.org or leave a comment below if you have any first hand knowledge of this subject or if you know of any other resources for this article.)

[1] Civan, Michele Burtoff, The Haitians: Their History and Culture, 22.

[2] Richman, Karen, “The Protestant Ethic and the Dis-Spirit of Voodoo” Immigrant Faiths: Tansforming Religious Life in America. Edited by Karen I Leonard, Alex Stepick, Manuel Vasquay and Jennifer Holdway, 166.

[3] Zachary, Casey : A Brief History in the Development of Religion in Haiti, www.realhopeforhaiti.org

[4] Richman, Karen, “The Protestant Ethic and the Dis-Spirit of Voodoo” Immigrant Faiths: Tansforming Religious Life in America. Edited by Karen I Leonard, Alex Stepick, Manuel Vasquay and Jennifer Holdway, 170.

[5] Civan, Michele Burtoff, The Haitians: Their History and Culture, 53.

[6] About Haiti: HaitiChristianity.org

[7] Lundy, Eleanor, Mission in the Footsteps of Peter and Paul, Serving Christ and the People of Haiti for 180 Years. Journal of the Bahamas Historical Society. Nov/Dec 2004.

[8] Rickman, Karen, “The Protestant Ethic and the Dis-Spirit of Voodoo,” 171

[9] Personal communication from Lester Swope, Cross Roads Mission, Haiti. 3/10/13

[10] Nelson, G. Dudley, As the Cock Crown: Reflections of a Medical Missionary to Haiti. (1997)

Throughout the years of our medical work in Haiti, we have found men and women in remote areas with diseases that are easily curable with surgery. One of the most common of these is a hernia, which can prevent a person from working and providing for their family. Many have had these for many years and are unable to find any treatment. Working in a hospital facility in La Colline, Haiti we have recently stated to address this problem with the help of Grace Church in Gainesville,  Florida. The next surgical team will be going to Haiti in early May. Find out more by clicking here

Join us on the ground in Haiti, as we seek to learn about the needs and challenges facing Haitian families. Join as we work hard to help our Haitian brothers and sisters help themselves. Join as we connect and build lasting relationships in Haiti. If you or your church/group are interested and would like to put together your own custom team mission please contact us.

Go to experience and educate yourself about the culture, people, poverty and faith of the people of Haiti.
Go to connect with needs of the people.
Go to share your knowledge, skills and time to help minister to the people of Haiti

Types of Teams

Click below to discover a selection of some possible ministry teams. Please contact us with any other ideas.
[accordiongroup]

[accordion title=”Construction Teams”]

There are many needs for construction work. These often include laying block, shoveling, pouring cement, laying foundations, etc. Currently construction help is needed in southern Haiti to build the future home for Aid for Haiti. Please contact us and set up a much needed construction project and rovide your construction talents to further the work in Haiti.

[button url=”http://www.aidforhaiti.org/contact-us”]Join Us[/button]

[/accordion]

[accordiongroup]

[accordion title=”Remote Medical Teams”]

Travel with us into some of the most remote and needy regions of Haiti. Down footpaths, into slums, and through the darkest mountains. Remote medical teams exist to care for the needy, directly evangelize and empower the local Haitian church. Volunteers can expect a very rigorous and inspiring Christ centered experience designed to focus on ministry to the Haitian people and their needs instead of our own. Through all we do we strive to minister to the people of Haiti at the expense of our own comfort and desires. Please prayerfully consider if your church, or ministry organization would like to partner with AFH as short term volunteers. Click below to find out more information.

[button url=”http://www.aidforhaiti.org/contact-us”]Join Us[/button]

[/accordion]

[accordiongroup]

[accordion title=”Pastor Training”]

Teams provide biblical training to pastors and teachers in remote regions who have never had the opportunity. There are multiple opportunities for preaching and assisting in teaching in pastor training sessions each year. Here, hundreds of pastors from remote areas of the country come and receive some of the only biblical training they have ever received. Would you or your church like to help to provide Pastor/Teacher training for remote pastors who have never received any previous training? Please contact us by clicking below.

[button url=”http://www.aidforhaiti.org/contact-us”]Join Us[/button]

[/accordion]

[accordiongroup]

[accordion title=”Community Health”]

We have had some rewarding success in leading development seminars and classes with community members. Seminars can include agriculture, gardening projects, nutrition, training in sewing and other handicrafts, or womens health and hygiene for example. Seminars may be aimed at men, women, youth, or other groups. Be sure to prepare all your materials before you travel, and expect to bring in your own supplies. If you are interested, please contact us by clicking below:

[button url=”http://www.aidforhaiti.org/contact-us”]Join Us[/button]

[/accordion]

[accordiongroup]

[accordion title=”Surgical Teams”]

Throughout the years of our medical work in Haiti, we have found men and women in remote areas with diseases that are easily curable with surgery. One of the most common of these is a hernia, which can prevent a person from working and providing for their family. Many have had these for many years and are unable to find any treatment. Working in a new hospital facility, we have recently stated to address this problem. Each week of surgical ministry, an average of 40 operations can be done. Are you or do you know a doctor or health professional that would be interested in working in this ministry? Please let us know by clicking below:

[button url=”http://www.aidforhaiti.org/contact-us”]Join Us[/button]

[/accordion]

[accordiongroup]

[accordion title=”Currently Planned Teams”]

Currently Planned Teams

[/accordion]

[accordiongroup]

[accordion title=”Trip Costs”]

Ground costs for mission team members is $40 per day, plus airfare. Each group is responsbile for air transportation to and from Port au Prince, Haiti. Cost includes all ground transportation while in Haiti, sleeping accommodations, meals daily, drinking water, translators and provided project materials. Upon arrival at the Port au Prince airport, the group will be met by our onsite directors and escorted to the mission location.

[/accordion]

[accordion title=”Preparation and Trip Details”]

[/accordion]

Michael Deibert’s Haiti Bookshelf