2019 News from the Bower family in Haiti
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(2019 December) Increased Violence Affecting The Ministry.
To give a recap on the political situation here in Haiti: In February, massive riots broke out nationwide because of a general dissatisfaction with the president. Inflation, the high cost of food, and a lack of electricity pushed people to take to the streets. But the rioting and violence continued through to October blocking schools and business from functioning. This, of course, caused even higher inflation and severe economic problems nationwide. In September, the Haitian parliament joined the chaos, and government officials started fighting and rioting inside the parliament buildings themselves. Multiple government officials have been implicated in corruption, drug trafficking, and trafficking of military grade weapons. These weapons have been given to local bandits to create chaos in order to manipulate the political scene and oust the president. Since November, several massacres have been filmed and put on YouTube to instill fear in the population and manipulate the political scene even more. While the Haitian police have been making concerted efforts to arrest bandits and confiscate these weapons, large numbers of weapons are still at large, even in our area of the country. Since December (this month), the rioting in the streets and numbers of roadblocks have diminished, allowing people to travel, buy and sell, and start to carry on a semblance of normality to some point. However, the criminal element has switched tactics and turned to kidnapping as a means to make large amounts of American money quickly. To reduce the danger of kidnapping, we have continued to confine ourselves to our campus and travel only short distances for food and major provisions.
To give a recap on the political situation here in Haiti: In February, massive riots broke out nationwide because of a general dissatisfaction with the president. Inflation, the high cost of food, and a lack of electricity pushed people to take to the streets. But the rioting and violence continued through to October blocking schools and business from functioning. This, of course, caused even higher inflation and severe economic problems nationwide. In September, the Haitian parliament joined the chaos, and government officials started fighting and rioting inside the parliament buildings themselves. Multiple government officials have been implicated in corruption, drug trafficking, and trafficking of military grade weapons. These weapons have been given to local bandits to create chaos in order to manipulate the political scene and oust the president. Since November, several massacres have been filmed and put on YouTube to instill fear in the population and manipulate the political scene even more. While the Haitian police have been making concerted efforts to arrest bandits and confiscate these weapons, large numbers of weapons are still at large, even in our area of the country. Since December (this month), the rioting in the streets and numbers of roadblocks have diminished, allowing people to travel, buy and sell, and start to carry on a semblance of normality to some point. However, the criminal element has switched tactics and turned to kidnapping as a means to make large amounts of American money quickly. To reduce the danger of kidnapping, we have continued to confine ourselves to our campus and travel only short distances for food and major provisions.
.(2019 November) Motorcycles Purchased For Pastors
The central purpose of our ministry is church planting. All of our ministries exist to support this objective. But, one major obstacles in planting a church is transportation. Limited transportation produces limited results. If a pastor can't get to a village, he cannot minister there, it's as simple as that. The benefit of a pastor having a motorcycle, is that he can get back and forth to church, and he has an opportunity to find work to support his family. Providing a pastor with a motorcycle is a step toward helping these pastors and churches to become self-supporting and indigenous. This month someone sacrificially gave enough money to purchase 4 motorcycles. Pastor Vanier of Maranatha Baptist Church in Wallondry, Pastor Odisson of Golgotha Baptist Church in Brostage, Pastor Frito of Shekinah Baptist Church in Bassin Caiman, and Pastor Bruno of Philadelphia Baptist Church in LeRoy, Ranquitte have all expressed their deep gratitude for God's abundant blessing and provision for the ministry.
After months of violence, the rioting and street violence has begun to settle down, allowing us to reopen the Elementary and Jr. High schools as well as the seminary. We are pleased to have our ministry fully functioning again, even if we do not know for how long. We are operating with a day to day schedule, hoping that the Lord will protect us and keep us safe. These past 9 months of violence, however, have caused the local currency to devaluate. The cost of food has jumped 33% in the last 12 months. Haiti is already the poorest nation in the western hemisphere (the average teacher in our area makes less than $60US per month). All these changes have caused people to lose hope.
The central purpose of our ministry is church planting. All of our ministries exist to support this objective. But, one major obstacles in planting a church is transportation. Limited transportation produces limited results. If a pastor can't get to a village, he cannot minister there, it's as simple as that. The benefit of a pastor having a motorcycle, is that he can get back and forth to church, and he has an opportunity to find work to support his family. Providing a pastor with a motorcycle is a step toward helping these pastors and churches to become self-supporting and indigenous. This month someone sacrificially gave enough money to purchase 4 motorcycles. Pastor Vanier of Maranatha Baptist Church in Wallondry, Pastor Odisson of Golgotha Baptist Church in Brostage, Pastor Frito of Shekinah Baptist Church in Bassin Caiman, and Pastor Bruno of Philadelphia Baptist Church in LeRoy, Ranquitte have all expressed their deep gratitude for God's abundant blessing and provision for the ministry.
After months of violence, the rioting and street violence has begun to settle down, allowing us to reopen the Elementary and Jr. High schools as well as the seminary. We are pleased to have our ministry fully functioning again, even if we do not know for how long. We are operating with a day to day schedule, hoping that the Lord will protect us and keep us safe. These past 9 months of violence, however, have caused the local currency to devaluate. The cost of food has jumped 33% in the last 12 months. Haiti is already the poorest nation in the western hemisphere (the average teacher in our area makes less than $60US per month). All these changes have caused people to lose hope.
(2019-November) Praise the Lord, we are still alive!
There are a new series of riots breaking out that are hard core violent in an area called Latibonit. Latibonit is about 30 miles or 3 hours drive from us. Pastor Baker, our co-worker, has a church plant near there. There are a lot of you tube videos posted showing the brutal massacre that is going on. I can't (haven't, won't) watch them, as they filmed the killings, chopped up the bodies with machetes, and the content is graphic. But the message is real. They filmed the killings for greater impact, to spread fear and chaos. There have been notices posted all throughout St Raphael insinuating the same thing could happen here if schools don't close. So, all area schools have closed until further notice. We are confined to our campus. Despite the fear and violence, our church ministries are running strong. We have started several humanitarian projects because of the urgent need. Because of the riots, transportation is minimum, and commerce has all but stopped. The economic impact is causing hunger and starvation everywhere. Please remember the Haitian believers in your prayers.
There are a new series of riots breaking out that are hard core violent in an area called Latibonit. Latibonit is about 30 miles or 3 hours drive from us. Pastor Baker, our co-worker, has a church plant near there. There are a lot of you tube videos posted showing the brutal massacre that is going on. I can't (haven't, won't) watch them, as they filmed the killings, chopped up the bodies with machetes, and the content is graphic. But the message is real. They filmed the killings for greater impact, to spread fear and chaos. There have been notices posted all throughout St Raphael insinuating the same thing could happen here if schools don't close. So, all area schools have closed until further notice. We are confined to our campus. Despite the fear and violence, our church ministries are running strong. We have started several humanitarian projects because of the urgent need. Because of the riots, transportation is minimum, and commerce has all but stopped. The economic impact is causing hunger and starvation everywhere. Please remember the Haitian believers in your prayers.
(2019-October) Rioting and violence escalate
We are thankful for the Lord's protection. Gasoline has dropped in price from $16US per gallon to $6.50 this week, but it is rarely available. Our schools were able to open for two days this week after months of rioting and chaos. Unfortunately, on the third day of school, we had to close because of rioting. We will try starting again Monday.
The head of a local gang that decapitated and cannibalized the father of one of the deaf students (behind our campus earlier this past spring) has been terrorizing the community over the past two weeks. He mugged two of our churchmen who were coming to church for choir practice at 5am last week. He has publicly threatened to rape our Jr/High school principal on three separate occasions. He has been blocking the road and robbing local residents for the past two weeks just a couple hundred meters from our campus. Last weekend, the gang was holding up motorcycles and robbing them on the other side of our campus wall. I was able to take some pictures of the gang leader so that the local police could recognize him; interestingly, to warn people, they posted the gang leader’s picture on Facebook. We have been to the police multiple times to see what can be done to arrest this murderer, but nothing could be done until someone was willing to testify to the crimes committed.
This past weekend, a middle age Christian couple was coming home on a truck loaded with people when this ruthless gang stopped the vehicle. They pulled out the driver and then the husband; they were savagely beating them when the wife jumped out of the vehicle to plead for them to stop. The gang then proceeded to beat her, and one of them repeatedly hit her in the stomach with a shovel!! After robbing and beating the passengers, they let them go. The couple went home (no medical attention was available at night); the next morning they left for the closest hospital (1hr away), but sadly, the woman died before they arrived. The husband of the woman had the courage to swear out a warrant for the murderer's arrest. The police have been back and forth through our small community firing weapons the last few days, and they have succeeded in arresting 2 members of the gang. The gang leader is still in the area, but for the moment, the attacks have stopped, and we have been able to rest easier.
The seminary started up on Monday, Oct 21st with New Testament Greek. The elementary, deaf, Jr. High, and adult schools started as well. But violence started again, and all the schools shut down before we could even finish out the week. Please continue to pray for the protection of our pastors as they travel to their churches, pray for the protection of our church members and students, as well as for protection for our family. Please also pray for the arrest of the cannibal gang boss too.
We are thankful for the Lord's protection. Gasoline has dropped in price from $16US per gallon to $6.50 this week, but it is rarely available. Our schools were able to open for two days this week after months of rioting and chaos. Unfortunately, on the third day of school, we had to close because of rioting. We will try starting again Monday.
The head of a local gang that decapitated and cannibalized the father of one of the deaf students (behind our campus earlier this past spring) has been terrorizing the community over the past two weeks. He mugged two of our churchmen who were coming to church for choir practice at 5am last week. He has publicly threatened to rape our Jr/High school principal on three separate occasions. He has been blocking the road and robbing local residents for the past two weeks just a couple hundred meters from our campus. Last weekend, the gang was holding up motorcycles and robbing them on the other side of our campus wall. I was able to take some pictures of the gang leader so that the local police could recognize him; interestingly, to warn people, they posted the gang leader’s picture on Facebook. We have been to the police multiple times to see what can be done to arrest this murderer, but nothing could be done until someone was willing to testify to the crimes committed.
This past weekend, a middle age Christian couple was coming home on a truck loaded with people when this ruthless gang stopped the vehicle. They pulled out the driver and then the husband; they were savagely beating them when the wife jumped out of the vehicle to plead for them to stop. The gang then proceeded to beat her, and one of them repeatedly hit her in the stomach with a shovel!! After robbing and beating the passengers, they let them go. The couple went home (no medical attention was available at night); the next morning they left for the closest hospital (1hr away), but sadly, the woman died before they arrived. The husband of the woman had the courage to swear out a warrant for the murderer's arrest. The police have been back and forth through our small community firing weapons the last few days, and they have succeeded in arresting 2 members of the gang. The gang leader is still in the area, but for the moment, the attacks have stopped, and we have been able to rest easier.
The seminary started up on Monday, Oct 21st with New Testament Greek. The elementary, deaf, Jr. High, and adult schools started as well. But violence started again, and all the schools shut down before we could even finish out the week. Please continue to pray for the protection of our pastors as they travel to their churches, pray for the protection of our church members and students, as well as for protection for our family. Please also pray for the arrest of the cannibal gang boss too.
Elementary School Oct 21st 2019
(2019-September) Rioting and violence covers Haiti
We have been back in Haiti since August, but there has been rioting almost non-stop since we've come into the country. The rioting is mostly confined to the major cities, including Cap Haitian, where we get many of our supplies. Since we've been back, we have not been able to get to Cap Haitian or travel more than 15 miles because of the civil unrest. We hear gunfire almost every night.
Gasoline has been unavailable for several weeks. When it is available, it sells for as much as $16US per gallon. Travel is expensive as a result, and thieves stop anyone with gas to steal whatever is available. Gas was available the week we flew in. We stocked up, but that has not lasted long. We used our reserves to keep the radio running but have since had to cut it back to functioning during daylight hours so that it can run off the solar system. The solar system is running well, praise the Lord, so everything runs off the solar system, allowing us to hold our 15-gallon gas reserve for emergencies.
The ministry is going very well. We have been working with one of our seminary students, Bruno Joseph, to start a church in LeRoy, Ranquitte (pronounced Lay-Wa and Ron-Keet) last year, which he named Philadelphia Baptist Church. Bruno has been faithful, and the church has been growing. We just rented a house for the church and we are now looking for land to purchase. We are also helping with a new church plant that our fellow missionaries have started. Pastor Odisson Mesidor, one of our recent seminary graduates started a church in Bostage, Dondon (pronounced Bow-staj), Golgotha Baptist Church. The church already has a temporary structure to meet in, but it is growing steadily, so we are also looking for land to purchase in that area to take the next step in stabilizing this ministry.
We have started a new ministry in our local church to help our church members with their gardens. The chaos caused by the recent rioting, makes getting good seed, fertilizer, and insecticide difficult, so gardens suffer. The economic situation and the lack of productivity in the garden has made things very tough for the Haitians. We started this farmers association with the men of the church, to emphasize holiness to our God in this time of trouble. We have 21 men in the church who are banding together to consecrate ourselves to God and to pray for rain, and God's blessing in the gardens. At the same time, we are helping with the purchase of seed and fertilizer. We have also purchased a small portable water pump and pvc pipes to help with irrigation and a sprayer for insecticide.
We have made arrangements to purchase Bibles to distribute in local schools. We are hoping to buy all that the bookstore in "Croix de Bouquets" has, and make arrangements to purchase more, Lord willing, before November. I was hoping to teach English in the local High School this year, but the violence and political unrest have made any travel off campus unwise. We will be praying that the Lord provides political stability with the hopes that we can pursue this exciting opportunity.
Our on-campus schools, including the seminary, elementary, Jr high, deaf, and adult schools were supposed to start up in September. But severe rioting has brought the country to a screeching halt. Schools across the country remain closed and business and government offices open occasionally. Because of the lack of gasoline, travel has become extremely expensive. Daily travel to and from our campus into town now costs more money than an average teacher's monthly salary.
Politically, Haiti is once again in turmoil. The opposition to Haiti's current government, which includes many of the country's senators and deputies, has called for a coup d’état, declared civil war, and openly threatened to kill the president of Haiti. Senators, supposedly the countries intellectual elite, are fighting like school children and throwing furniture in the parliament. The place where national heroes once stood to defend the countries interests, the office that once stirred sentiments of national pride, has become the laughing-stock of nations and brought shame to the country. While there is a tremendous gasoline shortage throughout the country, many of the gas stations have gasoline, but are being manipulated into not selling what they have openly to the people. The ensuing lack of gas, even though there is gas, has caused skyrocketing travel costs along with a corresponding increase in the cost of living. Enraged by the manipulation, the people have been rioting, and are looking for a way to strike back, but seem unsure of how to respond. Groups of bandits, on the payroll of unnamed individuals or politicians have come to our area to block roads and cause havoc. Upon community "pressure", the bandits dispersed, but moved to a different location up the road so that they can "earn their pay." With no political solution in sight and no decrease in the cost of living soon, it does not appear like there will be any change here in Haiti anytime soon.
We have been back in Haiti since August, but there has been rioting almost non-stop since we've come into the country. The rioting is mostly confined to the major cities, including Cap Haitian, where we get many of our supplies. Since we've been back, we have not been able to get to Cap Haitian or travel more than 15 miles because of the civil unrest. We hear gunfire almost every night.
Gasoline has been unavailable for several weeks. When it is available, it sells for as much as $16US per gallon. Travel is expensive as a result, and thieves stop anyone with gas to steal whatever is available. Gas was available the week we flew in. We stocked up, but that has not lasted long. We used our reserves to keep the radio running but have since had to cut it back to functioning during daylight hours so that it can run off the solar system. The solar system is running well, praise the Lord, so everything runs off the solar system, allowing us to hold our 15-gallon gas reserve for emergencies.
The ministry is going very well. We have been working with one of our seminary students, Bruno Joseph, to start a church in LeRoy, Ranquitte (pronounced Lay-Wa and Ron-Keet) last year, which he named Philadelphia Baptist Church. Bruno has been faithful, and the church has been growing. We just rented a house for the church and we are now looking for land to purchase. We are also helping with a new church plant that our fellow missionaries have started. Pastor Odisson Mesidor, one of our recent seminary graduates started a church in Bostage, Dondon (pronounced Bow-staj), Golgotha Baptist Church. The church already has a temporary structure to meet in, but it is growing steadily, so we are also looking for land to purchase in that area to take the next step in stabilizing this ministry.
We have started a new ministry in our local church to help our church members with their gardens. The chaos caused by the recent rioting, makes getting good seed, fertilizer, and insecticide difficult, so gardens suffer. The economic situation and the lack of productivity in the garden has made things very tough for the Haitians. We started this farmers association with the men of the church, to emphasize holiness to our God in this time of trouble. We have 21 men in the church who are banding together to consecrate ourselves to God and to pray for rain, and God's blessing in the gardens. At the same time, we are helping with the purchase of seed and fertilizer. We have also purchased a small portable water pump and pvc pipes to help with irrigation and a sprayer for insecticide.
We have made arrangements to purchase Bibles to distribute in local schools. We are hoping to buy all that the bookstore in "Croix de Bouquets" has, and make arrangements to purchase more, Lord willing, before November. I was hoping to teach English in the local High School this year, but the violence and political unrest have made any travel off campus unwise. We will be praying that the Lord provides political stability with the hopes that we can pursue this exciting opportunity.
Our on-campus schools, including the seminary, elementary, Jr high, deaf, and adult schools were supposed to start up in September. But severe rioting has brought the country to a screeching halt. Schools across the country remain closed and business and government offices open occasionally. Because of the lack of gasoline, travel has become extremely expensive. Daily travel to and from our campus into town now costs more money than an average teacher's monthly salary.
Politically, Haiti is once again in turmoil. The opposition to Haiti's current government, which includes many of the country's senators and deputies, has called for a coup d’état, declared civil war, and openly threatened to kill the president of Haiti. Senators, supposedly the countries intellectual elite, are fighting like school children and throwing furniture in the parliament. The place where national heroes once stood to defend the countries interests, the office that once stirred sentiments of national pride, has become the laughing-stock of nations and brought shame to the country. While there is a tremendous gasoline shortage throughout the country, many of the gas stations have gasoline, but are being manipulated into not selling what they have openly to the people. The ensuing lack of gas, even though there is gas, has caused skyrocketing travel costs along with a corresponding increase in the cost of living. Enraged by the manipulation, the people have been rioting, and are looking for a way to strike back, but seem unsure of how to respond. Groups of bandits, on the payroll of unnamed individuals or politicians have come to our area to block roads and cause havoc. Upon community "pressure", the bandits dispersed, but moved to a different location up the road so that they can "earn their pay." With no political solution in sight and no decrease in the cost of living soon, it does not appear like there will be any change here in Haiti anytime soon.
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Aug2019 Seminar, 350 meals per day
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(2019-August) Bible seminar with over 300 young people attending
We held a Bible seminar on Discipleship the last week in August. It was our biggest seminar so far with over 300 students attending. We fed more than 350 people every day. About 90% of those attending were young people under 25 years old. We praise God for their desire to study God's Word even in tough economic times.
The cost of rice and food stuffs has jumped as well, making hunger and starvation the number one problem in our community. It didn't rain much during the summer, so the local gardens are not doing well, compounding the food situation. The cost of rice has increased 25% in the last 3 months. As for our personal food, we are doing well. The US dollar is strong, so we can buy things when they become available. We have bought several extra sacks of rice and have given a lot away to help those in need. RoseAnne's Dorcas Ladies group is faithfully meeting each week, then going house to house visiting and praying with the sick. RoseAnne had given several of the church ladies a bulb of garlic, just as a gesture of appreciation. Three of the ladies came to her at church just to thank her for giving them 1 bulb of garlic. It's heart breaking to see the effect of a broken economy and the struggle for simple food items these sweet ladies are going through.
We have 3 kids clubs functioning in 3 different locations, each with over 80 children. They meet every Saturday, memorize verses, and have a Bible lesson. Pastor Daniel in Mathador, Pastor Eliphene in Garde Biassou, and Sr. Franceline in Roche are the leaders who have organized the clubs.
We have had a "Sakristen," like a deacon, from the catholic church in St Raphael who got saved recently. The priest visited him multiple times to get him to come back, but he refused. He has been faithfully attending our church since.
Please pray. Haiti has a lot of civil unrest right now. School and businesses are all shut down. No gas, no diesel, no propane. We have had a lot of sleepless nights, every night we hear gun fire. Sometimes it's close and sometimes it's far away. The roads everywhere are littered with broken bottles and rocks that the protestors and bandits have thrown.
We have enough food staples like flour, sugar, rice, beans and some canned goods so we won't go hungry and we have enough to share. We have peace, we know the Lord wants us here for now. We do have our bags packed in case we need to leave quickly but for now we are still safer at home than travelling on the roads. Don't worry for us...just keep praying for us and the people of Haiti.
We held a Bible seminar on Discipleship the last week in August. It was our biggest seminar so far with over 300 students attending. We fed more than 350 people every day. About 90% of those attending were young people under 25 years old. We praise God for their desire to study God's Word even in tough economic times.
The cost of rice and food stuffs has jumped as well, making hunger and starvation the number one problem in our community. It didn't rain much during the summer, so the local gardens are not doing well, compounding the food situation. The cost of rice has increased 25% in the last 3 months. As for our personal food, we are doing well. The US dollar is strong, so we can buy things when they become available. We have bought several extra sacks of rice and have given a lot away to help those in need. RoseAnne's Dorcas Ladies group is faithfully meeting each week, then going house to house visiting and praying with the sick. RoseAnne had given several of the church ladies a bulb of garlic, just as a gesture of appreciation. Three of the ladies came to her at church just to thank her for giving them 1 bulb of garlic. It's heart breaking to see the effect of a broken economy and the struggle for simple food items these sweet ladies are going through.
We have 3 kids clubs functioning in 3 different locations, each with over 80 children. They meet every Saturday, memorize verses, and have a Bible lesson. Pastor Daniel in Mathador, Pastor Eliphene in Garde Biassou, and Sr. Franceline in Roche are the leaders who have organized the clubs.
We have had a "Sakristen," like a deacon, from the catholic church in St Raphael who got saved recently. The priest visited him multiple times to get him to come back, but he refused. He has been faithfully attending our church since.
Please pray. Haiti has a lot of civil unrest right now. School and businesses are all shut down. No gas, no diesel, no propane. We have had a lot of sleepless nights, every night we hear gun fire. Sometimes it's close and sometimes it's far away. The roads everywhere are littered with broken bottles and rocks that the protestors and bandits have thrown.
We have enough food staples like flour, sugar, rice, beans and some canned goods so we won't go hungry and we have enough to share. We have peace, we know the Lord wants us here for now. We do have our bags packed in case we need to leave quickly but for now we are still safer at home than travelling on the roads. Don't worry for us...just keep praying for us and the people of Haiti.
(2019-April-July) Furlough MInistry
We were able to visit our supporting churches on the east coast this spring. We traveled over 7000 miles back and forth from Florida to Pennsylvania. It was a blessing to be able to visit with friends and to see folks we haven't been able to see in a long time. It has been 5 years since our last furlough, so it has been a much needed time to provide a recap of the ministry as well as to provide spiritual and financial accountability through the rehearsal of what the Lord has done in Haiti.
Tim was also able to take another online doctorate class at Maranatha Baptist University based in Watertown, Wisconsin. These classes are an important part of keeping the seminary ministry sharp as well providing a stronger spiritual educational for the Haitian pastors we work with and train.
We were able to visit our supporting churches on the east coast this spring. We traveled over 7000 miles back and forth from Florida to Pennsylvania. It was a blessing to be able to visit with friends and to see folks we haven't been able to see in a long time. It has been 5 years since our last furlough, so it has been a much needed time to provide a recap of the ministry as well as to provide spiritual and financial accountability through the rehearsal of what the Lord has done in Haiti.
Tim was also able to take another online doctorate class at Maranatha Baptist University based in Watertown, Wisconsin. These classes are an important part of keeping the seminary ministry sharp as well providing a stronger spiritual educational for the Haitian pastors we work with and train.
(2019-March) A Three Month Furlough
As we are stateside for a few months, we are wanting to take advantage of the time to to visit some of our supporting churches and report back on how the ministry is growing. Our last furlough was 5 years ago in 2014, so we are anxious to let family and friends know how the ministry is functioning and the progress that has been made in evangelism, planting new churches, and church growth and maturity
As we are stateside for a few months, we are wanting to take advantage of the time to to visit some of our supporting churches and report back on how the ministry is growing. Our last furlough was 5 years ago in 2014, so we are anxious to let family and friends know how the ministry is functioning and the progress that has been made in evangelism, planting new churches, and church growth and maturity
(2019-February) Riots
Riots have broken out throughout Haiti, creating a climate that is unsafe for our schools to function and unstable for ministry. We had to shut down our radio station temporarily, as it becomes a political target as soon as heavy rioting starts. There is a large percentage of the population in Haiti that have become dissatisfied with President Jovnel Moise because he promised to provide electricity throughout the country but has not, the high cost of living, and now the unavailability of gasoline throughout the country. The president has increased taxes on businessmen and lowered daily and monthly stipends to government officials creating a rift between himself and most other political leaders in the country. Since the February "Peyi Lock" riots, there has been an imminent threat of a coup d'etat (government overthrow). Because our possiblity for ministry is minimal at this time and our presence can initiate or cause a violent situation to develop that could potentially destabilize our ministry and put the lives of our Haitian co-workers in jeopardy, we thought it wiser to evacuate our family stateside and use the time for a mini furlough.
Riots have broken out throughout Haiti, creating a climate that is unsafe for our schools to function and unstable for ministry. We had to shut down our radio station temporarily, as it becomes a political target as soon as heavy rioting starts. There is a large percentage of the population in Haiti that have become dissatisfied with President Jovnel Moise because he promised to provide electricity throughout the country but has not, the high cost of living, and now the unavailability of gasoline throughout the country. The president has increased taxes on businessmen and lowered daily and monthly stipends to government officials creating a rift between himself and most other political leaders in the country. Since the February "Peyi Lock" riots, there has been an imminent threat of a coup d'etat (government overthrow). Because our possiblity for ministry is minimal at this time and our presence can initiate or cause a violent situation to develop that could potentially destabilize our ministry and put the lives of our Haitian co-workers in jeopardy, we thought it wiser to evacuate our family stateside and use the time for a mini furlough.
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(2019-February) Church Construction in Dubout, Limonade
We have been planning a church construction project in Dubout, Limonade for over a year. Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN has helped us with several other church construction projects in Cap Haitian, Ouanaminthe, and Mathador. This year they sent another team to help with the church in Dubout. We rented a house a few hundred yards from a UN military encampment in Quartier Morin, a town between Cap Haitian and Dubout, large enough to house over 30 people. We moved a staff of our people along with our family to Quartier Morin to prepare for the construction. The team flew in and we went to work for a few days on the church, putting up walls and columns to support the roof. Riots broke out, however, and demonstrators began burning tires, stopping vehicles with automatic weapons, and using the stolen and looted vehicles to block the roads. We felt safe in the house the Lord had provided for us, but the riots that surrounded us on each side kept us from leaving the house and getting to the job site. Because the political situation was escalating, we felt it wiser to evacuate and leave the country. We were in a tough situation with about $10,000 of construction materials still on the ground and in danger of being stolen and looted. But, the Lord allowed the roads to be open three more days, which miraculously allowed us to get to the job site, put the roof on the church, install the doors, use up the materials on the ground, and get far enough along to where the church can be used until we can return to add the final touches to the building. We couldn't abandon our Haitian staff and leave all of our construction equipment, so we waited until we felt we could get back up the mountain to St Raphael. However, as we traveled with multiple vehicles up the mountain there were dozens of road blocks and burning tires. At the fourth road block, a group of armed bandits demanded $400US worth of Haitian currency to pass. As we were putting together the money we had, the bandits poured gasoline on one of the vehicles threatening to burn it and took two of our Haitian friends and stood them on the side of the road to assassinate them. But, when we gave what we had, about $350US in Haitian money, they allowed us to pass. Knowing that there were many more road blocks ahead, we didn't know how we would be able to get through without money, but at the same time we could not go back because of the thieves. The Lord had timed everything exactly though, as we pulled away from the bandits, because at each of the successive dozen or more road blocks, the tires they had lit earlier in the morning had just finished burning out at the moment we arrived at each road block, so the demonstrators had left to go look for more tires to burn. We passed through each road block without issue. As we pulled into our campus in St Raphael, we unloaded the truck, bus, and vehicle with the construction equipment, thanking and praising the Lord for his protection and miraculous intervention in allowing us to reach home unharmed.
We have been planning a church construction project in Dubout, Limonade for over a year. Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN has helped us with several other church construction projects in Cap Haitian, Ouanaminthe, and Mathador. This year they sent another team to help with the church in Dubout. We rented a house a few hundred yards from a UN military encampment in Quartier Morin, a town between Cap Haitian and Dubout, large enough to house over 30 people. We moved a staff of our people along with our family to Quartier Morin to prepare for the construction. The team flew in and we went to work for a few days on the church, putting up walls and columns to support the roof. Riots broke out, however, and demonstrators began burning tires, stopping vehicles with automatic weapons, and using the stolen and looted vehicles to block the roads. We felt safe in the house the Lord had provided for us, but the riots that surrounded us on each side kept us from leaving the house and getting to the job site. Because the political situation was escalating, we felt it wiser to evacuate and leave the country. We were in a tough situation with about $10,000 of construction materials still on the ground and in danger of being stolen and looted. But, the Lord allowed the roads to be open three more days, which miraculously allowed us to get to the job site, put the roof on the church, install the doors, use up the materials on the ground, and get far enough along to where the church can be used until we can return to add the final touches to the building. We couldn't abandon our Haitian staff and leave all of our construction equipment, so we waited until we felt we could get back up the mountain to St Raphael. However, as we traveled with multiple vehicles up the mountain there were dozens of road blocks and burning tires. At the fourth road block, a group of armed bandits demanded $400US worth of Haitian currency to pass. As we were putting together the money we had, the bandits poured gasoline on one of the vehicles threatening to burn it and took two of our Haitian friends and stood them on the side of the road to assassinate them. But, when we gave what we had, about $350US in Haitian money, they allowed us to pass. Knowing that there were many more road blocks ahead, we didn't know how we would be able to get through without money, but at the same time we could not go back because of the thieves. The Lord had timed everything exactly though, as we pulled away from the bandits, because at each of the successive dozen or more road blocks, the tires they had lit earlier in the morning had just finished burning out at the moment we arrived at each road block, so the demonstrators had left to go look for more tires to burn. We passed through each road block without issue. As we pulled into our campus in St Raphael, we unloaded the truck, bus, and vehicle with the construction equipment, thanking and praising the Lord for his protection and miraculous intervention in allowing us to reach home unharmed.
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(2019-January) Seminary Class on Dispensationalism
Tim taught a class on Dispensationalism in the seminary during the month of January. The study of the different covenants God made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Israel, and New Testament believers is an interesting way to deepen our appreciation for the grace God has extended to us during this church age.
Tim taught a class on Dispensationalism in the seminary during the month of January. The study of the different covenants God made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Israel, and New Testament believers is an interesting way to deepen our appreciation for the grace God has extended to us during this church age.
(2019-January) Seminary Graduation
Friday, the last day of our week long Bible seminar on 1&2 Peter and Jude, we held a seminary graduation. We had 6 men who graduated from the 4 year full time seminary curriculum to receive a Diploma in Theology. There were 10 men who graduated from the Saturday Bible Extension program, a program that can take 4-6 years to complete. There were 18 graduates as well from the seminar program that meets for a week, three times a year who received a Bible Certificate to commemorate their achievement. The graduation was an exciting time to rehearse the importance of studying the Bible and to applaud those who have been faithful in doing so.
Friday, the last day of our week long Bible seminar on 1&2 Peter and Jude, we held a seminary graduation. We had 6 men who graduated from the 4 year full time seminary curriculum to receive a Diploma in Theology. There were 10 men who graduated from the Saturday Bible Extension program, a program that can take 4-6 years to complete. There were 18 graduates as well from the seminar program that meets for a week, three times a year who received a Bible Certificate to commemorate their achievement. The graduation was an exciting time to rehearse the importance of studying the Bible and to applaud those who have been faithful in doing so.
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(2019-January) Bible Seminar
We held another of our Bible seminars the first week of January. We have been teaching week long Bible seminars the first the first week of January, the week before Easter, and again the last week in August since the year 2000. The goal of our seminars is to train Sunday school teachers and church leaders so the churches we have planted can steadily grow in the faith and stand strong for the Lord, but we have young people come from churches all across the St Raphael area. This week we studied 1 & 2 Peter and Jude and had 223 people attending. We teach Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 2 PM, and eat together in the morning and afternoon. It is a good time of Bible study, worship, and fellowship.
We held another of our Bible seminars the first week of January. We have been teaching week long Bible seminars the first the first week of January, the week before Easter, and again the last week in August since the year 2000. The goal of our seminars is to train Sunday school teachers and church leaders so the churches we have planted can steadily grow in the faith and stand strong for the Lord, but we have young people come from churches all across the St Raphael area. This week we studied 1 & 2 Peter and Jude and had 223 people attending. We teach Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 2 PM, and eat together in the morning and afternoon. It is a good time of Bible study, worship, and fellowship.
(2019-January) 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.