"For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel."
It seems we barely had time to share with you on all the GOOD we see our Lord doing before we are hit with news of natural disasters in Haiti.
The theme of this year's annual convention was The Bible: The Believer's Anchor and the theme verse from Ezra 7:10. This was such an important theme as the Bible is our supreme authority. The authority of God's Word is higher than man's tradition, church teaching, philosophy, and personal opinion. It is God's eternal standard of truth. It reveals what is wrong and what is right for the daily life of the believer. The Word of God provides general direction for the believer's everyday life. The Word of God upholds, produces joy, gives hope, light and understanding.
THE GOOD NEWS IN JEREMIE - REFORMED CHURCHES OF HAITI NATIONAL CONVENTION - MAY 25-28
Pastors and their congregations gathered on the Univesity of Jeremie campus to celebrate and learn what it means to have God's Word as the Anchor of our Christian faith. Before the convention, pastors from the five departments/states gathered for a time of leadership training and prayer. By Saturday, May 27, about 3,000 people were "living" on the campus, with services starting from 6:00am and ending by 10:00pm. We praise God for the wonderful time of worship over the 4 days. Pastors from Mirablais and Gonaives risked their lives to attend because they wanted to be there. A journey that would have taken 11 hours from Gonaives took three days to travel across mountains and valleys, and away from gang headquarters!
Our USA guests speakers too were fearless in attending: Rob Brinks of Reformed Mission Services (RMS); Dr. Neal Hegeman of Miami Interntional Seminary (MINTS); Dr. Ted Powers, ESMI board member, and Dr. Bresile St. Germain, at the young age of 89 years old. How powerfully and wisely these men spoke and preached God's Word! It was truly a refreshing time! To God be the glory!
THE GOOD NEWS IN MONTREAL, CANADA: New Church Plant
BAD NEWS: FLOODING ACROSS HAITI & EARTHQUAKE IN GRAND ANSE (Jeremie)
Haiti continues to be a country in major turmoil with no president, no sign of elections and no relief from the gangs control of some major cities making it impractical to cross. One of our faithful pastors, who has 4 church plants under MERH, could not attend the convention because of the gangs. His community is completely surrounded and could find no way out.On the day the US team left Jeremie, May 29, heavy rain began that resulted in flooding. This continued for several days that even the airport in Port-au-Prince was affected. Then on Monday, June 5, a week later, at 5:11 am, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit Jeremie. While this is considered a moderate earthquake on the Richter scale, it spells, yet again, more hardship for the people of Haiti. Haiti is a country where the very poor survive on the meager crops on their land. What the flood waters did not take away, like mango trees, breadfruit trees, etc., the earthquake did.We praise God for the ESMI team from Cayes who is already delivering water, tents and tarps to Jeremie. But once again, we need your help to provide additional food and resources.
MERCY RELIEF DONATION
As our Haitian brothers and sisters face yet another challenge, our prayer is for God's mercy. It seems overwhelming to face two more natural disasters in one week while dealing with the ongoing human disaster of violent gangs and poor political leadership. And then, there is the issue that most foreign Non-Government Organizations (NGO) have left Haiti.Will you once again, entrust ESMI to be your hands and feet to meetthe physical needs of our people, knowing it will give us the opportunity to reach the real need of the Gospel? If so, Click button below.
Praise & Prayer Requests
*GOOD NEWS in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. ESMI has been doing leadership training in Santo Domingo for almost three years and has obtained its non-profit status in that country. In the very near future, ESMI hopes to launch the first church plant in the Dominican Republic. Pray with us toward that end.
*GOOD NEWS in Haines City, Florida: This new church site is slowly growing and is made up mainly of new Haitian immigrants in the Central Florida region. Pray for God to provide the needed pastor for this church.
*GOOD NEWS in Winter Haven, FL. El Shaddai Community Church has begun to clear ground for the youth center building which, by God's grace, will also serve as a community center to our new immigrants. For example, the church began ESL classes in April, hoping to have 20 students but instead was compelled to stop at 54 students. Pray with us to raise the remaining $220,000.*GOOD NEWS in Jeremie. Two churches that were built to hold 300 people has now grown and has a congregation of 500. Thankful for ministry partner who provided the funds to expand these two churches.
*GOOD NEWS in Haiti Church Planting. The goal in 2023 was to plant 12 new churches. By God's grace, 7 have been built. Trusting God to provide funding for 5 more churches.
*Praise God for blessing the MERH convention. Everyone arrived safely and returned safely. And God's Word was powerfully proclaimed.
*Praise God for the safety of all the children in four orphan sites in Jeremie during the earthquake. One child had an accident while running for safety during the quake but should be fine.
*Pray earnestly for this new relief effort. Five pastors in the Central Plateau/Mirebalais presbytery lost their homes in the flood; many homes, on the hillside, next to El Shaddai at Versailles were destroyed; two ESMI Jeremie churches will need repairs but nothing major; however, many are in need as they face yet another challenge.
*Praise God for the safety of all the children in four orphan sites in Jeremie during the earthquake. One child had an accident while running for safety during the quake but should be fine.
Thank you for faithfully partnering with ESMI in the ministry of the Gospel. God's kingdom work is expanding among the Haitian community because of you.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good,for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 ESV
WAYS TO GIVE
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