For years I have been told stories about how difficult ministry is in Haiti. About how this is a country full of evil. How it is a stronghold of Satin where the light of God's Word cannot penetrate the darkness. However, my visit to Haiti this week simply shattered those statements and exposed them as exaggerated myths.
I'm not saying that evil does not exist in Haiti. It does. The very reason that Wednesday evening church takes place in the daylight hours of the afternoon is because of safety concerns. However, it was late on Wednesday afternoon this week that I was exposed to the light of truth in Haiti that is growing brighter by the day. It was at that time that I was able to participate in a worship service in Port-au-Prince.
The service on this Wednesday afternoon was an extraordinary event. I was invited by the pastor, through our Book of Hope partners Dan & Liz Carl, to bring a message from God's Word to the youth and young adults of Caribbean Grace Tabernacle in Port-au-Prince. It was during my brief time at this church that I found a body of young believers who are on fire for God. They are excited to worship Him with all their energy. They are motivated to be the light that breaks the myths of the power of darkness that surrounds Haiti. They are the living proof that God is all powerful and has no problem beating down the enemy.
The message I brought was a simple one. Based on three scripture passages, the message focused on these youth being God's creation, created with a purpose, a purpose that requires them to maintain courage in the face of the enemy. With that, and aided by a tremendous move of the Holy Spirit, these young people were called into action. Called not just to take the gospel message to their community, city, or country, but also called to take the good news to nations throughout the Caribbean and around the world.
There are many who feel the challenges of Haiti are too difficult to overcome. Those who think that are right. Limited by their own power and might, the challenges of Haiti are too difficult to overcome. In their way of thinking, Haiti cannot be saved. However, I know a God who makes child's play out of doing the impossible. As I began to prepare to deliver the message that evening, the Holy Spirit confronted me with this. I was challenged not to simply motivate these young people to get involved with Book of Hope in Port-au-Prince, but to encourage them to think beyond a place that they have ever thought about before. To think in terms of God-sized boundaries, not Haitian boundaries.
I am a firm believer that whenever a church stretches beyond their boundaries to reach the loss, God pours out blessings in overflowing proportions. This was true in El Salvador 20 years ago when the Book of Hope was first distributed to nearly one million students in that small country. And now, 20 years later, El Salvador is a beacon of God's light and love that is sending missionary apostles throughout the world. And as a pour country like El Salvador continues to give so that their own can go, God pours out his blessings. I believe, no I am convinced by the Holy Spirit, that Haiti can be the next beacon of God's light and love.
Some say that this vision of Haiti being a hotbed of Haitian-driven ministry and worldwide missions is impossible. However, I know that it can happen. It just is just a matter of the church, the body of believers, being willing to break through the myths that tie them to the past and move forward into God's perfect plan for Haiti and for her youth. Please join us in prayer for Haiti. Pray for courage among those who God is calling. And pray for peace among the body of believers that the petty issues of the past will not be a hindrance to the call and purpose that God has for the youth of this country.
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