Cap Haitien, Haiti Leadership Training Conference, August 2016

Truth Connect was in Cap Haitien, Haiti  August 13-18, 2016 to encourage and equip Christian leaders to ignite godly transformation in their communities.  The ministry team of six included Dr. David Pitkins, Scott & Kim Smith, Isaac & Ilayda Jean, and me.  Pastor Aleonce Bazile and the Alliance Church of Limonade was our host.  Three events happened each day: Dr. Pitkins and I taught a Leadership Training Conference (LTC) to approximately 50 persons on the first level of the Alliance Church.  The Smiths and Jeans led a Teachers' Training Conference for approximately 35 elementary school teachers on the upper level of the church.  The training was well received and appreciated.  Each evening in Limonade, approximately 1,000 people came out for an evangelistic outreach.  The gathering was held in a local goat pasture. A stage was built in the center of the field with large speakers stacked high on the platform and portable gas generators provided the electric.  Each evening a band played praise and worship music for a few hours and then the preacher presented the gospel of Jesus Christ followed by an opportunity to repent of sins,  receive His forgiveness and confess Jesus as Savior.  By the end of the 8 day crusade, Pastor Bazile reported there were 56 first time conversions to Jesus Christ ~ two of them were voodoo witch doctors; a testimony to the power  of the Lord Jesus Christ's to change lives.

Pastor Aleonce Bazile and Dr. David Pitkins at the Limonade Alliance Church & School.

Don, Scott & Kim, Dave, Isaac & Illayda in Cap Haitien.

Dr. Dave teaching on "dry wells" and the need for Living Water.

Haitien leaders listening and learning.

Dr. Don teaching leadership principles with Pastor Bazile interpreting.

Truth Connect donors help to provide lunches at the LTC ~ Thank you TC supporters!

Mr. Fresnel and Mr. Joseph traveled from a different region of Haiti to be part of the LTC.

Pastor Willy and I have been friends for  years. He is a special man of God.

Certificates of completion are awarded to all who attend the LTC.

Limonade community evangelistic outreach.

Stage in goat pasture where Pastor Bazile interpreted for Dr. Pitkins and me.

Approximately a thousand people gathered each evening at the evangelistic outreach.

A trip to Haiti would not be complete without a break-down or two or three during the week. Scott assists Dave as he fills the overheated radiator with water on our way to the LTC.

Truth Connect Serves Mission Discovery / HOLD the children Mission Team in Haiti. 11/15

Truth Connect was invited to Cap Haitien, Haiti to serve a Mission Discovery / HOLD the children mission team November 12 -17, 2015.  Each November Richard Rohde, Director of HOLD the children (Htc), leads a team to Cap Haitien to minister at a Htc school in the community of Limonade, located about 5 miles east of Cap.   Pastor Aleonce Bazile and the Alliance Church of Limonade hosted the team.

The mission team came from Port St. Lucie, FL and Silver Spring, MD.  Each year they make this trip and have developed special relationships with their Htc sponsor children.  The team helps take the children's pictures for the sponsorship program.  They also help with ongoing construction projects at the school and church. On Sunday we worshiped with the church in Limonade.  The mission team choir sang and I was asked to preach.  Since a baptism followed the service, I spoke on the meaning and purpose of baptism.  We then went to the ocean where Pastor Bazile baptized 14 new believers.  It was a great week of service in Jesus name!

Richard ask me to lead the devotionals.  Each evening the team gathered to debrief the day's events, worship the Lord in song and then focus on a devotional lesson.  The theme for the devotion was "Lord, Teach Us To Pray" where we took an in-depth look at the "Lord's Prayer."  The team had fun in their breakout groups digging into many Scripture references to gain a better understanding of the Lord's Prayer.

Karen is helping me on this trip.  When the Cap mission trip is complete we will then move on to Santo Domingo, D.R. for a Leadership Training Conference.

Mission Discovery / HOLD the children mission team, Cap Haitien Haiti.

Richard Rohde, Htc Director and Gary Stannis, leaders of the Port St. Lucie, FL team.

Pastor Rich and Dr. Jen Edwards, husband and wife leaders of the Layhill Community Church team from Silver Spring, MD.

These happy girls are part of the "HOLD the children" sponsorship program.  Sponsorship helps to provide a school uniform, learning materials, lunch, and teachers' salaries.  To learn more about HOLD the children please visit www.holdthechildren.org.

Htc lunches being prepared ~ rice and beans with a creole sauce ~ served to each child.

Karen Schreier with a Htc child.

HOLD school in Limonade is under construction while classes continue.  The men are building a bridge from the main school building to a preschool building. 

At an orphanage the team visited, Karen is surrounded by children.

I am preaching about baptism on Sunday morning and Pastor Bazile translates.

Pastor Bazile (with his arm up) and those who are about to be baptized.

Pastor Bazile baptizes woman in the ocean.

Haiti Evangelistic Outreach ~ 95 Trust Christ

Evangelist outreach in Limonade, Haiti.

Cap Haitien, HAITI.  Hundreds of Haitians raised their hands in praise and thanks to God.  They came out each night to hear a word from God. Each year in August Pastor Bazile organizes and hosts an evangelistic outreach in his home town of Limonade (5 miles east of Cap Haitien). Truth Connect’s ministry team, there for a Leadership Training Conference (LTC), participated in the evangelistic outreach.  The crusade ran from Sunday to Sunday ~ 8 days of high energy, enthusiastic praise for 3 hours nightly, non-stop.  The people actively worshiped by raising their hands, dancing and jumping up and down as guided by the worship leader. At times  large clouds of dust enveloped the people like smoke, created by many  feet pounding on the dry goat pasture to ”stomp on de devil!”  Then the music slowed and the crowd became quiet as the preacher stepped forward  to deliver the Word of God. A very simple gospel message was preached.  God loves you.  Jesus suffered and died in your place to pay the penalty of your sins. He was raised from the dead and now wants to be your Savior.  Turn from your sins and believe in Jesus Christ for forgiveness, real hope and peace, love and new life.  In response 95 people gave their live’s to Christ by faith ~ new believers with new life!

Cap Haitien Leadership Training Conference ~ 8/15

Truth Connect has just completed a three day Leadership Training Conference (LTC) in Cap Haitien, Haiti (8/17-19)  The LTC was hosted by Pastor Aleonce Bazile at the Alliance Church in Limonde.  Ninety-eight church leaders attended the conference, some came from as far away as Port-au-Prince.  Joe Barnouski teamed with Don Schreier to provide seminars on leadership development.  Stepping Stones Ministry partnered with Truth Connect to provide teachers' training.  Kim and Scott Smith lead this ministry and provided seminars for elementary school teachers.  The LTC and teachers' training were conducted simultaneously.  Both the LTC and teachers' training was received enthusiastically and great value was added to all who attended.

Pastor Aleonce & Yanick, Alley and Keshner ~ LTC host family.

Ministry Team & Host Family
Don Schreier, Kim Smith, Bazile Family, Scott Smith, Joe Barnouski

LTC attendees after first day's training.

Eager learners bring their children to the LTC.

Don teaches Haitian leaders and Bazile interprets.

Joe Barnouski teaches a lesson on the importance of the team using Jenga blocks.

Each LTC participant received a Truth Connect certificate of participation.

Haiti Evangelistic Outreach "Catches 176" for Christ!

Truth Connect participated in an evangelistic outreach when it was in Haiti August, 2014 for its annual Leadership Training Conference (see previous posts for LTC pictures and details).  The LTC was held each day at the Alliance Church in Limonade, a small town near Cap Haitien.  Each evening an evangelistic outreach was held in the same community.

Pastor Bazile was the outreach organizer and key leader.  He recruited local pastors and churches to participate in the big event.  The weeklong outreach was held in a goat pasture the size of a football field.  A five foot high concrete platform, about the size of a three car garage, was situated in the middle of the enclosed lot.  A local band that was hired set their equipment and large speakers on the platform.  Lights were hung on the platform and strung on poles out into the pasture.  And a rented, portable generator behind the platform powered all the equipment, lights, and speaker system.

Concrete stage in the middle of a goat pasture where the evangelistic outreach was held.

At about 7pm each evening a few people would saunter into the field.  Then when the band began to play gospels songs and cranked up the volume, it was the signal to the town's people that the event was starting.  Before long, people streamed through the rusted tin double doors at one end to the pasture.  They carried their plastic chairs on their heads with little children in tow.  Hawkers set-up shop on the perimeter and sold candy, chips,  and cold drinks.

People worshiping and praising God at the evangelistic outreach.

The people follow the worship leader by placing their hands on their head.

Dust rises as the people raise their chairs in praise and dance before the Lord.

After about 2 hours very enthusiastic and loud praise and worship, the preacher for the night would tell the amazing story of God's love for lost sinners.  Jesus Christ was faithfully preached and the truth was told about why people need a Savior.  The invitation was given at the end of each service for people to turn from their sins and to come for healing and hope and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Many people came to publicly profess their faith in God's to proclaim Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Dr. Don preaching at evangelistic outreach.

The invitation was given and many people press to the platform for prayers and God's help.

New converts were brought onto the platform to publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ.

At the end of the week Dr. Don asked Pastor Bazile how many people came to faith in Jesus for the very first time.  Pastor Bazile's response was, "We catch 176 souls for Jesus!"  Praise the Lord!

Pastor Willy's New Ride In Cap Haitien

Pastor Willy on his new tricycle thanks to Truth Connect donors.

Pastor Willy has a new ride!  

In August Truth Connect conducted a Leadership Training Conference (LTC) in Cap Haitien, Haiti (see earlier blog-post about this event).  Approximately 65 church and community leaders attended the four day conference.  One of the pastors who attended had a severe physical handicap and moved about primarily on his tricycle.  What was so impressive about this man of God was his positive attitude and gritty persistence.  Pastor Willy always had a smile - in spite of his difficult circumstances.  When we learned he hand-pedaled his tricycle over five miles to be a part of the LTC - we were humbled by his determination to "hear a word from God."

Pastor Willy on his old tricycle.

Pastor Willy's tricycle was old and falling apart.  When I returned to the USA I shared his story with the friends of Truth Connect.  Supporters wanted to help Pastor Willy purchase a new tricycle and donated funds to make it happen.  Pastor Bazile, our dear friend and coordinator in Cap Haitien, took care of the details in getting Pastor Willy his new tricycle.

Imagine hand-pedaling this tricycle 5 miles.  Pastor Willy did to say "thank you" to Truth Connect.

I was in Cap Haitien last week with Rich Rohde and a Mission Discovery team.  Pastor Willy again hand-pedaled his new tricycle 5 miles in order to see his friends and to say thank you for his "new ride in Cap Haitien."  

Cap Haitien, Haiti Leadership Training Conference. August 19-22, 2013.

Sixty-two church leaders completed a 4 day training conference in Limondae near Cap Haitien, Haiti.

What joy and excitement there was on the final day of the Truth Connect Leadership Training Conference (LTC) in Limonade, near Cap Haitien, Haiti.  The leaders had studied Christ’s command to make disciples and had learned a number of  priciples to be better church and community leaders.  They were anxious to take all they learned to their home churches. 

John Huston, an electrical engineer from Johnstown PA,  teaches principles of leadership.

Dr. Don teaches on discipleship principles and Pastor Bazile interprets.

One group of 17 had traveled six hours by tap-tap (small pick-up truck taxi) in order to attend the training.  They slept on the floor of the church and had no running water or electric.  Yet, they were so happy to participate in the training. 

This church group traveled from St. Louis to be a part of the LTC in Limonade.

Imagine riding in this "tap-tap" for over 6 hours on bumpy roads with 17 people.  That's what one church group did in order to participate in the Truth Connect LTC.

 It was so humbling to be a part of this work to God’s special people who sacrificed greatly to serve Him. 

     Thanks to all who prayed and donated to help make this training available to church leaders.