Would you consider a generous gift for a Youth Job Training program in central Haiti? The program is based in Hinche, a city of 200,000 people and growing fast because of gang violence in Port au Prince and surrounding areas. I know the pastor well who envisioned and launched the program. Pastor Laner Lefort is president of the League of Pastors in his area and a humble strategic leader. We have partnered with Pastor Laner for several years in training pastors in central Haiti. I recommend him to you without reservation.
Four years ago, Pastor Laner coordinated churches in the League to launch a job-skills program for young people (upper high school through young adult ages). This is a seven-week program beginning each June that trains young people in marketable skills such as plumbing, electrical, sewing, cooking (for business), graphic arts, and motorcycle/auto mechanics. The vocational courses run from 9:00am-12:00pm every day (Mon-Fri), beginning with prayer and a thought from Scripture, often focused on gospel truth. Young people then focus on their particular training track. GIVE NOW
Courses are hosted in League churches and open to all youth in the community. Pastor Laner said (translated to English), “[The job skills program] has become a great opportunity to prepare this generation for life and work. . . . It is an intensive training that emphasizes learning, discipline, and the development of the skills of young people.”
The program began four years ago with 300 young people. Pastor Laner told me in March (when I was with him) that 900 young people already had signed up! Churches in the League are asked to contribute 1000 gourdes (about $7.50) per young person they register. Many churches are able to do that, but some churches are too poor to give that much toward registrations. (Sorry the pics are small. They’re from Pastor Laner’s phone. :))
That’s where we come in! I have reached out to potential partners for Pastor Laner and the League of Pastors to help them finance this growing program. I envision U.S. partners giving an amount proportional to what the League churches invest in the program each year. For example, partners could double whatever the League churches raise for the program. Based on our years of experience in Haiti and following “when helping hurts” principles, we have found this type of “direct partnership” best in developing countries like Haiti. That way, national leaders are responsible to share the vision and develop the “core finances” within their association of churches. We can talk more about that approach.
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18
I want to be clear: This project is outside PPI’s main focus on pastors training and resourcing. However, we strongly believe the Lord gives opportunities for churches to help their communities practically. This demonstrates the Lord’s intention to “reconcile all things to Himself in heaven and on earth thus making peace . . .” (Colossians 1:19-20). Good deeds done in love and with excellence also open people’s hearts to the gospel and attract them to the church. DONATE NOW
From time to time, the Lord has used PPI to introduce and facilitate initial partnership steps on good community development projects led by national pastors associations we know and trust. That would be our role in this Kingdom venture – to introduce and facilitate.
If you would consider an ongoing partnership with Pastor Laner and the League, I’d love to talk more with you! We can arrange a call or video chat with you and/or your mission team. My contact info is:
- ken@ppiministries.org
- 989-295-3113 (phone, text or WhatsApp)
Thanks for praying and considering!