Thank you, friends, for your compassionate hearts toward our brothers and sisters in Haiti. I wanted to follow up yesterday’s post with an update on what we’re doing – and what you’re giving toward – to get food to Haitian Christians.

We are working with our lead pastors in Ouanaminthe to purchase nutritious nonperishable foods and to fill new 5 gallon buckets with specific quantities of food. Each 5 gallon bucket of food will feed a Haitian family of four for up to two weeks. And families want buckets for better sanitation. Every part of this “bucket blessing” will be appreciated and used by Haitian families. DONATE HERE to help us feed more Haitian families!

Who Knew?

Karen and Don Davis are the heroes of the hour! I met these faithful servants of Christ last year in preparation for our pastors conference in Cap Haitian. As long-time missionaries in Cap, they gave us invaluable advice and introductions. After the February conference, we visited with Karen and Don, got to know them more, and heard more about their long investment for Christ in Haiti. Providing food to hurting families is one way God has used them to share the love of Jesus with Haitians. And they have a lot of experience on how to do it well – experience they graciously shared with us these past several days. 

Fill Up Buckets

Following Karen and Don’s guidelines, we’re filling up new 5 gallon buckets with:

• Rice – 1 gal bag (Ziploc)
• Corn meal – 2 qt bags
• Black beans – 1 qt bag
• Sugar – 1/2 qt bag
• Flour – 1/2 qt bag
• Tomato paste – 1 large can
• Oil – two 20oz bottles
• Spaghetti – three 16oz packages
• Canned milk – 2 small cans
• Toiletries – soap, toothpaste as available
• Encouraging note/Scripture

Each bucket costs us around $15 USD. Help us get more food to Haitian Christians

It’s Happening!

Pastors Esaii, Philogene, and Jasmin are talking with food vendors in Haiti as I write to arrange for the purchase of bulk foods. I’ll set up the first wire transfer of funds tomorrow morning in Saginaw. Our goal is to get the buckets of food to Haitian families beginning next week. And we are preparing to provide more funds for food in 2-3 weeks.

Karen and Don Davis wrote in their latest blog:

Most people here do not have any way to buy food for a week, much less for 2 weeks or more.  They really DO live day to day.  Is there a solution in a third world country?  I don’t know.  But prayers are going up and we know the Lord answers. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH for being part of the Lord’s answer to prayer for our Kingdom partners and dear friends in Ouanaminthe, Haiti!

Haitian Christians need food right now, and we’re doing all we can to get it to them. You can help us provide nutritious nonperishable foods such as rice, black beans, corn meal, etc. by donating HERE.

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

What’s Happening?

In response to COVID-19, the Haitian government closed schools and businesses then ordered the Haitian people to stay at home. All that sounds good – and it’s working in the United States. The problem in Haiti is, neither the government nor employers provide any kind of financial safety net for Haitian workers. Haiti has no unemployment or public assistance. Making matters worse, the average Haitian survives from day to day in the informal economy. Most Haitians have no savings, no emergency fund, no freezers, no refrigerators.

Pastor Esaii told me, “Life is so hard in Haiti now. The people said to the president they would rather die of COVID-19 than die of starvation by staying home!” HELP HERE

What Are We Doing?

PPI maintains a bank account in Haiti that provides “startup” funds for our next pastors conferences. Pastor Esaii oversees this account for us. We typically carry a balance of $500-$1000 USD. Three weeks ago, I directed Esaii to use this money to help pastors and their families purchase food for themselves and their churches. They stretched the funds as far as they could. Now they’re out of food.

Over the last few days, I have talked with mission leaders in Haiti and in the United States about the best way to help our Haitian brothers and sisters right now. Our plan is to get as much nutritious, nonperishable bulk food as possible to Ouanaminthe within the next 10 days. We are working with our lead pastors there to distribute the food carefully so that it helps as many as possible for as long as possible.

How Can You Help?

Simply by donating money to Partnership of Pastors. As I write, we are tracking down the availability and prices of bulk foods. In the next few days, we will buy these foods in Haiti or here in the U.S. (or both) and get it as quickly as we can to our brothers and sisters in Ouanaminthe.

Will you help us do that? DONATE HERE

How is COVID-19 affecting Haiti? What about PPIs next pastors training there? Check out my VIDEO UPDATE here.

I WILL NEVER FORGET walking out of Andy’s Diner in Hawthorne, New Jersey, one cloudless September morning. An enormous column of smoke churned upward over New York City, just over 10 miles from where I stood. It was September 11, 2001.

The rest of the day was a blur – staring at CNN news with Rena, checking on our kids at school, calming a distraught dad determined to take his child out of school, praying with a frightened father whose daughter worked in Tower One, seeing police cars encircling the Jewish temple close to our house, waiting with a young wife whose husband worked on the 94th floor, praying with people at our church until after midnight.

Right away we saw God at work. Neighbors helped one another. Traffic flowed courteously. Families filled our church. Christians gathered to pray and read Scripture together. Some changed jobs – even careers – to give priority to what matters most in life. Men and women gave their lives to Christ.

Jonathan Edwards scoured news sources of his day (mid-1700s), looking for ways God was advancing the gospel around the world. He often found them in difficulties that demonstrated how vulnerable our prosperity is and how fragile our lives are on this earth. We can too.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET COVID-19. It’s hard not to focus on the increasing cases and deaths, dwindling medical supplies, and our slumping economy. Instead, look for ways God is advancing the gospel in your family, neighborhood, church and community. Pray for and get on board with what He is doing for eternity in these uncertain days. We all are more open to the hope of Jesus when we face the reality of how vulnerable our prosperity is and how fragile our lives are on this earth.

Now imagine living every day all your life with that kind of vulnerability and fragility. That’s normal life for people in Haiti and many other countries in the world. That’s why Christians there are eager to grow spiritually and why many non-Christians are open to the good news of Jesus.

That’s why training and resourcing church leaders in poor countries is eternally important! That’s why Partnership of Pastors is actively involved in making that happen! Continue to pray for us as we develop this ministry to indigenous church leaders. Consider partnering monthly with us to make this training available to more pastors living and leading churches in vulnerable, fragile areas. Get more info HERE.

What is your church doing in light of the spread of COVID-19? I’ve heard a number of options this week. 

Most churches have suspended all gatherings until April 6, possibly longer. Wow! (Michigan’s Governor Whitmer mandated indoor meetings of no more than 50 people from March 17 through April 5.)

Churches with the technological capability have moved online – posting sermons, praise team music, and other encouragement. Virtual and largely individual – but that may be what’s needed right now. What do you think?

Mark Devers of 9Marks said in a recent podcast that his church will not meet for several Sundays with no online sermons or other worship service elements  provided to the congregation. Devers said, “A video of a sermon is not a substitute for a covenanted congregation assembling together.” He believes this “period of abstinence” is healthier spiritually for his congregation than a “substitute” worship service. Food for thought.

After meeting with our board on Tuesday afternoon, I wrote and videotaped a message to the church of which I am currently interim pastor. We’re planning to gather as usual this Sunday and discern best steps from there. Our church averages around 50 people and a few of our folks are staying home, so we’ll be in compliance with Gov Whitmer’s mandate of 50 people or less.

Depending on our governor’s guidance next week, we’re considering gathering in “house churches” of 8-10 people. We have D Groups (Discussion Groups) in place that we will re-purpose and ramp up as home groups. If we need to move to these smaller gatherings, we’ll provide each group with a weekly video of the sermon, songs, pastoral prayer, and discussion questions. We are also giving our people practical suggestions and support in caring for one another, neighbors and coworkers.

Many churches around the world meet in this way. At its best, this is a good step closer to New Testament church practice – holistic, missional home groups, led by growing “lay” believers who are being equipped by pastor-elders.

Whatever our churches decide, we need to be careful not to define “church” as our Sunday morning service, offered at a certain sacred location, led by the professionals and supported by “lay people.” Only in America! God help us to understand – and give us the courage to live out – Jesus’ intentions for His church. These uncertain times highlight our definitions of Jesus’ ekklesia.

I told our church this week that God has kingdom purpose in what is  happening right now. This is not time for Jesus’ church to shrink back and minimize, but to take wise and bold gospel steps with our congregation and in our community. We need gospel perspective and gospel courage in these days!

Enough from me. 🙂 What are your churches doing – and what do you think about it?

Ken