God's Surprising Result

Abel's group of aspiring taxi drivers and mechanics

Cars and trucks need a lot of TLC from Haitian mechanics because of harsh use.

For the last six years we have been busy with a training called "Street Psalms" in Haiti.  The vision of Street Psalms is to engage church leaders in a biblically-based series of training modules that will help them to develop a heart for the "least, the littlest, and the lost" in the sprawling cities of the Developing World.  In Haiti, the focus is especially on youth who are at-risk for joining gangs because of crime, violence and poverty in their communities.  In Haiti, at-risk youth are often scorned by the evangelical churches because of their dress (sagging pants, earrings, tattoos, etc.) and their habits (smoking, drug use, sexual libertinism, etc.).  While this attitude is not uncommon in Christian communities around the world, it is especially strong in Haiti's conservative evangelical churches.  Street Psalms is trying to change that mentality so that evangelical churches will show the love of Christ to those in greatest need of it.

Abel Joseph (in the tan suit in the picture above) has internalized the vision of Street Psalms.  Abel noted that his congregation struggled to connect with troubled young men who often loiter outside its gates in an underprivileged area of Port-au-Prince.  So after prayer and reflection, Abel developed a creative form of ministry to engage these young men.  He taught them to drive cars!  Many young Haitian guys long to get their driver's licenses, but can't because they don't have money to pay the fees or access to a car to practice with.  More importantly, many Haitian young men can make a living on Port-au-Prince's congested streets by driving taxis or camionnettes (light trucks converted to haul people on designated routes).  Many other young men learn mechanics and service Haiti's aging and decrepit fleet of public transport vehicles.  Several young men in Abel's group have succeeded in receiving their licenses.  Hopefully work as a taxi-driver and/or mechanic will come soon.  All the young men enjoy the reflection, prayer and bible study that accompany the driving lessons.  Thank God for Abel's creativity and the Street Psalms material that inspired him to connect with Haiti's struggling youth!