Training Leaders in the Bahamas ~ September 2016

Truth Connect was in Nassau, Bahamas to train church leaders in September, 2016.   Dr. Cherelus Exante and the New Haitian Mission Baptist Church hosted the 4 day Leadership Training Conference (LTC).  I had the privilege to teach local pastors, seminarians, and church leaders who were enthusiastic students.  The LTC curriculum focus was Leadership Principles of Israel's Shepherd - Kings.  One key idea that captured the hearts of the participants was, "You do what you do because you think what you think.  To do better you must think better."  It is a simple but powerful truth.  Truth Connect's training helps leaders to think better so they can lead better.

I have worked in the Bahamas since 1993 and therefore have plenty of friends and associates I visit when I can.  Tim & Felicia Ryan are missionaries from Wisconsin.  They serve at All Saints Camp, a care facility for residents experiencing difficult life circumstances or terminal illnesses. They are God's special caretakers.  The Bazile Family oversee a Haitian church in Nassau and direct a church and school in Cap Haitien, Haiti.  Alley and Keshner have birthdays a month apart and we celebrated at McDonalds with happy meals and ice-cream.

Dr. Exante and Mrs. Anne Cherelus were the hosts for the LTC.

Local church leaders and seminary students participate in LTC.

Pastor Exante and Sister Moises helped interpret for the LTC.

Award certificates were given to LTC participants.

The Ryan Family ~ missionaries in the Bahamas.

The Bazile Family.  

Here I am with Alley (left) and Keshner celebrating their birthdays. Over the years they have become like grandsons to me ~ they are special boys.  

Leadership Training in the Bahamas ~ March 2016

Truth Connect conducted a Leadership Training Conference (LTC) in Nassau, Bahamas March 7-9, 2016.  Pastor Aleonce Bazile and the United Alliance Church hosted the LTC for Haitian church leaders.  There are over 30,000 Haitian refugees in the Bahamas and numerous Haitian churches.  Pastor Bazile ministers to both refugees and the pastors that serve them. I have been partnering with Pastor Bazile for nearly 20 years.  We have worked together in the Bahamas, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Africa.  Pastor Bazile is married to a very talented and godly woman, Yanick.  Together they have two very special and energetic boys, Alley and Keshner.

Pastor Aleonce and Yanick, Alley (left) and Keshner

Pastor Bazile addressing the audience before the LTC session.

Yanick displays her LTC Certificate of Achievement.

Bahamas 2016 spring LTC group photo.

The group gave me a gift ~ a portrait penciled by this young and talented artist.

Mission Bahamas ~ A Reunion

It was almost like old times.  Rich Rohde, a project coordinator with Mission Discovery, invited me to be the camp speaker during the June 2-6. 2015 mission project.  A Catholic school group from Cincinnati took their school mission trip to New Providence Island, Bahamas with Mission Discovery (www.missiondiscovery.org).  The reason I say it was almost like old times was because I was a project coordinator with Mission Discovery for 18 years.  In 1993 I organized and ran Mission Discovery's first mission project in the Bahamas.  I then directed the work in the Bahamas until I resigned from Mission Discovery / HOLD the children in 2010.  I am grateful to my friends at Mission Discovery for the opportunity to minister to the Cincinnati mission team and to my Haitian and Bahamian friends.  It was also a special joy to serve with Jim Weber.  Jim, a talented song writer and recording artist, led worship each evening.  He and I go back 20 years in serving mission teams with Mission Discovery.  It was a great reunion week with Jim, Rich, Bazile and Exante at the Adventure Learning Camp, South Beach.

Don speaking at Bahamas mission camp.

I served a number of Haitian families in the Bahamas for over 20 years.  Anna Joel and her children are very dear to me.  I have watched some of her children grow from infancy to young adults.  Anna has had her share of life's ups and downs but has managed to keep her faith in the Lord Jesus.  Mission Discovery teams have helped improve Anna's living situation by building a house that she and her family now live in.

Anna, surrounded by her family,  has her arm around my shoulder. The Cincinnati mission team finished the drywall and painted the walls behind us in Anna's new home.

Annas, Shamika (holding baby) and Elsie

Anna is queen of her home.

Ronald, now in his early 30s, is as healthy and happy as ever.  I love this guy!

Franklin is 14.  I was visiting this village the day he was born. When I looked into Anna's shack, I saw her holding him, the size of a grapefruit, in a paper towel with the umbilical cord still attached. She then walked out of the village with paramedics at her side to go to the hospital. 

Bahamas LTC With Haitian Church Leaders

Truth Connect is in the Bahamas for a Leadership Training Conference (LTC) the week of March 9, 2015.  Pastor Aleonce Bazile and the United Alliance Church  on New Providence Island is hosting the conference.  The three day conference is being held in the heart of Nassau.  What makes this LTC special to me is my long time relationship with Pastor Bazile and the church.  When I was a project coordinator with Mission Discovery from 1993 to 2010, our mission teams worked at this church.  Youth and adult mission teams helped reconstruct the worship center I am now teaching in.  How special is that? God has unique ways of completing life circles.

Don and Pastor Bazile.

Pastor Bazile speaks in the beautiful worship center where the LTC is being held. 

Nassau, Bahamas LTC - Days 2 & 3

Truth Connect is in Nassau, Bahamas for its third annual Leadership Training Conference (LTC).  Pastor Exante is the host and New Haitian Mission Baptist Church is the site for the LTC.  By day 3 of the 4 day conference, attendance grew from 55 to 71.  Dr. Donald Schreier is teaching on the Qualities of a Church Leader.  The attendees are eager learners and ask plenty of good questions.  God is doing a wonderful work in Nassau - the church of Jesus Christ is growing deep and wide.

Pastor Exante addresses the conference attendees and Rene translates.

LTC attendees asking questions about the seminar topic. 

Pastor Cherelus Exante, 40th Ministry Anniversary!

On June 1, 2014 Pastor Cherelus Exante was recognized for 40 years of faithful service and ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ.  The celebration took place on New Providence Island, the Bahamas.

Pastor Cherelus Exante - celebrates 40 years serving the Lord Jesus Christ!

The five hour celebration service recognized Pastor Exante for faithful service in ministry over the past four decades.  A portion of Pastor's biography as printed in the service program reads:

"Dr. Cherelus has accomplished many great things in his lifetime and continues to do so daily.  He achieved third Vice President Status for the Bahamas Baptist Association in 2004, Presidency for the Bible Institute and Theological Caribbean International in 2007, obtained his Doctor of Human Letter at Agape Bible College in 2008, gained a Doctor of Humanity in 2009, received a consecration certificate of bishop in 2010 as well as a distinguished visitor award from Hamilton County, Tennessee and in 2011 he received his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from McHari International College.  

"Presently, Dr. Cherelus is the Senior Pastor at New Haitian Mission Baptist Church on Palm Beach Street [Nassau, Bahamas], Vice Chancellor of MC College & University, President of the Haitian Pastors Association, President of the New Haitian Mission Baptist Church International Association and founder of the "Eyes Open on the Children" [orphanage] in Haiti.  He is actively involved in twenty-six churches in Haiti, nine churches in the Bahamas, twelve schools and two orphanages. He continues to be the president for all the children of R.O.O.L.D. 

The final line of the biography reads, "Despite all his works, Dr. Cherelus continues to be a humble, faithful and kind hearted man of God."  I can personally attest to this.  

Pastor Exante has been my friend and partner in ministry for the past 20 years.  We have worked together, prayed together, traveled together, and been in each other's home.  I enjoy being with Pastor Exante and see the sweet spirit of Jesus in him.  It was a joy for Karen and me to be part of celebration service and subsequent banquet to recognize our dear friend for 40 years of ministry.

Pastor Exante and his wife Anne.  

The church was packed for the 40th Anniversary service.

Dr. Don delivered the key note message: "... fulfill your ministry" (2 Tim. 4:5).  

Dr. Exante calls 24 young people forward and we pray over the next generation of leaders.

After the celebration service was the celebration banquet!

New Providence Island, Bahamas

In a few hours I'll be on my way to New Providence Island, Bahamas; a.k.a. Nassau.  I'll be visiting missionaries, pastors and other friends.  Pastor Bazile has invited me to speak at his church's leadership training seminar on Tuesday evening - I'm looking forward to this.

Dr. Don and Pastor Bazile have partnered together in Nassau, Bahamas for nearly 20 years.

I have been working in the Bahamas since 1993 when I volunteered to run my first mission project with Mission Discovery.  Since then I have been to Nassau more times than I can count.  The beauty of it is the friendships that have been made and sustained.  I thank God for each one.  I'll keep you posted on how the week develops.