We drove back to Gonaives this afternoon with no problems and will begin the first of two PPI courses here tomorrow (Thursday) morning. Friends, thanks so much for your prayers and encouraging words throughout our time in L’Estére. I often remind our Haitian team that many friends and supporters in the United States are behind us in training church leaders in Haiit. Many Haiti friends are praying for us as well!

Ninety-eight (98) church leaders completed Course 1 yesterday, and they were excited! As always, pastors came from surrounding areas, including Port au Prince, to attend the traning. Word continues to spread about PPI equipping in Haiti. Pastors thanked us again and again for coming to their town even though it is dangerous. They worked hard in the course and did very well. We have no doubt they will use the Thompson Bible in their churches and will be more effective in their communities for Christ. This grass-roots, gospel-rooted change life by life, community by community is the real hope of Haiti!

Aside from the instruction they received, many church leaders thanked us for bringing them together and encouraging them to work together for the gospel in their towns. Wilson Bellenton, our host pastor, moved all of us with his words at our closing ceremony. “We have been concerned about our security and all the problems here,” he said. “But now we have been strengthened and equipped to continue on for Christ with our churches.” Pastor Wilson presented me with a special gift (pictured) and our team with a big bag of rice and roast goat. No doubt, he and others sacrificed to give us these gifts of love. Isaiah spoke for all of us last night: “I’m ready to go back to L’Estére!” I thought of the Apostle Paul’s words:

A great door of effective work has opened for [us], and there are many adversaries . . . (1 Corinthians 16:9)

Enjoy a few pictures from our time in L’Estére. Please continue to pray for us as we lead two courses in Gonaives this week and then head back to our families for a time. Thank you for partnering with us in this work!

Haitian believers will gather at 4:00pm today to pray for our upcoming training. Pastor Jasmin, one of our key leaders, sent this message yesterday:

Hello, brothers and sisters! Tomorrow, God willing, at 4:00pm, we will pray for the conferences in February. We Haitians will gather at the church where Pastor Michel is. Thanks. God bless us.

Many of us here plan to pray in unity with our Haitian brothers and sisters.

Not long after, Jasmin sent his message, our daughter, Katie, texted me with this note:

We prayed for the conferences, Haitians, and you during class today. Drs Richard and Yoder remembered meeting you. 🙂

Katie is currently a third-year student  at Dallas Theological Seminary, my alma mater. I thought, “Wow! The Lord is encouraging us to pray!” Will you pray with us for our next pastors training in Haiti?

From February 8-23, we will offer three courses in Gonaïves and L’Estére, cities on the west coast of Haiti. We will lead Course 1 in both cities and also offer Course 2 in Gonaives. Registration is going well, and we should have full courses – 112 church leaders in each course.

Would you pause today at 4:00pm to pray in unity with us? Pray that God’s Spirit will fill us with:

• Joy and unity on our ministry team as we work together
• Love and honor for each church leader who attends our courses
• Patience and good humor, especially on the first morning of each course as we finalize registration, manage a waiting list, distribute materials and get started in the training. It’s a little crazy!
• Wisdom and effectiveness in leading each course and answering questions. Our Haitian team will lead all aspects of Course 1 this time with my coaching and encouragement. We’re excited about this step!
• Good health through long days of Kingdom work and good rest at night
• Protection from any disruption or gang activity, especially in L’Estere, a city closer to Port au Prince

Without Him, we can do nothing of value for Christ and for Haiti. Jasmin encouraged us with Matthew 6:33, translated from Creole to English:

Rather, we try to give the things of the Kingdom in the sky [Heaven] the first place in our lives. We try to live as God wants it first. Then God will give us all these other things as well.

Amen.

Second, we’ll offer Course 1 in the city of L’Estere for the first time. We won’t stay overnight in the city, however, because of recent gang activity there (L’Estére is about 2 hours north of Port au Prince). We will stay in Gonaives and drive to and from L’Estere each day. Pray for the logistics and our safety as we train pastors there.

Third, our Haitian team will lead Course 1 by themselves on this trip with my encouragement and coaching. They’re ready and willing! Pray for them to prepare well, lead well and experience the Lord’s joy and Spirit-filling as they lead. As it worked out, I actually will leave Gonaives the morning of our last day of Course 1 in Gonaives. It’s the only day/time MAF could fly me back to Cap Haitian because their other planes are out of service for two weeks. I tried every option to stay through Feb 23, but with no success. I was frustrated at first then realized this is a perfect opportunity for our Haitian team to conclude Course 1 without me there. This is a good step for them, and I’m excited for them!

Finally, pray for our team prayer and planning times, especially for our NEXT training in early April. We’re talking about going to two new cities on the north coast of Haiti – Port de Paix and Saint-Louis – where we have many invitations and good connections with potential host pastors.

Thank you so much for bringing us to our Father’s throne of grace. We look forward to being used by the Lord to encourage, equip and resource church leaders who go on to lead their churches well to reach entire communities for Christ. All for His honor and praise!

What insight does PPI have on the war in Ukraine? Some – as it turns out.

In November I (Ken) took part in the ICETE conference, a large gathering of ministry trainers and theological educators from around the world. A group of Bible college leaders from Ukraine were present at the conference. During one main session, a Ukrainian leader spoke passionately about their situation. He choked up as he described the indiscriminate bombing of Bible colleges, churches, hospitals and homes in his city. Several colleagues, family members and friends had been wounded. Some killed.

He pleaded with Russian evangelical leaders – also present at the conference – to speak out publicly against Russia’s unjust and unprovoked invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine. He challenged their silence as fear of man over fear of God and wondered aloud whether their silence meant that Russian Christians approved of the devastation. You could hear a pin drop in the room. Dr. Michael Ortiz, international director of ICETE, rose from his chair to stand beside this Ukrainian brother then led all of us in prayer for Ukraine and for Russia.

Also in November, PPI board member, Tony deBari, traveled to Ukraine with Samaritan’s Purse to provide medical care near the front lines of the war. Many of you know that Tony is a passionate Christ-follower and an accomplished orthopedic surgeon. In a recent Hopevale Church podcast, Tony shared his experiences as well as insights you won’t hear on the 6 o’clock news. I encourage you to watch his informative interview HERE.

Let’s keep our windows open on the world, friends! So many brothers and sisters in Christ around this globe only dream about the kind of freedom, security and prosperity that we enjoy every day in the United States. Pray for church leaders in Ukraine and in Russia. Pray for pastors and believers in Haiti. And let’s continue to put feet to our prayers by partnering together to encourage, train and resource church leaders in developing nations!

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.               (1 Peter 5:8-9)