The Newsletter of Light and Life Evangelical Ministries, Inc. Our Mission: Support churches in northern Haiti by helping Haitian pastors and evangelists win souls to Christ and minister God s word to them. ISSUE NO. 22 November,, 2013 Dr. John Baker is Our First Executive Director The Ministry s Development Plan included, form the beginning, the hiring of an Executive Director when our growth dictated the need. In 2012, the Board of Directors concluded that the need is here. At the annual meeting in 2012, the board voted to advertise for candidates, and from the several men who expressed serious interest, Dr. Baker was selected for a face-to-face interview. Dr. Baker attended the annual meeting of the Board this past July. The interview went exceedingly well, and Dr. Baker and his wife took a survey trip to Haiti in early August, with Dr. Baker s expenses paid for by the Ministry. Following his trip, Dr. Baker accepted the position effective September 1, 2013. The position of Executive Director in our Ministry is an unpaid position. The Ministry will provide the expenses for Dr. Baker s travel to Haiti as well as the expense of maintaining an office. Otherwise, Dr. Baker is volunteering his time and efforts, just as are those on the Board of Directors. Dr. Baker s Doctor of Ministry degree is in missions, and he served on the mission field in Africa as a bible professor, church planter and administrator. He and his wife, Cynthia, both speak French, one of the two official languages in Haiti and very similar to Haitian Creole. We praise God for sending Dr. Baker to serve as our Executive Director. Below is his letter of introduction. Dear Friends and Supporters of LLEM, Being involved in missions, especially outside the United States, was not always on my radar screen. However, that all changed when the Lord revealed His heart for the nations of the world to me. I am currently the Director of Missions of a Baptist Association of 40 churches in Southern Illinois. I have been serving this association of Southern Baptist Churches for the past nine years. Prior to serving with this association my wife and I served as missionaries in three African countries: Cote d Ivoire, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. The continent of Africa became not only our home but the home of our five children during our 19 years. God gave both my wife and me a heart for cross-cultural missions while I was serving as a pastor in Ohio in 1984. It was there that the Lord called us out of our comfort zone and thrust us into mission fields abroad. While serving in my present position, I had been praying for an opportunity to become more involved in one particular mission field outside the United States. It was during this time that I learned of the request from Light and Life Evangelical Ministries. After becoming acquainted with the board members, my wife and I made an exploratory trip to Cap Haitien to meet the national director and pastors. The trip was both an eye opener as well as a confirmation of our calling to partner with LLEM. I have years of experience working with cross-cultural churches especially in the areas of teaching and training. I believe that teaming with LLEM can be another avenue through which my gifts and experiences can be employed to a greater capacity. This partnership will also provide many opportunities for our local churches to not only engage in ministry among the churches in Cap Haitien but also to learn from them. I look forward to this partnership that hopefully will strengthen the Lord s church in Cap Haitien and allow the manifold wisdom of God to be fully known (Eph. 3:10). On Mission Together, John
LifeLines Page 2 November, 2011 Ministry News from our National Director in Haiti Compiled from the monthly reports of Rev. Claude Saintil All the ministry s churches have been very busy with diverse spiritual activities which will continue till December month. These activities are very beneficial for the ministry. Many church members who were somewhat somnolent are very active along with many reconciliations and affiliations. To God be all the glory! Now let us look at what has taken place in each parish in particular: Bas-Fossé Parish From the first to the second week of September, a long spiritual revival had taken place in Bas-Fossé. It was ended by a baptismal service in which seven new converts had been immersed and six others turned their lives to God. These last ones are not ready to be baptized. Two others came back and reconciliated with the church. The church attendance increased by 10 persons after the revival. We plan to have all the ministry s churches meet together in Bas-Fossé for a day of evangelism. Just in one day we plan to cover all the area with gospel. We are in prayer for such an accomplishment to the glory of the Lord.. Cap-Haitien Parish The Cap-Haitien church has been always very active, and is averaging over 150 in attendance. The church has an evangelism team who has never stopped. There are still problem for water or artisian well, for a fence around or in the front of the church, for light, and a pulpit for the preacher to deliver his messages. There are about 14 unwed couples in Cap church but some of them are very reluctant to get married. A large turnout for the revival in La Suisse La Suisse Parish The two last weeks of the previous month, there was a big voodoo celebration in connection with a Catholic patron saint day. Many bad witchdoctors and mamboes came from everywhere with all kinds of witchcraft so as to keep people captive and in bondage. It was very destructive and many curious and weak Christians are spiritually broken down. As an answer to that spiritual chaos, we held two weeks of revivals in an attempt to reorient the spiritual condition of our church people in the right path. Céciline Parish Pastor Ulrick François has been very fruitful and useful for this church. The Lord uses him to help the church grow from day to day. We do hope that God will provide funds to get a better and wider place to relocate or build a new church building. It is also the poorest of our churches. There are only some rough rugged benches on which people have to sit. People of this church do not consider the condition of the benches but are rather interested in listening and being fed from the Word of God. Also in this Parish there was a nice revival during which some 3 new converts and one affiliation were added to the congregation Savane Carrée Parish People in this parish love the Lord. Savane Carrée is a big place but with only few people. As you know they give the ministry a good size piece of land in order just to have a place to worship the Lord. We do always have good feeling about these Christians whenever we go and worship with them. The church people welcome with joy and gladness the news that two teams, January and after, will come to start the footing and laying blocks [for their new building]. Limbé Parish The Lord uses fruitfully Pastor Azemar to shepherd this church. Like the Céciline church there are needs for another location and new church building for the congregation. It is growing. There was an average of 80 people on Sunday for September. It is a congregation which is very promising.
LifeLines Page 3 November, 2013 Meet Pastor Parisien Pastor Parisien with his wife Augustin, daughter Kysha, 7, and son Christamo, 6 mo. Pastor Parisien Saintilbert is the pastor of the church at Savane Carree. He was born May 20, 1977 in the Haitian department Acul-du-Nord to a non- Christian family. His parents, he says, were evil spirit servants. He had seven siblings, and none of them were then Christian. When he was a boy an evil spirit told his parents to evict him from their home, and they sent him to his grandparents to live. While there, one of his friends witnessed to him about Christ. His friend told him he believed he had been evicted from his home because he was a chosen one of God, not of Satan. Not long after that, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He completed his education through high school in the Government schools, and then studied at the International School of Ministers in Cap-Haitien. After he was ordained as a minister, he pastored the Heavenly Crown Church in Cap-Haitien and a GSM church in Savane Carree. When GSM closed their church there, Pastor Parisien became principal of the Needy Children s School in Cap-Haitien. However, he soon felt called to return to Savane Carree to pastor his former flock. He resigned from his position of principal and, on faith, returned to Savane Carree to start a brush arbor church. At the time he became affiliated with our ministry he was living on the tithes and offerings of his congregation, just $10 to $15 per month, plus whatever his wife could bring in by selling at the local market. Today, Pastor Parisien has a thriving church and a growing congregation who love him. Four of his siblings are now Christians. Meet Pastor Azemar Pastor Azemar with his wife Bertil, Pendel, 14; Gizele, 12; Emcinca, 10; and Rideley, 6. Pastor Jean-Jacquelin Azemar is the pastor of our newest church in Limbé. He was born February 6, 1963, in Limbé. When he was two years old his parents became Christians, and he grew up in a Christian home, but without accepting Christ. At the age of 14, after attending church with his mother, the pastor s message about God having no beginning or end touched his heart. He says he clearly heard a voice telling him, Obey even if you don t understand, and he accepted Christ into his life. Pastor Azemar attended a Baptist-sponsored elementary school, and after attending Government schools through the 9 th grade, finished his high school education at the Haitian classical center in Port-au-Prince. He then completed Bible studies at the Emmaus Theological Seminary in Cap-Haitien before being ordained. He served as pastor at several evangelical churches near Cap-Haitien before becoming pastor at the Limbé church 7 years ago. Pastor Azemar says, I have been more than once exposed to lot of persecutions and tribulations, and all kind of sufferings. None of these could ever change my mind. In July, 1990, God talked with me as His servant to run his church. Once again in 1996 God called me to go to seminary, and I did obey. then three years after I finished my seminary studies. Since then I have taken seriously my responsibility to do as God required me to do. I have been called to serve many churches. I feel great joy and love in serving God's people. God has been always with through all these experiences.
LifeLines Page 4 November, 2013 A New Vehicle for the Ministry At long last, the Ministry has located and purchased a new (to us) vehicle to augment, and soon to replace, our aging Toyota Tacoma. We received a generous donation of $25,000 last year to get another vehicle, but buying a vehicle in Haiti is not an easy task. First, there are no automobile or truck dealers, or even used car/truck lots in Cap-Haitien, a city of an estimated one million population. Second, it is an axiom that any used vehicle for sale in Haiti is not worth buying. Consequently, buying another vehicle has entailed several trips to the Dominican Republic where a good selection of better quality used vehicles is available to choose from. The vehicle of choice for many Christian ministries and Haitian businesses in Haiti is a small, diesel-powered Daihatsu truck which is rugged, maneuverable, and serviceable. Over the past several months, Rev. Saintil has taken several trips to the D. R. with a good mechanic to look at the availability of such a vehicle. On all of the early trips, the vehicles available for sale were either too Ministry Schools Open with Record Enrollment The school children at the Bas-Fossé school The Ministry s schools at Bas-Fossé and La Suisse opened in early October. Several training sessions were held prior to their opening to improve the effectiveness of the teachers, especially the new teachers (one new grade was added at each school). Both schools opened with record enrollments, nearly double the number of students as last year. This is good news and bad news. The good news is that more children will come to know Christ as Savior. As Rev. Saintil says, Our schools prepare them in engraving the word of God in their life. The main motto for our schools is to soon prepare the next expensive or had motors that were worn out. Finally, in late September, a truck in good condition and at an affordable price was located. Currently, the truck bed is having padded benches and a weather-proof cover installed. We praise the Lord for providing this vehicle; it will provide a much-needed capability. generation for Christ. As I always reiterate it, the biggest need of my country is Christ. The bad news is that the cost of providing school supplies, uniforms, and daily feeding will go up proportionately. Again, Rev. Saintil says, The reason why many choose our school is just because we feed five days a week and guarantee them a school uniform. The Ministry has received generous support for the school feeding program, and no more funds are needed to continue feeding five days a week until the end of school next June. School uniforms are very important in the Haitian culture. Each school in Haiti, whether private or Government, has its own colorful uniform. The uniforms in our schools have a tasteful gray skirt or pants with a bright blue shirt or blouse. (see photo at right). Thus far, the Ministry has a donation of $840 designated for uniforms. This was enough to provide material for uniforms for the children at the Bas- Fosse school. Another $500 is needed for uniforms at the La Suisse school. The sewing of the uniforms is being provided by ladies in the churches who charge a nominal fee to the families.
LifeLines Page 5 November, 2013 Matching Grant Offered to Build Savane Carree Church A supporter of the Ministry who wishes to remain anonymous has offered to match, up to $8,000, all donations toward the construction of the Savane Carree church. We praise God for this offer! The deadline for donations to be matched is December 31, 2013. There is a great need for a larger, permanent, weather-proof structure. The Savane Carree congregation is growing steadily under the teaching of Pastor Parisien. The plastic tarps now being used as the roof of the church are rapidly deteriorating. Thanks to God, we have the land available for the construction. Last year, the Ministry was given about an acre of land near the current church s location, and the deed for the property has since been transferred. Also, the owner of the land upon which the brush arbor church now stands has made known his desire for the church to vacate the site as soon as possible. Rendering of the proposed church building The estimated cost of the building is $17,000, based on the actual cost of the Cap-Haitien church built two years ago. The First Baptist Church in De Kalb, TX, raised nearly $1,000 towards the church s construction, so if matching donations meet the $8,000, the church construction can be completed without a pause to raise additional funds. As this issue of LifeLines goes to press, we have received about $5,400 towards the $8,000 goal. Can you help us meet the goal to match this grant? More Opportunities to Further Our Ministry in Haiti In addition to providing a building for our church at Savane Carree, there are other needs of the Ministry for your consideration. These are listed below, with the higher priority needs listed first. MONTHLY SALARY SUPPORT $150 per month additional is needed to fully cover current salaries and fixed expenses. SCHOOL UNIFORMS $500 is needed for material for the school uniforms at La Suisse. Local ladies will sew them. LAND FOR CECILINE CHURCH The current property at Ceciline is not suitable for building a permanent structure. A nearby lot that will be ideal for the church will cost $3,500. MISSION SUPPORT BUILDING This building at La Suisse has been started but is stalled due to lack of funs. Approximately $1,000 will complete the masonry. SCHOOL BENCHES The increased enrollment at this school means more school benches are needed. Each bench costs about $50, and 10 are needed. WATER WELL A water well at the site of the new church building at Savane Carree would speed construction as well as provide dinking water. The cost is $2,500. CHURCH PULPITS All of our churches need a pulpit, and these would enhance worship services. Cost is about $200 each. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Contribution Form Light and Life Evangelical Ministries, Inc. Donation amount* Designated for Circle One $ Use where needed most one time / monthly $ one time / monthly Name: Telephone: Address: E-Mail: *All donations are tax deductible. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation per IRS regulations. Please cut out this form and mail to the address shown on page 6 of this newsletter.
Praise... 1. For the new Executive Director added to our Ministry. 2. For the many Haitian men, women and children who continue to accept Christ through our ministry. 3. For the godly pastors and their churches who have affiliated with our ministry, and are bringing God s Word to northern Haiti. 4. For the purchase of a rugged and reliable vehicle to replace our aging Toyota Tacoma. Please Pray 1. For the victory against Satanism, voodooism and demonic beliefs in Haiti, and for witch doctors to come to Christ. 2. For an increase in the monthly support needed to meet current expenses and provide a more representative salary for our teachers and pastors. 4. For God to provide a man to be Deputy National Director to assist Rev. Saintil in his increased responsibilities. 5. For funds to provide adequate church buildings for our new congregations in Ceciline and Savane Carree. Light and Life Evangelical Ministries, Inc. Mail Address: 351 Joy Lane Readyville, TN 37149 Web Site: www.haitilightandlife.org Phone: 615-563-8525 Fax: 615-563-8526 E-Mail: Molitor@dtccom.net