RMI Leadership Summit

At the end of January, RMI hosted the first annual RMI Leadership Summit to strategize and plan for RMI's future activities and direction.  Those present were from the US: Dan Shoemaker, Kim Rose, Rob Thompson, Andrew Tlucek, Mariah Blanco, and Julie Fuller as our secretary; from Haiti, Benjamin Altema and Benson Joseph (via Zoom); from the Dominican Republic, Jim Starkey and representing the RMI Board, Board Chairman John Peterson.

RMI has met periodically with our field leadership as needed, but as we grow, we are implementing an annual leadership retreat for prayer and fellowship, discussing current situations, and strategizing for the future. Much is going on in the US and the Caribbean that is or could soon impact RMI, which could hinder some areas and help grow the ministry in others. As a result of these issues affecting our work in Haiti and the opportunities of our new work in the DR, we felt it was a good time to come together to discuss topics, focus, and opportunities for both countries and RMI in general.  It was refreshing to see one another in person and catch up throughout the time together.

We started with a good time of devotion, prayer, and worship. The Haitians have a saying that “Man proposes, but God disposes.” It was a good time to remind ourselves that the Lord controls the good, the bad, and the impossible.

From there, we jumped into discussions concerning Haiti and the challenges RMI faces there, especially with the capital still controlled by the gangs, with little hope for this to change any time soon. This has hurt the whole country in terms of out-of-control inflation, scarcity of goods, difficulty in travel, security issues, etc. The Haitian people continue to suffer in myriad ways, impacting our staff, Sister Churches, and ministry in every area of life.

We are so blessed that the law and order officials have kept the gangs out of southern Haiti. This has enabled us to be able to continue to accomplish the vast majority of our ministry in the area of our Hope For Kidz Child Sponsorship Program (2900+), Hot Lunch Program (15,000+ kids), construction projects, our solar design and installation program, and much more in the 200+ communities that we impact.

Our biggest concern about Haiti has been our inability to have teams come to minister to their Sister Churches. This lack of face-to-face contact going on for 5 years now has been a strain on the partnerships. However, due to the lack of progress on the security situation in the capital, we have had to cancel teams again until there is a significant change. We have also had to put off several growth projects for the ministry until we see real change. It has also resulted in the need to pause the opening of the Ezra Institute of Leadership Development until there is straightforward and easy travel to and around Haiti.

We see the Lord's purpose in RMI opening the Dominican Republic as a new field last year. There are opportunities for our current C3 partner churches and new churches. We are actively looking for church leadership, medical, and sports teams. Of course, there are teams to encourage Haitian and Dominican churches.

If your church is interested, please let us know. We will be glad to contact them and share more information. 

These were some of the conclusions we reached together, along with many others. We left feeling excited about the time together and the goals ahead of us. Pray for Haiti. Pray for the security of the country, the people, and the RMI staff. Pray for continued safety and openness for ministry in the south of Haiti. Pray for new teams and churches for the Dominican Republic ministry. It is wide open for ministry. Pray the Lord will encourage churches to get involved. This involves funds, so pray for RMI as we share the needs with churches and friends for God’s continued provision. 

More Than Education

In America, when you get sick, you go to the doctor.  When you cut your finger, you put on a band-aid.  Broken bones are put in a cast to heal correctly.   

What happens when there is no doctor, transportation, or way to pay for services?  The need for medical care is an ongoing issue, no matter where you live.  But in Haiti, trying to see a doctor is a challenge.  

Hope for Kidz offers assistance for medical issues, from ringworm to broken bones, hernia repairs, and eye exams. As part of our sponsorship program, our kids get a helping hand.   

We shared a story a few years ago about a young man who needed a prosthetic leg. The medical fund helped him get the leg and keep it updated as he grows. He has grown quite a bit and is still doing very well in school.

Three students saw the eye doctor during the school year, and two now have glasses to help them see better. This will improve their everyday lives.

RMI Co-Founder Has Passed Away

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Rev. Herb Shoemaker, RMI's co-founder, passed away on Thursday morning, Feb. 13, 2025. He, his wife Shirley, his son Dan, and his wife Debbie co-founded RMI (Reciprocal Ministries International) in 1988. He and his wife were married for 68 years and were in full-time ministry for 60+ years until their retirement in 2010. They have three sons, 11 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

He attended King's College, where he met his wife.  Shirley had served as a summer missionary in Haiti twice and had developed a significant burden for the Haitian people.  Herb proposed to Shirley, saying, "Don't you think that the Lord could use us both in Haiti?"  They were married in 1956.  Before going to Haiti as missionaries, he served as pastor of Second Cape May Baptist Church, Marmora, NJ, for a year.  

They joined the West Indies Mission, which became World Team, and arrived in Haiti in 1960.  After serving in a variety of capacities, Herb became the Director of the MEBSH (The Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti or Mission Evangelique Baptiste du Sud d'Haiti) Bible Institute and started the Theological Education by Extension Program for the Bible Institute.  They lived in Haiti until 1972 when they moved to the U.S. for their children to attend high school.  He became the area-campus representative for World Team (Chicago area), and in 1982, they moved to Miami, where Herb worked with World Team as Director of the Southeastern Caribbean.

In 1988, he co-founded RMI and served as president until 2005, when his son, Dan, became the president.  He continued to minister with RMI until 2010.

Herb was hospitalized in Naples, FL, near their home, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, with a severe infection.  Dan and his mom had a good, positive day with Herb on Wednesday, and the doctors were looking forward to releasing him into a rehabilitation facility the next day, Thursday.  However, his heart stopped Thursday morning, and they could not resuscitate him.

It was a shock for Shirley and the family since they thought he was on the mend.  Pray especially for Shirley.  Her eyesight is failing to the point that she can't read, and she relied heavily on Herb to take care of the day-to-day details of running the house.  He even read books out loud to her every evening.  He and Shirley were real soulmates.  They were a rare example of marital oneness.

Herb was a visionary; he was instrumental in establishing RMI's foundational program, the Sister Church Program (currently called the C3 Partnership Program). He left a legacy in Haiti; he trained many pastors all over southern Haiti.  He touched many lives everywhere he served in the US.  His spiritual legacy within his family extends four generations.  His steadfast love for the Lord was a great example to all those who knew him.  He was a faithful man of God and a man of prayer.

A memorial service will be held; time, date, and place will be announced.  In place of flowers, please donate to the Herb Shoemaker Haiti Memorial Fund, c/o Reciprocal Ministries International, 5475 Lee St., Suite 301, Lehigh Acres, FL  33971.

Ministry Impact Report for 2024

One would think that nothing is happening in Haiti with everything at a standstill.  We are pleased to share that God has enabled RMI to still impact thousands of lives.  Here is our 2024 Ministry Impact Report.

Ministry in Haiti has been quite a challenge!  Never before has the situation been as bad as it is right now.  Gang activity in the capital resulted in the need to cancel teams again.  We are thankful that our headquarters and most areas where we minister in southern Haiti remain quiet and safe.  The local police have taken a very tough stance against any gang influence.  The only way to get to Cayes is to fly into Cape Haitian, spend the night, and then catch a domestic flight to Cayes.  Luggage weight is strictly enforced, with even carry-on luggage sometimes not making it with the passengers. However!  As you read the following Impact Report, you can see that through God’s grace, we are still impacting thousands of lives, and ministry is taking place!  Here is how 2024 went.

C3 Partnerships

243 salvations in our C3 Haitian Sister Churches

210 baptisms in our C3 Haitian Sister Churches

82 rededications

280 Bible/songbooks distributed

1 church construction

1.3 million meals distributed to needy people (this is 5 containers containing 6,300 cases)

Hope for Kidz, School Education, and Hot Lunch Program

2,954 children sponsored in the first trimester of the 2024 school year

14,706 kids fed a hot lunch each school day

72 soccer balls for kids

579 kids Bibles

27 Hope for Kidz sponsored children given medical assistance

120 backpacks distributed

1 school construction

2 school repairs

1 school bathroom built

Haiti Operations

38 national staff

1 missionary family and 1 single woman

47 attendees at the RMI Annual Pastor and School Directors Meeting

91 goats distributed

15 farmer kits

8 water truck deliveries

3 cisterns built

45 family water filters (including training on its care and operation)

8 Homes for Haiti homes built

15 SunTech solar systems installed (these are large systems for schools, churches, and offices)

5 SunTech home solar systems installed (small, basic 1 battery systems)

45 SunTech portable solar lamps distributed

1 parsonage built

65 doors and windows for churches and schools

220 tin sheets (3’ x 6’) for roof repairs

Finish Strong Fund Raising Campaign

“Grateful” doesn’t even begin to express how we feel. An incredible team of supporters gave as the Lord moved their hearts, and together, we raised $107,377! While we came in just shy of our goal, there’s no disappointment here at RMI—only overwhelming joy. These funds will position us strongly as we enter 2025, trusting God has amazing plans for us in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the U.S.

Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for helping us Finish 2024 Strong.

Thank You Letters

Have you ever wondered about the thank you letter process? Each year, our students write a thank you letter to their sponsor. How does it work?

In August of each year, our US office prepares a tuition report for our Haiti team, itemizing each student who has been sponsored for the year, and a thank you letter is created for each student.  Once created, it is emailed to Haiti for printing.  Our Haiti staff then delivers the letters to the head of the school, usually the principal (or pastor), along with the list of students receiving sponsorships.  Student funds that arrive after August are sent on a separate report later in the year.

From there, the principal sorts the letters by classroom, and the teachers help the students fill them out.  When our Haiti staff arrives for the first school year visit, the letters are collected and brought back to the office.  Our staff then catalogs the letters to mark them received and begins the translation process.   

Each letter must be translated from Creole to English. Thanks to our partnership with Agape Flights International, once our translators complete all the letters from one school, they are sent to our US office. Upon arrival, we verify that each letter has been received by cataloging it again. We have also started scanning each letter to add a digital copy to each sponsored child's online profile.

After scanning is complete, letters are finally ready to begin making their way into the hands of our sponsors.  Some are hand-delivered by our church coordinators, while others are mailed.  It's quite a process, but anticipating a thank you letter from your sponsored child is always a worthwhile wait, regardless of how it arrives.

The information comes directly from your child!  Many people put it on their refrigerator or someplace prominent in their home to use as a reminder to pray for them.

Two Significant Milestone

Haiti recently passed two significant milestones, one of celebration and one of solemn remembrance.

January 1 was both New Year's Day and Haitian Independence Day. In 1804, Haiti won independence from France and became the first black republic to achieve this feat. Haitians fought long and hard for their freedom and celebrated by eating soup joumou (pumpkin soup). This was a dish that the French would never allow the Haitians to have. Haitians all over Haiti and the world still eat soup joumou each year to celebrate their freedom as a country. These days, many areas of the country no longer feel free and liberated; we are praying that 2025 will bring peace to all of Haiti and that the spirit of soup joumou can live again.

January 12 "marks 15 years since the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti at 4:53 PM, claiming over 250,000 lives and leaving 1.5 million homeless. On this solemn day, we remember those we lost and stand with the survivors whose lives were forever changed. Your strength and resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy continue to inspire us all.

This day powerfully reminds us of our nation's immense pain and enduring hope and spirit. Haiti’s strength lies in its people, who continue to rise despite all odds.

However, even as we honor this resilience, we must acknowledge our country's ongoing challenges. We wish the situation were different and that Haiti’s road to recovery had been smoother. The current instability and struggles within the country are heartbreaking, and our hearts go out to those still suffering. We stand together, hoping for a brighter future where the pain of the past no longer weighs on our people and where Haiti’s promise is fully realized.

We honor your courage, remember the lives lost, and pledge that Haiti's spirit will never be forgotten."

[Shared from www.lunionsuite.com]

New, Clean Bathrooms

These students were so excited to see the new bathroom their Sister Church, The Bayou (Lafayette, LA), provided for their school! A few weeks ago, it was a blessing to hand over the keys, as the students in Petit Trou got to see how their Sister Church cares for them. 

Clean, good-quality bathrooms are not always easy to find. This Sister Church came together to improve the quality of life and hygiene in Petit Trou. Pastor Solvat shared that this is the nicest bathroom in the entire area!

A C3 partnership is not only about teams or building benches. This time, it was about a seemingly mundane thing like bathrooms. But when you realize that all they had before were ancient outhouses, it is understandable why they were so excited about this building of modern toilets and places to wash their hands. It will affect the health of the students, teachers, and their families at home.

Thank you, Bayou Church!