Our Missions Conference continued last evening with another interesting missionary presentation. The spotlight was on Haiti, and more particularly on the extraordinary things that the Lord has been doing there since the devastating earthquake in January. Reynold Jean-Baptiste and his family were with us to give a report on the needs in Haiti and to share the accounts of a new awakening to the gospel in his homeland.
Reynold and Betanie Jean-Baptiste
Reynold Jean-Baptiste is the Pastor of the Christian Haitian Church in the Pine Hills area of West Orlando. Reynold is also the Headmaster of the RJB Christian School that operates at the same location. During the last few decades, Reynold has planted several churches with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, including one in New England and multiple churches in the northern region of Haiti. Although they’ve made their primary residence in the United States for years now, Reynold and his wife Betanie still have family and friends living in Haiti.
Before he gave his message last night, his children sang a few Haitian Christian songs in French. And although we couldn’t understand very much, each of us could feel the connection with the gospel that transcends our individual cultures and languages. What a blessing it was to experience the gifts and talents of the Jean-Baptiste family!
Pastor Jean-Baptiste spoke last night of his love and compassion for the people of Haiti. Even before the earthquake the circumstances had been been deteriorating into greater and greater levels of poverty. He said that when he left Haiti as a young man, he wanted to come to the United States to gather all of our wealth and bring it back to Haiti. Each of us could relate to that kind of warm-hearted sympathy for his own suffering people! But now in the aftermath of the terribly destructive earthquake, matters are much worse. It’s hard for us to even appreciate the magnitude of the loss, not only in lives and homes, but in their livelihood and other intangibles.
One thing that Reynold informed us about was the overwhelming fear that continues to haunt the people of Haiti. He said that in Port-au-Prince, where the earthquake hit the hardest, many of the people are living in tents and other temporary structures. He told us that this is true not only of those that have lost their homes but for many of those whose homes were not damaged at all. Unfortunately, many of the people are having a difficult time coping with the terror of what happened, while at the same time paralyzed by the threat of a possible recurrence.
Reynold taught us some of the history of the Haitian civilization. And he commented on how the country of Haiti has been blessed with a distinctively Christian heritage. But he also shared that the Haitian people, by and large, have turned their back upon the Lord and have become obsessed with pagan practices like voodoo. He referenced Joshua 1:8, and acknowledged that the Lord promises His prosperity and success for those that observe His Book of the Law. And even though circumstances couldn’t get much worse for Haiti, the promise still remains for those that will turn to the Lord for help.
“Haiti needs the Lord,” remarked Pastor Jean-Baptiste. There’s a big difference between the poverty-stricken, earthquake-burdened island nation of Haiti and the wealthy and prosperous United States of America. He said that although our lands are not very far from each other geographically, they are worlds apart socially, culturally and economically. But whether we live there in Haiti or whether we live here in the United States, we need the Lord equally. Each one of us is just as destitute without the Lord!
Thankfully, Reynold gave report of some of the wonderful ways in which the people have already been turning back to the Lord. Many of the people have forsaken their witchcraft and have trusted in Jesus Christ for their deliverance. There was even a three day period of prayer and fasting that was sanctioned by the national government. Christian Churches have witnessed a resurging increase in attendance and interest. And many Christian relief organizations have been invited to come with Bibles and other resources that exalt the Lord Jesus.
We watched some of the dramatic images that came after the earthquake. With a death toll estimated at approximately 150,000, we were reminded of the necessity of performing group funerals and digging mass graves. By the magic of multi-media, we were introduced to a small sample of the terrible pain and suffering that has become so prevalent for the people of Haiti.
The conditions in Haiti are very serious. There’s still so much for us to pray about. And there are many opportunities to give. Our own denomination, the Christian and Missionary Alliance has sent representatives from our Southeastern District and members of our relief agency, CAMA Services to help to alleviate some of the suffering. Each of us can give something to the “Haiti Relief Fund,” either through our local C&MA church or directly to CAMA Services.
We’re grateful for the time that Reynold Jean-Baptiste could be with us last night. May the Lord continue to bless his ministries in Orlando, as well as the ministry relationships that have been developed over the years in Haiti.