Haiti Election Update

We have been so busy the last several weeks that we have forgotten to update our support network on the ever-evolving socio-political crisis in Haiti.  By God's grace, the elections on 20 November were calm and peaceful, though there was a low voter turnout.  The candidate of ex-President Martelly's party, Tet Kale, won over 50% of the vote.  This candidate, named Jovenel Moise, is a plantain farmer from the northwest of the country.  By winning over 50% of the vote, Moise can become President without a second, run-off election.  As you can imagine, several other candidates are rejecting the result and have lodged "contestations" with the election authorities.  The final election results after the "contestation process" are to be publicized 29 December.  Port-au-Prince has seen an increase in demonstrations as political operatives attempt to destabilize the country and invalidate the election.  We are praying that somehow all those involved in politics will give up the violent attempts to pursue their own gain and seek the good of the country through peace.

Christmas Opportunity

The ministry of Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM) requires “boots on the ground” in the form of missionary families like us.  In addition to training and teaching Haitian leaders which is the core and most exciting part of our ministry, we must do some other necessary jobs.  For example, we supervise the Haitian staff engaged in our ministry, manage projects like church construction, oversee ministry initiatives like IMPACT Clubs (for youth) and Timothy Leadership Training, and we receive volunteers and teams that come to Haiti to serve and grow.  In order to remain in Haiti, we must trust you, our support network, to provide $117,160 USD annually.  Much of these funds come in December.  Please consider giving a financial gift to CRWM in the final weeks of this calendar year.  By doing so, you will make it possible for the work of missions to continue in Haiti.  Thanks!

If you would like to contribute to our ministry in Haiti, please click on the following link:

Support the Segaar-Kings

The Church on the Rock Stood Firm

At the end of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells a parable about a wise and a foolish man.  The wise man who builds on the rock is like one who hears God’s word and obeys it.  Such a person stands firm in the storms of life. The Vila-de-Wòz church provides a vivid object lesson of Jesus’ parable.  Surrounded by the wreckage of homes and toppled trees, the church stands completely intact, seemingly untouched by the ravages of Hurricane Matthew. In fact, the entire community took shelter in the church building as the full force of Matthew’s winds arrived in the early morning of October 4.  Why did the church building survive?  Obviously, it is a miracle as the building was surrounded by huge breadfruit trees which fell away from the structure instead of on top of it.  In addition to God’s deliverance, the church, which was designed by SON-BEAM International, used a truss system that was much stronger than what is typically used in Haiti.  Large threaded rods securely held the trusses to the bond-beam.  We give thanks to God that this building now provides a space for worship and shelter for its community.