I have just returned home from a historic time of ministry in Haiti.  While I was only there 5 days, every day was packed with strategic meetings.  And as is usual for me, when I arrived in Haiti I “hit the ground running!”  Since you prayed me safely through this trip, I want you to also rejoice with me in all that God was pleased to do through my time in both Port-au-Prince and Cayes.

First, there was a major Bible distribution scheduled at the governmental level shortly after I arrived.  Just as soon as I landed, I was driven from the airport to the offices of the Ministry of Environment.  There I met up with Chavannes Jeunes, a beloved friend and partner for over 25 years.  Even though he finished third in his election bid for the Haitian presidency last year, he continues to be the head of the UNION Political Party that he founded.  They won a number of parliamentary seats as well as 13 mayoral posts throughout Haiti.  And he personally continues to play a key role as informal advisor to the President, Prime Minister, Parliamentarians and other government officials. 

Every week Chavannes meets with various people in government for prayer and Bible Study.  His is also spear-heading a movement to personally put a French or Creole Bible into the hands of EVERY political leader and government worker in the entire country.  This is a monumental task to say the very least – as well as an expensive one!  But through the partnership with Christians in Haiti and America, he is systematically distributing God’s Word throughout ever level of government.  We at NDI are privileged to be one of his partners in this Bible distribution – starting with special leather bound French Bibles for the President, Prime Minister and Government Heads, embossed with their names.  So I was privileged to be there to participate in this distribution to all of the employees of the Ministry of Environment.

Before the Bibles were given out, I had the privilege of briefly sharing with the employees of this Department of Government.  I began by saying: “According to God’s Word, you have one of the most important jobs in all of Haiti.” I went on to explain to them from Genesis 1:28 about God’s first commandment to Adam and Eve to “rule over” and “have dominion” throughout all of God’s creation.

I also pointed out to these government workers that God’s first sanctuary for man was not a tabernacle, temple, synagogue or church, but in a garden – the “Garden of Eden.”  In addition, I shared about how man had lost that pristine Garden Paradise because of sin and rebellion against God.  The result has been that man has been a very poor steward of the natural world ever since – and has continued to rape, plunder and pollute every aspect of our environment.  I also pointed out that Haiti was one of the saddest examples in the entire world of this environmental and ecological plunder and pollution.  As a result of their generations of deforestation and desertification, Haiti has declined from being the “Pearl of the Antilles” with her forested mountains and lush tropical vegetation, to being the worst environmental disaster in the Caribbean – as well as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere!  So along with Chavannes, I challenged them to study God’s Word about both their spiritual and physical environment.  After sharing, we prayed, sang hymns and distributed a Bible to everyone – who received them enthusiastically and thankfully.

Pastor Chavannes Jeunes

The following morning we went to the National Palace for a service there.  Every Thursday Chavannes meets with various government officials – including the President and Prime Minister.  On the first Thursday of every month, he leads a special Prayer Service in the National Palace, or “Haiti White House.”  He generally invites 150 pastors and Christian leaders from different parts of Haiti to attend, along with different government officials and workers.

This was my second time to have the privilege of speaking at the National Palace.  My first opportunity was a couple of years ago as part of the “Haiti At The Cross” events that NDI was sponsoring.  So it was a privilege to be there again to share God’s Word.  And what an incredible joy it was to hear the National Ball Room filled with the prayers and praises of God’s people!  This old historic room with its crystal chandeliers literally resonated with the psalms, hymns and praise choruses of Haitian Christians!  There was also a youth choir that sang that reminded me of the early days of the “New Directions” when we first went to Haiti in 1968 – almost 40 years ago!

All around this historic room are the large bronze busts of most of the Presidents of Haiti, beginning with Jean Jacques Dessalines, Henri Christophe and Alexander Petion.  But because of the rapid succession of those who rose and fell after Papa Doc and Baby Doc, they are no busts of the likes of Namphy, Manigat, Avril, and Aristide.  Nor is there one yet of current President, Rene Preval.

After brief words of greeting and prayers from various delegates from the Haitian Diaspora in Canada, France, Boston, Miami and Nassau, I was introduced by Pastor Chavannes to speak.  As I was flying back from Africa prior to this trip to Haiti, God had impressed upon my spirit that I was to speak on this occasion about “Christ or Barabbas?”  Since Easter was the week immediately before my trip to Haiti, it was a very timely comparison.  I shared about how every nation, political leader and individual had to ultimately make a choice between “Christ and Barabbas” – just like Pilate and the Jewish religious leaders had to make two thousand years ago.  So whether in the First Century or the Twenty-First Century, the choice is exactly the same.  It is between two very different philosophies to change the world.  While Barabbas was “…a notorious prisoner” who had “..taken part in a rebellion” and led an “…insurrection in the City,”  Jesus was leading a revolution of love.  We are told in the Gospels that Barabbas had “committed murder in the uprising,” while Jesus had laid down His life on the cross for the world.

I further shared that Christ and Barabbas were two very different leaders who were both religious revolutionaries.  One was the “Son of Abba” – which is what the name Barabbas means, and the other the “Son of God.  One is a murderer, the other the Messiah…one was an insurrectionist and the other the Incarnation…one a seditionist and the other the Savior.  While Barabbas’ revolution was based on anarchy, Jesus’ revolution was based upon authority.  Barabbas led through lawlessness and crime while Jesus led through love and compassion.  Barabbas’ life was typified by hatred while Christ’s life was characterized by humility.  Barabbas inflicted hurt while Jesus brought healing.  One revolution was painful while the other peaceful.  Barabbas led through terrorism while Jesus led through truth.  One man’s revolution ultimately led to hell – while the other led to heaven.

Down through history, the choices have never changed!  Whether it is Pilate or President Preval, there are only two alternatives: Christ or antichrist?  Barabbas or Jesus?  And like most politicians in history, Pilate chose the route of popularity and political expediency rather than that of truth and integrity.  In his greatest political hour, Pilate folded to crowd pressure.  He released Barabbas and crucified Christ.

So whether it is provincial Palestine, prosperous America or poverty-stricken Haiti, that’s the exact same choice that every nation and every individual has to make: Christ or Barabbas?  Which one do we want released into our lives and our society?  Whose revolution will we be a part of?

Since my message at the National Palace was filmed, I hope to soon post either the video or audio on this web site.  I hope you will be watching for that.

After my message, we did another Bible distribution.  This time it was for every single employee of the National Palace – from the Chief of Protocol, to the many political aids, to all of the secretaries, to the police, security guards and secret service, to the cooks and custodians – all the way down to the gardeners!  No one was left out – and every one received his or her Bible with great gratitude.

As I was watching these several hundred Bibles being given out in the “Haiti White House” in Port-au-Prince, I thought to myself:  “This could never take place now in the American White House in Washington!”  So how ironical that in voodoo-dominated Haiti we could distribute Bibles in the National Palace, while in America – founded on the laws and principles of the Judeo-Christian religion – we could now never distribute Bibles like this!

With over two hundred years of Catholic dominance and voodoo influence, this kind of Bible distribution did not take place accidentally – but intentionally.  And God has used the bold faith of Chavannes Jeunes to make this possible – which is another reason we are so honored to be in partnership with him.  After the fall of Papa Doc, Chavannes gave several Bibles to top government officials – resulting in their conversions to Christ.  One is a pastor today.  So you can never underestimate the power of the Word of God when it is sown into people’s hearts and minds.  God has promised that His Word “…shall never return to him empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:10-11).  Jesus also said that some of the “good seed” of His Word would bring forth spiritual fruit “…a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty” (Matt. 13:23).  Pray that will happen in the lives of hundreds of these government workers who are receiving Bibles.

And let me also challenge you to prayerfully consider a generous contribution to help us buy Bibles for Chavannes.  These hard bound French or Creole Bibles cost $6.00 each – and we need several thousand more to do this total distribution to all government workers.  So I hope some of you will give online as soon as you finish reading this report!  Don’t forget!

Immediately after I finished preaching at the National Palace, I left for the long drive south to Cayes.  It is a hard, hot, dusty, and bone-bruising trip!  Every time I make it I say to myself: “This is the last time I will ever make this drive!”  Fortunately I have a short memory!

I was invited to preach in Cayes at the annual Convention for MEBSH (Mission Evangelique Baptiste du Sud d’Haiti).  MEBSH is the largest indigenous church in Haiti with over 480 local churches – predominantly in the south of Haiti.  Between 15,000 – 20,000 attend this annual Conference.  And while I have preached at it several times before, this was an especially significant Convention since it was their “70th Year of Ministry.”  The theme verse was John 1:16: “For of His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.”

The tabernacle was packed for 4 services a day: 5:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM.  Each service lasted 2 – 3 hours with multiple choirs singing each time – in addition to the incredible praise and worship by the congregation.  Also, there were generally as many people sitting outside the over-flowing Tabernacle as there were on the inside.  And the heat-index on the inside was off the chart!  When I finished preaching I was as drenching wet as if I had just stepped out of a shower – as you will see from the pictures.

Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis

Because of the historic significance of this Conference, Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis came to the closing service on Sunday.  In his political entourage were also some other members of Parliament.  He was very positive in his remarks about the great spiritual and social impact that MEBSH has had upon the people of Haiti – especially the peasants and the poor.  However, he also went out of his way to emphasize the fact that Haiti equally accepts all religions including “…Catholics, Protestants, Jehovah Witnesses and voodoo.”  Obviously this was done in very poor taste and was totally inappropriate to the group he was speaking to!

Dr. Osner Fevry

But after the Prime Minister sat down, another friend of mine was asked to bring greetings.  He was Dr. Osner Fevry.  He is one of the leading lawyers, most popular university professors and respected intellects of Haiti – who holds a double PhD.  He is also a very bold and outspoken Christian leader.  As a result of his Christian political activity in the past, he was put in prison for 9 months during the former rule of President Preval and this same Prime Minister.  So while he was very gracious when he got up to speak, he was lovingly bold in what he said in response to the Prime Minister’s comments about voodoo.  Fevry was unflinching in his retort that Jesus was the “…only way to salvation” with all other roads “….leading to death and hell.”  He concluded by turning to the Prime Minister and saying that he looked forward to the day when he would totally repent of voodoo and fully accept Jesus Christ!  He then walked over and embraced the Prime Minister – and sat back down.  At a reception afterwards, the Prime Minister asked Fevry to meet with him this coming Saturday for further discussions – so be praying for that meeting!

Once again I have returned from Haiti very tired in body – but exhilarated in spirit (I often tell people that you get “double miles” on your body for every trip to Haiti!).  I was glad to see a heightened UN Military presence on the streets of Port-au-Prince.  Also, there were a LOT more policeman on the streets because a new class or recent police graduates.  They were very professional and well-dressed, well-armed and well-mannered.  So both the crime and kidnappings have dramatically decreased.  As a result, many more mission teams, building teams, medical teams, etc., are returning to Haiti.  And we at NDI will also be increasing the teams we take there during the immediate months ahead.  We hope that some of you will be on one of them.  Just shoot us an email or give us a call if you are interested.  We can set up a strategic time of ministry for you and a work team from your church that will put you on the “cutting edge” of one of the neediest countries in the entire world!

So thanks again for praying for me while I was in Haiti.  I will now be in the States for several weeks of speaking and ministry before leaving for Africa again in mid May.  I hope to also spend some quality time with Patt, my children and grandchildren!  So whether I am in Haiti, Africa, Asia or America – know how special you are to me and how much I treasure our friendship and “partnership in the Gospel!”

In His Faithful Love,

PS:  Don’t forget to prayerfully consider a generous gift for “Bibles For Haiti!”  While Chavannes has this wide open door for Bible distribution in every governmental institution in Haiti, we want to keep him fully supplied.  So help NDI help Chavannes change Haiti politically through these strategic Bible distributions.