2018 News from the Bower family in Haiti
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(2018-Dec) New Prayer Card
We have a new prayer card with an updated picture and information available. We will be mailing them out this spring.
We have a new prayer card with an updated picture and information available. We will be mailing them out this spring.
(2018-October-December) Fall Update
We are planning an upcoming church construction in Dubout, Limonade. The pastor, Rodelin Phanet, is one of our seminary professors at Séminarire Théologique Maranatha. He is being helped by Daniel Luca, one of our seminary students. The church is well situated near Université Christophe, a new state university that is expanding rapidly. Many young people have been saved already as a result of this growing minstry. God has already worked miracles, as Pastor Rodelin was able to transfer his teaching tenure in the St Raphael public school district to the Limonade public high school, enabling him to give more time to the work of the ministry.
We did some finish work on two churches. We painted the church in Savanette and the church in Bassin Caiman.
We now have seven full time students in the seminary (it seems to always stay at seven): Bruno Joseph, Carl Beethovens Jean, Julien Joseph, Fredelin Pierre, Mikenson Pierre, Eliner Menard, and Daniel Luca.
A ministry called "Sewing with Compassion," was organized by the Dorcas ladies of the Maranatha Baptist Church here in Wallondry. Once a month the ladies volunteer their time and talent to mend and repair clothes and to make new clothes for those who are in need. We are thankful for the people who donated the sewing machines through Daniel's Road Baptist this past summer, making this ministry possible.
The Adult literacy school continues with more students.
Radio recording room expansion. We expanded and remodeled the radio station, tearing down some block walls in an adjoining classroom and putting up new ones to make four new recording studios and a storage room. We were having scheduling problems with only one recording studio, so we added on four more. While we only purchased equipment for two of the studios, we have the rooms already wired and prepared for when the time comes for further growth. Please continue to pray that we get all the proper licensing so that we can expand our broadcasting area.
Tim helped teach a Married Couples Seminar hosted by Pastor Daniel Sidalmé at Manahaim Baptist Church in Mathador in November.
Tim taught a class on the Pentateuch in the seminary in October-November.
We are developing a Kid's Club program in several of our church plants. We already are helping with two kid's clubs that have over 80 children each. They meet on Saturdays. We are helping with the snacks and candy, we have printed out Bible verse lists to memorize, and are working on uniforms for the kids and reward buttons for the verse lists to make the program exciting for the kids.
The Children's Christmas program is a fun time of the year as the church kids recite Bibe verses, sing, and put on skits in front of the church. The amount of time and work that has to be poured into it cannot be measured. RoseAnne, Hannah, SarahAnne, and Mrs. Baker worked hard in preparation for the program, which ran during our Christmas revival from December 22-24.
An 80 year old lady named Katrine was hit by a motorcycle, broke her leg, and was hospitalized 10 years ago. While in the hospital, someone visited her and gave her the gospel. She accepted Christ as her Savior and when her leg healed she began attending our church regularly. But, her home life was upside down. Her husband was unsaved and she was one of three wives. For 10 years she faithfully attended church, but was unable to become a member. She continued praying for her husband, but as time past, the other two wives died. After 10 years of praying for her husband, he finally made a decision to accept Christ, and is now planning to get married. A work in progress for the past 10 years, Katrine is continuing to struggle spiritually. Please pray for her.
The political unrest continues in rest. The only rest we are sure of will be future as we look forward to God's kingdom. But, here in Haiti, things have been wound tightly since this past spring. In June, there were riots all over the country because of a sudden tax the government placed on gasoline which double the price of fuel at the pump. The prime minister lost his job as a result and the tax was removed, so riots stopped. The continued high cost of living and corruption surrounding the loss of billions of dollars in the Petro-Caraibe scandal caused an eruption of violence and rioting during the national holidays of 17 Oct and 18 Nov. While the rioting has subsided and life continues on, there is a political tension that carries with it a sense of uncertainty. Things are calm now, and we hope it will stay that way for the next several months as we plan to carry on with our construction plans and ministry activities. Pray that the Lord provides the political stability necessary for us to do work of the ministry.
(2018-December) Shekinah Baptist Church Calls a New Pastor
In 2008 we planted a church in Bassin Caiman, Dondon called Eglise Baptiste Shekinah. We helped with the construction of a church building for them in 2013. The church has been through some tough times with the loss of 2 pastors in the last couple of years. In December, the church and deacons called Pastor Frito Pierre as their pastor to lead them spiritually as they constinue to struggle to serve God. Pastor Frito is a recent graduate of the full time seminary program.
In 2008 we planted a church in Bassin Caiman, Dondon called Eglise Baptiste Shekinah. We helped with the construction of a church building for them in 2013. The church has been through some tough times with the loss of 2 pastors in the last couple of years. In December, the church and deacons called Pastor Frito Pierre as their pastor to lead them spiritually as they constinue to struggle to serve God. Pastor Frito is a recent graduate of the full time seminary program.
(2018-December) Kid's Club Program
We have been working on developing a Kid's Club program the we call "Club de Vainquers (Conquerors Club)." We have been designing vests and uniforms, making verse lists for memorization, developing the program, and creating a series of buttons and prizes to help promote the program. As of now, we have three kid's clubs set up and functioning in Wallondry, Mathador, and Garde Biassou. Pray with us that these children's programs will help with evangelization and discipleship in the churches and communities where they are set up.
We have been working on developing a Kid's Club program the we call "Club de Vainquers (Conquerors Club)." We have been designing vests and uniforms, making verse lists for memorization, developing the program, and creating a series of buttons and prizes to help promote the program. As of now, we have three kid's clubs set up and functioning in Wallondry, Mathador, and Garde Biassou. Pray with us that these children's programs will help with evangelization and discipleship in the churches and communities where they are set up.
(2018-August) Bible Seminar
We host 3 Bible seminars every year, the first week of January, the week before Easter, and again the last week in August. Our August seminary was on Christian Growth with 141 attending. A majority of those participating are young people from area churches. We praise the Lord for the desire he has given these young folks to study God's Word
We host 3 Bible seminars every year, the first week of January, the week before Easter, and again the last week in August. Our August seminary was on Christian Growth with 141 attending. A majority of those participating are young people from area churches. We praise the Lord for the desire he has given these young folks to study God's Word
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(2018-July) Summer English Classes
Joshua Bower, our son, came back home during college break to help teach English classes during the summer. It was exciting to partner in ministry with him as we taught side by side. The English classes offer an opportunity to invite unsaved people throughout the community to come onto our seminary campus. We use teaching English as a foreign language as an opportunity to spread the gospel. We are planning to continue these classes every summer starting in June through to August. There will be a variety of classes taught, floral classes, a cake decorating classes, a small engine repair classes, English classes, a CPR - first aid class, and computer classes. But, we need teachers for these classes. Anyone with talent in these areas and willing to give a week or two of their time during the summer, from July to August 2019, please contact us at our email address: [email protected] |
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(2018-July) Motorcycle purchase for new church planting effort near Bahon
Pastor Constance started evangelism in a new area called St. Malon, between Grande Riviere and Bahon. Several of our seminary student also want to start evangelism in an unreached area called Roy, about 20 kilometers from St. Malon on the south side of Bahon. However, the local transport costs are prohibitive. So, we purchased a motorcycle to facilitate this evangelistic effort. We are praying that this will become the groundwork for two separate church plants in the future.
Pastor Constance started evangelism in a new area called St. Malon, between Grande Riviere and Bahon. Several of our seminary student also want to start evangelism in an unreached area called Roy, about 20 kilometers from St. Malon on the south side of Bahon. However, the local transport costs are prohibitive. So, we purchased a motorcycle to facilitate this evangelistic effort. We are praying that this will become the groundwork for two separate church plants in the future.
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(2018-June) Expanding Radio Studios
The radio station is continuing to faithfully broadcast doctrinally sound teaching from the Bible along with conservative Christian music. Although we are criticized sharply from all sides for our "old and slow" music, "Radio Maranatha" has an ever increasing listener base. We are preparing a big upgrade during the next six months. The first step this month is to add 4 new recording studios. We have the equipment for two of the studios already. During the months to come we are planning on purchasing a new radio tower, installing our new antennas, upgrading the amplifiers to double our transmission output, and adding a journalist to our staff so that we can have a local news broadcast. We are thankful for your prayers for the radio station. |
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(2018-June) Pastry Class for Pastor's Wives
The week following the cake decorating class we held a pastry class for the pastor's wives again. We were able to have a lady who works professionally for several bakeries in Cap Haitian as well as teaching pastry classes in the city, come to our campus to teach a pastry class to the pastor's wives. It was a lot of hard work, but the ladies had a great time of fellowship as they spent time together preparing and cooking new pastry recipes which will help them to take care of their families.
The week following the cake decorating class we held a pastry class for the pastor's wives again. We were able to have a lady who works professionally for several bakeries in Cap Haitian as well as teaching pastry classes in the city, come to our campus to teach a pastry class to the pastor's wives. It was a lot of hard work, but the ladies had a great time of fellowship as they spent time together preparing and cooking new pastry recipes which will help them to take care of their families.
(2018-June) Reading Glasses Clinic
We had a group of visitors from Morningside Baptist Church in Greenville, SC that not only helped with the cake decorating class, but also brought in over 500 pairs of reading glasses. The reading glasses were high quality, and each included a cord to hold them around the people’s necks. We thank the Lord for this opportunity to help those with difficulty reading their Bibles.
We had a group of visitors from Morningside Baptist Church in Greenville, SC that not only helped with the cake decorating class, but also brought in over 500 pairs of reading glasses. The reading glasses were high quality, and each included a cord to hold them around the people’s necks. We thank the Lord for this opportunity to help those with difficulty reading their Bibles.
LOOK OUT FOR THE BAD ROADS ! -
This is Route Nationale #3, the main road that connects St Raphael to Cap Haitian.
This is Route Nationale #3, the main road that connects St Raphael to Cap Haitian.
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(2018-June) Cake Decorating Class for Pastor's Wives
RoseAnne has organized a series of vocational programs for the pastor's wives in our area. RoseAnne taught the first two days, and a group from the States came in to help with the final three days of the class. Many church activities, including weddings and anniversaries are traditionally celebrated with cakes. As cakes are expensive to purchase and difficult to decorate oneself, it is a help to the ministry if a pastor's wife can provide this service. |
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(2018-June) Maranatha Baptist Seminary Doctorate Class
There has been an increased focus on education in the country of Haiti. Several of our pastors have gone past their high school diploma and seminary training to earn a bachelor’s degree. With increased regulations being imposed on educational institutions in the country, we want to ensure that Maranatha Theological Seminary is looked on favorably as a credible institution of higher learning. I am continuing to take online classes to complete my doctorate degree at Maranatha Baptist Seminary, based in Wisconsin. This is my 5th doctorate class with 3 more remaining to complete the program.
As a side note, several of our seminary graduates who are full time pastors has gone on to receive the prestigious "asermentation" given by the Haitian government, recognizing them as pastors in their area of service.
There has been an increased focus on education in the country of Haiti. Several of our pastors have gone past their high school diploma and seminary training to earn a bachelor’s degree. With increased regulations being imposed on educational institutions in the country, we want to ensure that Maranatha Theological Seminary is looked on favorably as a credible institution of higher learning. I am continuing to take online classes to complete my doctorate degree at Maranatha Baptist Seminary, based in Wisconsin. This is my 5th doctorate class with 3 more remaining to complete the program.
As a side note, several of our seminary graduates who are full time pastors has gone on to receive the prestigious "asermentation" given by the Haitian government, recognizing them as pastors in their area of service.
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(2018-May) Tim teaches seminary block class on Revelation
You might yawn thinking about a theological seminary class, but teaching through the book of Revelation with the seal judgements, trumpet judgements, vial judgements, the rapture, the battle of Armageddon, 666, the antichrist, and the Millennium is the best. I spent 4 weeks going through the Apocalypse of John, and this is the 5th time I've had the pleasure of teaching through it. |
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(2018-May) Harvest Revival Services
May is our annual Fete Moisson (Harvest Revival), an exciting week of services which feature lots of singing and good preaching. Pastor Edris Damitas was our featured speaker throughout the week. Sunday was the bigggggggest and final day which featured a 6-hour Sunday morning service that included the baptism of 6 new converts and a 5-hour evening service. Lots of fun!
May is our annual Fete Moisson (Harvest Revival), an exciting week of services which feature lots of singing and good preaching. Pastor Edris Damitas was our featured speaker throughout the week. Sunday was the bigggggggest and final day which featured a 6-hour Sunday morning service that included the baptism of 6 new converts and a 5-hour evening service. Lots of fun!
(2018-April) Evangelism in Lalomas
At the top of the mountain behind our house is a small village called Lalomas. Because it is at the top of a hard to reach mountain, those wanted by the police often hide out there. I've been warned by the police to avoid the area multiple times because of the danger. We climbed the mountain this month anyway to do some evangelism. At the top of the mountain we were surrounded by a group of 20 people, as we have them the gospel, many of them were already Christians. They began to beg us to send them a preacher that would teach them the Bible. One woman who was over 75 years old, had been saved over 20 years, but had never been to church because there was none to go to. Later we climbed back down the mountain, but with tears in our eyes and a yearning to return.
At the top of the mountain behind our house is a small village called Lalomas. Because it is at the top of a hard to reach mountain, those wanted by the police often hide out there. I've been warned by the police to avoid the area multiple times because of the danger. We climbed the mountain this month anyway to do some evangelism. At the top of the mountain we were surrounded by a group of 20 people, as we have them the gospel, many of them were already Christians. They began to beg us to send them a preacher that would teach them the Bible. One woman who was over 75 years old, had been saved over 20 years, but had never been to church because there was none to go to. Later we climbed back down the mountain, but with tears in our eyes and a yearning to return.
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(2018-April) Church Construction in Savanette
Pastor Georné Lefranc has been a long-time student of the Bible Study by Extension program we have for pastors on Saturdays. In 2014 we helped Pastor Georné purchase land for the church. This spring, we were able to help the church construct a small building, which we completed in April 2018. The church is excited and thankful as they have begun to worship the Lord in their new building. |
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(2018-March) Parsonage Construction in Mathador
Mahanaim Baptist Church in Mathador was started in 2011 and we built a church building in 2013. The church has been growing steadily with souls being saved on a regular basis. We have been renting a house next door to the church for Pastor Daniel Sidalmé and his family, but we felt that it was time to build a parsonage next door to the church so that his situation was more stable. The Lord blessed, and we were able to complete construction on the parsonage by the first week in April. |
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(2018-February) Church and Seminary Schedule
Apart from the special services and activities, our schedule is busy with the regular, every day pastoral responsibilities at Maranatha Baptist Church and administrative duties with the Seminary. Regular meetings with the pastors of the churches we have helped to plant, as well as occasionally preaching in their churches during funerals, weddings, or revival services, help to keep us in touch with the pastors and let us know how things are going.
Apart from the special services and activities, our schedule is busy with the regular, every day pastoral responsibilities at Maranatha Baptist Church and administrative duties with the Seminary. Regular meetings with the pastors of the churches we have helped to plant, as well as occasionally preaching in their churches during funerals, weddings, or revival services, help to keep us in touch with the pastors and let us know how things are going.
(2018-February) Annual Mardi Gras Youth Retreat
Our annual youth retreat during the Mardi Gras holiday is designed to help occupy the young people in our church during a time of potential temptation. 60 young people from our church in Wallondry and from our church in Mathador and Garde Biassou, went to our church plant in Dubout for a three day Bible conference. It was a profitable time of spiritual growth for our young people.
Our annual youth retreat during the Mardi Gras holiday is designed to help occupy the young people in our church during a time of potential temptation. 60 young people from our church in Wallondry and from our church in Mathador and Garde Biassou, went to our church plant in Dubout for a three day Bible conference. It was a profitable time of spiritual growth for our young people.
(2018-January) Bible Seminar
Three times a year we hold a week long Bible class for church people or anyone in the community that it interested in studying the Bible. We have a curriculum of 25 different classes that include all of the major Bible doctrines as well as book studies. Anyone that completes 10 Bible classes receives a Bible certificate. We have over 1186 people have enrolled in this program since we started with this program in January 2000. This seminar this January was on the doctrine of sin and man, and we had 60 people in attendance.,
Three times a year we hold a week long Bible class for church people or anyone in the community that it interested in studying the Bible. We have a curriculum of 25 different classes that include all of the major Bible doctrines as well as book studies. Anyone that completes 10 Bible classes receives a Bible certificate. We have over 1186 people have enrolled in this program since we started with this program in January 2000. This seminar this January was on the doctrine of sin and man, and we had 60 people in attendance.,
(2018-January) Tim's Doctorate Classes
Tim is continuing to work on his doctorate, and is currently taking an online class from Maranatha Baptist Seminary on Preaching Old Testament Narratives.
Tim is continuing to work on his doctorate, and is currently taking an online class from Maranatha Baptist Seminary on Preaching Old Testament Narratives.