Earthquake Crisis Update (see News Updates at right and below...)
The Haiti crisis is staggering, but God is at work!
Nearly two months ago, Tuesday the 12th of January at 4:53 pm, the ground around Port-Au-Prince shook, rolled, and twisted for 55 seconds. Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, homes, and dreams were crushed under the rubble. But that is not the end of the story!
In the aftermath, Haitian churches immediately began planning for three days of prayer and fasting. This took place from Friday, February 12th, and lasted through Sunday the 14th , focusing on prayer, confession, and concentration to the Lord. A number of souls were saved.
The Crusade in Jacmel, which began Monday, February 15th and went through the following Friday, was very successful in terms of Gospel presentation and response. Sarah took group of musicians from South Carolina to perform special music for this event. It was a thrill and blessing to see Pastor Dieupie preach from the very location originally intended for this year's mardi gras celebration , which was canceled in the after the quake. Is that not an amazing change of events? However, the devil will fight back and your prayers are the basis for the strength to fight against the powers of darkness. Pray that those who made decisions for Christ will grow in His grace.
PLEASE PRAY FOR HAITI!
Links to further information and ways you can help:
The backbone of the ministry is the vibrant Hosanna Baptist Church, which is led by Pastor Dieupie Cherubin. The Church is a landmark institution in the Jacmel community. Pastor Dieupie's zeal for the Gospel and the outreach into this town has produced a number of opportunities to spread the Good News. In addition to the evangelistic services, Bible Studies, Sunday schools, and teen activities, Hosanna has uniquely positioned the church to reach into the community and influence families that would not normally attend the regular church services. These opportunities come in the form of establishing sister churches into the outlying areas, Christian schools, Christian seminary, camp ministries, vacation bible schools, sports ministries, and music camps.
Hosanna Baptist Church
Hosanna Baptist Church has a membership of over 500 members. It is not unusual for the deacons to gather up chairs from the school and the seminary for the overflow crowds that sit outside under the trees.
Sister Churches
There are eight sister churches located in the surronding area
Hosanna Elementary Schools
Hosanna Elementary school has an enrollment of over 350 students in Grades K4 - 6th grades.
Hosanna Christian High School and the Baptist Theological Seminary of Haiti
The Baptist Theological Seminary of Haiti finished its first year with a freshmen class of fifteen students. The Pastor is expecting more than twenty new freshmen for the 2009-2010 year. The second story of the building has four classrooms for the new High school that is planned for September 2009. We hope to enroll over sixty students for the first class of seventh grade.
2010 opportunities include construction projects, Music Camp, Vacation Bible Schools,Sports Camp, special training seminars, Bible Conference, and selected community projects.
2009 Activites
The remaining events for 2009 are as follows:
Sarah Bennett will be leading VBS weeks in three new locations and will begin in June. Completed over 100 salvations decisions recorded!!!
Tom Bennett will be setting foundations for the January 2010 construction for a church/school to be built in Laveneau. Completed and ready for January teams!!
Bible Conference begins in July with Pastor Dan Brooks as guest speaker. Kristen Brooks will be a special guest speaker to the Ladies. Completed with great success and a great inspiration to local pastors!
Gail Drake will provide special music. Thanks Gail..A special treat for our folks!!
2010 Team Opportunities for You!
When?...........................................December 30th thru Jan 15th.....go for 1 week or 2 weeks.
What will it cost?............................from $800.00 to $900.00.
What skills are required?...................None, we have jobs & tools for every skill level.
Will I need a Passport.......................Yes.
Can I get more information................Yes, Go to the "Contact Us" page.
What about shots............................Call your local health department for recommendations.
What will we be doing in January? It is called the "Laveneau Church/School Project" Estimated cost of Project $20,000.00. Pray as we seek to have the funds raised by the beginning of December 2009.
Laveneau, an area steeped in Satan worship, is a small mountain community near Jacmel. The beleivers' testimonies are vibrant and strong. "For years we sacrificed our meager livelihoods to Satan, and all we got in retrurn was misery and bondage. God sacrificed His Son for us and has given us eternal life and peace." This is the testimony of the believers in Laveneau, an area steeped in Satan worship. A house-church was started less than two years ago when one family was led to the Lord by Pastor Iva, and now they average 250 each Sunday in their brush arbor Church. Souls are added to the church weekly as these believers share their faith throughout the community. Since this community has no schools, the believers were asked if they would start one. So they bravely ventured out with three volunteer teachers and 130 students last October, one month after the four hurricanes hit Haiti. In spite of hurricanes-related difficulties they opened the school. Many of the children accepted Christ, and their families are being reached with the Gospel.
In January the teams will be building a 60 foot by 26 foot Sanctuary/School building. While the masons are building the walls, team members will be building door and window frames, trusses for the roof, church benches, and school desks. During the week you will have great fellowship with the teams and members of the church. You will eat many of the traditional foods of the country and you will get a chance to visit some of the members in their homes; and if time allows, you will get a chance to visit the beach and swim or snorkel.
Jacmel’s mayor has offered "Satan’s Seat" to Mission for Haiti
for proclamation of the Gospel message
Read how God will use this opportunity for His glory!
A most amazing opportunity has been offered to Pastor D and Hosanna – for which we need countless prayers! The mayor of Jacmel has offered the prime Mardi Gras Carnival site in downtown Jacmel, where satanic worshipers normally perform all of their lewdness and corruption, to Hosanna for a 5-night Gospel crusade! Powerful intercessory prayer is needed as never before! The dates are February 15 – 19. This downtown spot is normally prepared with huge stages painted with psychedelic colors and satanic images for godless performers to glorify Satan and the evil spirits. Pastor D has called upon Mission for Haiti to assist him in this most magnificent opportunity for the Gospel message. He asked us to put together a powerful and Christ-glorifying music production with some American musicians. We didn’t know if this could be done on such short notice, but God Almighty has brought it together for His glory. Nine musicians (Dr. Frank Garlock and his daughter, Shelly Hamilton being two of them) will accompany Mission for Haiti's co-director, Sarah Bennett on the morning of Monday, February 15, flying through the Dominican Republic and arriving in Jacmel that afternoon. The first service will take place that evening.
We believe the 7.0 earthquake on January 12 and the 80+ tremors that have occurred thereafter have softened many hearts and opened a door never before available to give the Gospel message. Please pass the word around and help us pray for a mighty moving of the Spirit of God in Jacmel on the dates mentioned above.
UPDATE, FEBRUARY 17 ... OVER 5,000 IN ATTENDANCE THE FIRST TWO NIGHTS, TWO MORE MEETINGS TO GO ... MANY DECISIONS FOR CHRIST ... MORE DETAILS TO COME.
"COME TO JESUS," was Pastor D's (Pastor Cherubin) passionate and persistent plea to a crowd of more than 2000 people standing in downtown Jacmel on February 15 - 18 (in the very spot where Mardi Gras Carnival is held yearly), and his invitation penetrated all of the downtown area. The crowd grew to almost 4000 strong Tuesday night. Many (160+) came to Christ for salvation during the four nights of meetings, and hundreds more came for individual prayer because of what they suffered during the earthquake. Three witch doctors accepted Christ during the week, one of whom is well-known in town and was not timid to announce his decision publicly. "I want to have a future with God . . . the demons have no future, and I know that," was one of the statements he made the evening before he came to Jesus. A woman witchdoctor who came to Christ on Wednesday evening asked that we come to her house and burn her fetishes in the presence of her witchdoctor father as her testimony to him. By Friday, he had turned to Christ also.
The people of Jacmel could not stop talking about the meetings. Those who were not in attendance heard the service over the radio. It was the talk of the town. Comments such as the following were heard throughout the city: "We have never publicly had anything like this in Jacmel," and "Jacmel has never heard the Gospel like this," and "Glory to God!" GOD WAS GLORIFIED - though the enemy exercised his best efforts to frustrate us and do damage to the Gospel message. God used Pastor D and our musical team to confront the enemy head-on, and the grace of God was manifested in our team beyond our expectations. Their spiritual ministry became the governing spirit - even beyond their musical contribution. We don't even care to mention the enemy's subtle and blatant tactics because we are so overwhelmed by God's grace and power that covered us - and our hearts bow before Him in awesome wander!! Only in the annals of Heavenwill we have an accurate record of what actually was accomplished spiritually in Jacmel. Our team was made up of Frank Garlock, Shelly Hamilton, Susan Jones and Lynsey Haught.
MFH wants to take this opportunity to thankthe thousands who interceded before the Throne of Grace for these meetings. The power of God was at work in ways that could not be seen. "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Corinthians 4:18)
The work of the Holy Spirit continues daily. Since the quake, Hosanna Ministries has seen the salvation of over 325 souls. Their church building and yard cannot even accommodate these in a Sunday worship service. Likewise, the follow-up on all these converts is becoming very difficult. In shortandabove everything else, we covet your prayers for Pastor D and the over all ministry!!
In grateful praise and thanks to God, Tom and Sarah Bennett.
