"You never know who will show up....."

One of the pithy phrases we live by is this: “Lè ou fè yon seminè fòmasyon, ou pa janm konnen kilès pral debake sou ou.” Here’s the approximate translation: “When you do a training seminar, you never know who will show up.” This was certainly true for the last week of Timothy training which took place May 2-4. In the previous seminar last October, there were much fewer people than expected. But in May, over 75 people showed up! We were shocked and got off guard because we had prepared for 63. We didn’t have enough food and Zach and a few other leaders were obliged to skip lunch on the first day of training. We also didn’t have enough handouts or enough chairs. But what was really difficult was that we didn’t have enough trainers to divide the large group into smaller groups of a more manageable size. However, it was amazing to see so many people yearning to drink deeply from the well of biblical and practical training that Timothy Institute offers. We graduated a group of seven leaders from the first level of training (Pastoral Care and Christian Stewardship). Two of those leaders graduated from the second level (Preaching and Teaching the Christian Faith). There were a number of exciting testimonies from the participants about the changes in their ministry because of Timothy. There were a number of groups that had revitalized their ailing Sunday School and small group ministry by using the Timothy bible studies (especially the one on Pastoral Care). Another participant said that many marginal attenders in his church have been baptized and become full members in church because of a pastoral visit from a Timothy group member. There were other group members who witnessed to the improvement that their churches have seen in offerings and ministry involvement because of the Stewardship material. We are thankful to God for his grace in growing our Timothy training ministry. Please join us in praying for a training seminar for Timothy trainers that we will be holding on June 8.

Dear Friends and Family: For many years we have been itching for a opportunity to raise the question of worship and music in the Haitian Evangelical churches. Last week we finally got our chance. A group of four musicians, called the “Worship and Music Team” spent a little over a week with us in Haiti. Two of the four were from our supporting church of Calvin CRC (Holland, MI), one was Russian, and one other was from Cutlerville CRC (MI). The team was paired with two excellent Haitian worship leaders: Jean Marc Cassamajor (the music leader at a large Baptist church in Port-au-Prince) and Ronald Pierre (the worship leader at Quisqueya Chapel, our “home church” while in Haiti). There was quite a powerful dynamic between the visiting team and the Haitian worship leaders and we had four very powerful worship services in the two days of the conference. The participants informed us that to their knowledge, this was the first Worship and Music Conference held on Haitian soil with the Protestant churches. During the conference, we asked some big questions like “What is worship?”, “What are the parts of worship?”, “How can music help us and/or hinder us in worship?”, “How can you build a worship team in your church?” Zach and Sharon tackled the issue of worship and music from a Biblical perspective, while the other experts dealt with some more practical issues. This was a great opportunity for Sharon because she has served several churches as a worship and music leader. It was also a boon to get the Haitian perspective from our local worship leaders. The visiting team had two excellent instrumentalists on the guitar and piano. We also got to use a new digital piano that was donated to us by two faithful supporters of ours. At the end of the two-day conference, it was clear that we should try to do this again next year with a larger group of Haitian worship leaders. Thanks for your prayers for the visiting Music and Worship Team and for our ministry in general. God is equipping the Haitian church to sing the praises of his glory!

Finaly, Progress.....

A lot of our supporters are often asking for updates about the projects in which they participate or to which they donate.  Below you will find an update about a few recent construction projects that you have supported:

1. Jacquet Land Purchase (see above): Jacquet CRC of Haiti has finally purchased church property in near their rented church building.  This is a very expensive area of Port-au-Prince and this little piece of property (about 50'x100') costs $65K plus lawyer fees.  Trinity CRC of Goderich, ON, and SON-BEAM International are helping to finance part of the purchase.  If all goes according to plan, the construction of the church should start in July of 2012 (first the land must be cleared of the small house and a few other buildings).

2. Generator House/Apartment of the CRC of Haiti:
Since 2011, a number of visiting churches helped us put the finishing touches on the generator house of the CRC of Haiti. One the first level, there is room for two large generators and a wood shop.  On the second level, there is an apartment for visiting guests and a home that is rented to Brenord, an employee of the Ministry for Christian Development.  Finally, with the help of Fuller Ave. CRC, the Ministry Center wall was "beautified" with a number of tropical plants including palm trees, fruit plants, aloe plants and others.  With all the rain lately, the wall is looking pretty nice!

3. Ministry for Christian Development Conference Center: The Ministry for Christian Development completed the first phase of their new office building in 2010.  The building houses offices, a small conference room and a small cafeteria.  The next phase is the construction of a conference center.  This conference center is very important to MCD because its primary ministry is leadership training.  The conference center will allow MCD to bring in trainers and beneficiaries for further education at their convenience.  In April, the foundation was dug, but subsequent heavy rains have set the project back.

Segaar-King April/May 2012 Update

Dear Friends and Family: In Haiti we see mountains surrounding us on a daily basis. Recently I looked up to the mountains and prayed for help for what the people of Savanette, Haiti needed to hear. Psalm 121 came to mind which states: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” No matter what problem we are facing, we know that we can bring it to God who can surely help us because he is the Creator of heaven and earth. Recently I heard someone say, those with big problems have a little god, but those with little problems have a big God. We have a big Creator God who is able to help us no matter what challenge comes our way. We can come to God at any time, day or night, and he is the one who will always help us. I pray that whatever challenges you need help with right now, that you have confident trust in the LORD your God who is your Keeper. Please join us in giving thanks for: -Ongoing Timothy Leadership Training events on May 2-4. We asked for prayers that God would send individuals who are ready to take the next step with the Spirit in growing the church. We are thankful that God has answered this prayer--we anticipated fifty participants, but in reality we received over seventy on this first day of Timothy training. Luke 10:2 states, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the LORD of the harvest therefore to send out workers into his harvest field.” We thank you for your prayers, for God indeed has sent us “workers.” Now we ask for your prayers so that we are able to train the “workers” who are planning on going out into the “harvest field.” -Successful visits to the Haitian countryside. Zachary traveled to Thomassique to help set up a church partnership community development program. Sharon travelled to Savanette to help organize the upcoming women’s conference in June. For this planning to go well, it is important to have communication, but there was no way to communicate quickly because there was no telephone coverage. The women decided to pray to God and about a month ago a newer cell phone company built a cell phone tower. So, now we can communicate about the plans for the conference. I do not think that this is a coincidence, but rather an example of how God gives us exactly what we need when we seek his help. - Our team, Sous Espwa, successfully relocated 150 families of displaced persons living in the cul-de-sac in front of our office since Haiti’s January 2012 earthquake. What was once a tent city, now is open land again. I pray that soon the land will be beautified and once again soccer will be played there. Several people from the camp came and said how blessed they are to now have a home to live in. - Construction of a new church roof at Villa de Woz near Le Cayes (in southwestern Haiti) has begun as planned. Now we ask for prayers to help place the 12,000 screws that are needed for this roof. Please join us in praying for: -A successful visit for a Worship and Music Team from Calvin CRC of Holland, MI in May. -A good finish to the school year. Our kids finish school June 5. -Strength because some of our close friends in Haiti have decided to move back to the United States. We will miss them.

Participants in the 2-4 May Timothy Training Conference

FOR MORE PICTURES, STORIES, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MINISTRY AND FAMILY, PLEASE SEE OUR BLOG AT segaarking.blogspot.com Thanks for your prayers and support, Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King Missionaries to Haiti Christian Reformed World Missions