Isaiah and Vivian Turn Eight

Isaiah and Vivian dodge sparks shooting from their birthday cakes during their Sept. 20 party.

Isaiah clears a ball from near the goal

Isaiah and Vivian at the Michigan State University Botanical Gardens

 We will never forget our visit to the gynecologist in the spring of 2005, only a few weeks after accepting the call to serve with Christian Reformed World Missions in Haiti.   It was Sharon's first ultrasound.  Everything was going according to plan when the jolly and playful medical technician uttered those words which shall remain forever etched in our memory, "Oh, it looks like double-trouble!"  Thus began the adventure of starting life and a new ministry in a foreign country with a set of new-born twins.  We number our days in Haiti by the age of our twins, and they are turning eight on September 24.  We give thanks to God for their lives.  Vivian is enjoying school, has several good friends, and is joyfully  (most of the time) learning the violin.  The violin is the perfect companion for Vivian's petite hands and small frame.  Isaiah is also enjoying school with several of good friends and is playing soccer with zest.  He seems to take pleasure in every bruise and scrape obtained while playing goalie (apparently he almost always chosen as goalie because of his energy and reckless abandon).  On Friday, 20 September we had a party for Isaiah and Vivian with 15 children at our home.  It is a blessing to see our children grow up in Haiti as they get to have so many experiences and develop so many relationships that would have been impossible if they were raised in the USA!

 

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, let your glory be over all the earth....Psalm 57

A mountain road cutting through the red soil of the Furcy area

The steeple of a church hidden in the mists that often hide the mountain tops in the Furcy area

One of the many waterfalls in the valleys of the Kenscoff mountains where Zach did some hiking.

Pic la Selle (2,680 meters) or 8,800 feet), the highest point in Haiti, hidden in the clouds

Throughout the history, God's people have often sought solace and comfort in the handiwork of the Creator.  In fact, Christian theologians from all schools of thought have taught that while Creation cannot reveal a "saving" knowledge of God (i.e., teach us how God became man, in Jesus Christ, and died for our sins, etc.), it can reveal some very important aspects of God's character (for those of you theologians....this is called 'natural revelation').  The Creation shows us the power, the majesty, the purity, the grace, the love, and the humor of God himself.  Zach had a chance to receive the message God communicates so powerfully through is Creation several weeks ago during a day spent hiking in Haiti's beautiful countryside.  Many don't realize the beauty of Haiti's rugged and mountainous land, but hopefully the pictures above will convince you!  Zach them in the Furcy area just south of Port-au-Prince.  It was amazing to enjoy the powerful evidence of God's majesty and love for us.  One thing that was very interesting is that even among this great natural beauty, there is so little opportunities to hear the message which cannot be communicated through the nature--the message of Jesus Christ communicated in Scripture.  After hiking and driving many miles through the Furcy area, Zach saw only one church, a small Catholic church.  The reality is that in the isolated rural areas of Haiti, there are very few evangelical churches.  Pray for the efforts of many Haitian pastors (like the ones we train and encourage) to plant churches in these isolated parts of Haiti so that people can see the beauty of God's creation and learn about the salvation he offers in Christ Jesus.

Making Our Worship More Pleasing to God

Haitian musicians use their talents in the daily worship services which punctuated the Conference. 

Participants take notes as the basic movements in a worship service were explained.

How do we make our worship more pleasing to God?  Although this is a very pressing question that all worship leaders must grapple with, in the normal course of ministry questions like this are often not asked.  Instead, congregations and leaders "go through the motions," making sure that things like announcements, offerings, worship practice, and all the other tasks of service-leading are plugged in and performed every week.  Our annual Worship and Music Conference (29-31 August) was an attempt (the only one like it in Haiti as far as we know) for the Haitian churches to take their worship to the next level.  We welcomed 100 participants from across a broad spectrum of Haitian Protestant denominations (Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, and Reformed).  For many of the participants, it was the first time they had ever received any training in worship planning and leadership.  We discussed the meaning of worship, the role of the worship leader and the parts of the worship service.  Music was also a major focus of our conference, as we delved into the principles underlying the selection of music and songs for the service.  We ended by challenging the participants to put together their own worship service on a biblical theme (Joshua 1:1-9).  The Music and Worship Conference was an invigorating opportunity to reinforce the capacity of Haitian churches to honor God in their worship.  Special thanks to RJB Ministries which donated a portion of the proceeds used to provide refreshments and food for the Conference.

Sharon discusses how certain songs can contribute to the basic parts of the worship service.

 
 
 

Young Haitian vocalists led the worship services of the Conference.

Zach leads a devotional on the third day of the conference.

Segaar-King August Ministry Update

Dear Friends and Family:

 Ten years ago we attended a Sunday service in Edinburgh, Scotland, in which we were informed by one of the Presbyterian congregants that only the Psalms were chanted (without accompaniment)!  From the 29^th-31^st of August, we held our second annual Music and Worship Conference for 100 participants which came from a variety of Protestant Christian backgrounds including Reformed, Baptist, Episcopal, Pentecostal and Methodist.  It was amazing to see leaders from so many different traditions growing in the knowledge and practice of worship.  We discussed the meaning of worship, the parts of the worship service, the place of music in worship, children and worship, and many other key subjects.  Of course, being Haitian (and not Scottish Presbyterian), the conference attendees had no problem with “lively” worship using everything from base guitar to Congo drums!   

 

Please join us in giving thanks for:

-An excellent Music and Worship Conference.  We are confident that the attendees will return to their own congregations better equipped to plan and lead worship that is edifying and glorifying to God!

-Hannah’s healing after surgery to remove four moles from her skin.  The biopsy showed that two moles were normal and two were atypical, meaning that they were as the surgeon’s office put it, one step before cancer.  Thankfully these were removed completely during surgery.  Now she will have to attend regular check-ups to keep an eye on her skin for more threatening moles.
-A good start to the school-year.  Our youngest, Esther, started all-day Pre-Kindergarten this year.  All of our children seem to be enjoying school, though it is definitely challenging to get back into the routine.
-A successful 14^th General Assembly for the CRC of Haiti.  Several new pastors were ordained, new church plants were celebrated, and 218 baptisms were reported in the 38 churches of the denomination.

 Please join us in praying for:

-Safety in the heart of hurricane season (September and October).  While Haiti desperately needs the nourishing rains of the season, pray that the destructive flooding and wind, which often accompanies hurricane season, would not affect its shores!
-An important team-building event the first week of September.  Pray that our cross-cultural team will be strengthened for the critical tasks of ministry!
-The kick-off of a new three-year group of students for the Reformed Theological Training Institute of the CRC of Haiti.
-The dedication of the Jacquet Church on September 29 and many visitors including a visit from SON-BEAM International, the organization that has helped to provide grants for building material purchases and church construction.

 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