Evangelism & Church Planting

In a country where 50% of the population openly practices voodoo, evangelism of the local people and the planting of indigenous, national churches has been the focus of New Hope Missions from the very begining. God, in His faithfulness, has honored that commitment with the establishment of churches in the villages of Limonade, Biley, Milot and Bas Aviation. Haitian pastors, called by God and trained in the Scriptures, shepherd His people at each location. Training and worship conferences, conducted by pastors from the United States, equip and encourage local church leadership.

On December 4, 2005 another milestone was reached in the history of the mission as five Haitian national pastors were ordained for the ministry. The dedication of these men in the face of overwhelming obstacles and their passion to reach their people with the Gospel of salvation in Christ, is both commendable and inspiring.

Evangelistic outreach often results in small groups of believers meeting in temporary shelters for extended periods of time. Once the congregation has grown in size to where a more permanent structure is needed, plans are made for the construction of a church building. Local people work hand-in-hand with teams of volunteers from the United States to prepare the foundation, lay the cement blocks, set the rafters, secure the tin roofing and hang the doors as another “vision of hope” becomes a reality.

Christian Education

Haitian people place a high priority on education knowing that the only real hope for them and their nation lies in the hands of their children. Unfortunately, poverty often prevents the majority of parents from sending their children to area schools and as a result, 80% of the population is functionally illiterate.

Elementary schools have been established at each of the four ministry locations in northern Haiti. Students meet in the church buildings during weekdays from September through June and are taught by qualified teachers. Their efforts are rewarded annually by the overwhelming success rate in government testing of graduating students. Minimal tuition fees are either paid by the families of students or subsidized with mission resources. A student sponsorship program is being considered as another means of providing education to needy children.

Meaningful ministry in this desperate land requires that attention be given to education. By linking the Biblical principles of morality, self discipline and character to the basic building blocks of elementary education, the foundations for a future filled with genuine hope can be laid.

Nutrition

Haiti is the most “food insecure” country in the Western Hemisphere. Malnutrition and the diseases that often accompany it, claim the lives of 20% of the children before the age of five. It is no surprise that the majority of children attending the mission schools come to classes with empty stomachs and the need for a nutritional program is essential to ministering the love of Christ to them in a tangible way.

Students attend classes until mid-day and then are served a hot meal of rice, beans, pasta and sauce. Although filling, this simple meal served only on school days is far from a healthy, balanced diet and children often miss school due to illness. Our future goal is to add a high quality, dehydrated food supplement to their diet including protein, vitamins and minerals. Such products are available from several companies in the United States. Funding for this program is provided by donations from churches and individuals and we are looking to the Lord to increase this team of faithful supporters.

Child Sponsorship

Orphaned, abandoned and poverty-stricken children are the silent tragedy of every struggling nation and Haiti is no exception. The faces of these precious children become a picture of hopelessness too vivid to erase and their cries rise to God who has called himself “a father to the fatherless”. A vision to help thousands of these children in northern Haiti has led to the formation of “His Heart Ministries” and the Child Sponsorship Program.

Our Haitian pastors recommend children for assistance based on first hand knowledge of their critical needs. Then sponsors in the United States are linked with these children and their host families through the program. Sponsors are asked to make an annual commitment of $30.00 per month. $25.00 of this amount goes directly to the host family to provide food, clothing and shelter for the sponsored child, while contributing to the overall stability of the home environment. The remaining $5.00 is used for educational expenses of the child at a Mission school operated by the local church.

Vocational

Haiti lives under a dark shadow of widespread poverty. The per capita income of more than 80% of the population is estimated at less than $150.00 and 90 % of adults are unemployed. Any lasting hope for it's people must include a chance to earn enough money to provide for their basic needs. But there is also the element of personal dignity and self-respect that come from working for a living; something God clearly recognized when He gave Adam the responsibility of caring for the original Garden of Eden. And no church will truly thrive if it is totally dependent on donated money from another country to sustain it's ministry. To be self-supporting and self-sustaining, a church must be financed by it's own people.

A vocational program offering job skill training and employment opportunities is yet another avenue of hope for the people Haiti. A number of women attend sewing classes associated with the church/school centers and have learned to make clothing and other practical items. Many other possibilities are being considered as we look to the future, including co-operative gardens and mechanics and we are trusting God to raise up the people and resources to make this vision of hope a reality.